SideQuest 28: How a Garbage Disposal ACTUALLY Works (And 2 Hidden Fixes!) 🗑️🔧

Welcome back to another Side Quest episode of How To Handyma'am!

This week, we're busting one of the biggest myths in the kitchen: how a garbage disposal actually works.

If you've ever assumed there's a tiny blender hiding under your sink—or panicked the first time your disposal stopped working—you're not alone. In this episode, Emily explains what really happens inside a garbage disposal, shares the two hidden fixes that solve most common problems, and walks through a simple troubleshooting process that could save you an expensive service call.

Whether you're a first-time homeowner or you've had a garbage disposal for years, this episode is full of practical tips you'll actually use.

Tune in on Spotify or Apple Podcasts now!

Here is a breakdown of what we discussed this week:

Our Biggest Class Surprise

This episode was inspired by one of our recent homeowner classes.

Emily mentioned that she had always assumed the basic fixes for a garbage disposal were common knowledge—until an entire room of students reacted with complete surprise.

That realization sparked this SideQuest because, if our students didn't know these simple tricks, there's a good chance plenty of other homeowners don't either.

Garbage Disposals Don't Have Blades

One of the biggest myths we tackled is the idea that a garbage disposal works like a blender.

It doesn't.

Instead of sharp blades chopping up food, the disposal uses impellers to push food against a stationary grinding ring inside the unit. Once the food is ground into tiny particles, water carries it safely through your plumbing.

Understanding how the disposal actually works makes it much less intimidating—and explains why many movie scenes featuring garbage disposals are wildly exaggerated.

Hidden Fix #1: The Allen Wrench Trick

If your garbage disposal hums but won't spin, the motor is often working just fine—something is simply preventing the grinding plate from turning.

One of the easiest fixes is using the Allen wrench port on the bottom of the disposal to manually rotate the mechanism and free whatever is causing the jam.

It's a feature many homeowners don't even realize exists, but it can often get a disposal running again in just a few minutes.

Hidden Fix #2: Don't Forget the Reset Button

If your disposal suddenly stops making any noise at all, don't assume it's dead.

Many units have a small reset button on the bottom that trips when the motor overheats or becomes overloaded.

After disconnecting the power and making sure the jam has been cleared, pressing the reset button is often enough to bring the disposal back to life.

It's a tiny button that can save you from replacing an appliance that isn't actually broken.

What Should Never Go Down Your Garbage Disposal

Just because something fits down the drain doesn't mean your disposal wants it there.

Some of the biggest offenders we discussed include:

• Grease and cooking oils.

• Starchy foods like pasta and rice that continue expanding.

• Coffee grounds, which can build up in your drain over time.

• Eggshells, despite the popular myth that they "sharpen the blades."

Avoiding these common mistakes will help both your garbage disposal and your plumbing last much longer.

A Few Extra Tips for a Happier Disposal

We wrapped up the episode with a handful of simple habits that can keep your garbage disposal running smoothly.

Running plenty of cold water while using the disposal helps flush food particles through the drain, and feeding scraps gradually instead of all at once reduces the chances of a clog or overload.

Sometimes the best repair is preventing the problem in the first place.

Our Biggest Takeaway

A garbage disposal can seem intimidating, but most common problems have surprisingly simple solutions.

Understanding how the unit actually works—and knowing about the manual turning feature and reset button—can save you time, money, and unnecessary frustration the next time your disposal decides to stop cooperating.

And remember: not every plumbing issue requires calling a professional. Sometimes, a little knowledge is the best tool in your toolbox.