Garbage disposal quit working after dishwasher install.

Question

My mother just had a new dishwasher installed. Before this, her disposal unit worked fine. After the installers left, the disposal no longer gets power. I flip the switch, and nothing happens. I have pressed the reset button at the bottom of the unit but to no avail. I've check the breakers outside and nothing works. Could she need a new unit or could a fuse have blown? I haven't check fuses. I'm not entirely sure how to check fuses in the first place. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Some garbage disposals have a reset button right on the bottom of the unit. Try looking for it. Might be tripped for some reason. Just press it. Hope this is it.

Answer 2

Push on the plug he could have knocked it loose by accident, plugs come loose all the time, even when hunting around under the sink!

Answer 3

I agree with kravdraa (?).  Check the GFI & make sure it hasn't tripped.  Reset the GFI, make sure it is plugged in, hit the reset (again), and see if that works.  If it doesn't, then call the repairman back.

Answer 4

Call your mom or tell her when she gets home.  It sounds like the repairmen forgot to reconnect a wire.  It's important that your mom call them right away, to establish the timing of the problem.

Answer 5

Take a look at the outlet near the kitchen counter. It may be a GFI (Ground Fault Interrrupt) Its one of those funny looking ones with two small buttons in the middle. It is possible that the outlet is tripped and thuis not providing power to the disposal.

1. Turn off the disposal switch,

2. unplug anything attached to the GFI outlet,

3. Press the RESET button on the GFI.

Let me know if this works. If not do as suggested above about calling the guy back who did the install.

Eric