My Disposal Has No Power

When the disposal is not turning on and is not making any sound, this is usually an indication that the disposal is either not getting power, or the internal breaker has tripped because the disposal was jammed.

Activation Method: If the person operating the unit is unfamiliar with how to turn it on they may believe is is broken. 

• Wall Switch- A switch on the wall that you can flip on and off to operate the disposal. It is generally located on the wall behind or near the sink. the switch needs to be wired to a dedicated outlet. 
• Batch Feed- Is the stopper being used to turn on the disposal? The stopper activates an internal cherry switch that is built into the side wall of the housing. If the cherry switch gets stuck or breaks the unit will not turn on.
• Fiber Optic Switch- This type of switch looks like a sink hole cover that you press to activate the disposal. There is a fiber optic cable that runs from the above deck switch to the outlet below. Confirm that it is connected and not damaged. Fiber optic switches had a one year warranty and are obsolete. It is recommended that they be replaced with an air switch (ARC-4200 and AS-4201-finish).
• Air Switch- This type of switch has a visible button in the center that is pressed to activate the disposal. There is a tube that runs from the above deck air switch button to the outlet below. Confirm that it is connected and not damaged. Reconnect or replace if necessary.

Power Source: The disposal must be getting power to operate.

Test the outlet to make sure that it is getting power. Plug another electrical device (ex: hairdryer, lamp, or cell phone charger) into the outlet to see if it works.

Does the electrical device get power?

• Yes it does, plug the disposal back in and push the red reset button. The reset button is located on opposite side of the power cord. Test the disposal to see if it works. If the disposal does not turn on it may need to be replaced. 
• No it does not:
  1. Examine the electrical service panel for the house. Depending on the style of the box, a breaker may have tripped or a fuse may need to be replaced.
  2. Re-test the outlet with another electrical device (ex: hairdryer, lamp, or cell phone charger) to see if it now works. Does the electrical device get power?
     • Yes it does, plug the disposal in and push the red reset button (located on opposite side of the power cord). Test the disposal to see if it works. If the disposal does not turn on it may need to be replaced. 
     • No it does not, the outlet is broken which may require an electrician to replace it.

Attempt to reset the motor:

Moen garbage disposals have a reset button that can be used if the internal breaker has been tripped. This can sometimes happen even if the disposal has had no previous issues prior to losing power/sound.

To reset the internal breaker:

• Push the red reset button. The reset button is located on opposite side of the power cord.If the disposal does not turn on it may need to be replaced. 

Un-jam the disposal, remove the blockage, and reset the breaker:

If the disposal was experiencing movement issues prior to having no sound/no operation, the disposal may be jammed. In situations where the disposal has become jammed, the internal breaker may have tripped. The blockage cleared will need to be cleared, and the disposal will need to be un-jammed before resetting.

1. Unplug the disposal or if the disposal is hardwired, turn the power off at the electrical box.
2. Once the power is disabled, remove the splash guard.
3. Using a flashlight, check for any foreign object(s) lodged between the turntable and grind ring.
4. Verify that the power is off. Using tongs or needle nose pliers, remove the foreign object(s). Never place your hand in the disposal. Always use tongs or needle nose pliers to remove an object. Once the blockage has been eliminated, use a wooden spoon or the un-jamming wrench, part number 1037 to rotate the turntable, in either direction so that it moves freely once again.
5. Based on the activation method, make sure disposal switch is off. Go under the sink and press the red reset button. The reset button is located on opposite side of the power cord. Depending on the unit, the reset button may be set back in the disposal too far for your fingers to press it.  A screwdriver may be needed to push it.
6. With the area clear, restore power to the unit, and turn the unit on with the activation switch to test the disposal.

If this doesn't resolve the issue, there may be an internal problem.