How to fix a burning smell in your garbage disposal

Samantha Bullington / Thursday February 8, 2024

Is your garbage disposal emitting a nasty burning odor? That yucky stench likely means something is jammed or stuck inside, which is causing friction and overheating. But don’t worry, fixing the issue is probably easier than you think.

By the end, food scraps should be flowing freely down the drain and your kitchen will smell fresh again.

If you need any replacement garbage disposal parts, you can enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com or find them here. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have thousands of guides to show you how to install your new parts.

Disclaimer: The troubleshooting information provided in this article is based on general service manuals and may not apply to your specific appliance model. While we strive to offer helpful advice for DIY appliance repairs, variations in models and configurations can lead to differences in troubleshooting steps, error codes and part replacements. For the most accurate guidance, we strongly recommend consulting the technical sheet for your specific appliance model.

Contents hide

I How to fix a burning smell in your garbage disposal

I.I Causes of a burning smell in a garbage disposal

I.II Keep safety first

I.III Troubleshooting steps

I.III.I Step 1- Check for leaks

I.III.II Step 2 – Check for clogs

I.III.III Step 3 – Reset the overload

I.III.IV Step 4 – Check for damaged wiring

I.III.V Step 5 – Replace the motor

I.IV Garbage disposal maintenance tips

I.V More information

I.V.I Share this entry

Causes of a burning smell in a garbage disposal

There are a few common culprits that can cause this unpleasant odor:

Stuck items: If there are food scraps or random items stuck in the flywheel, it can seize up. When the motor tries to turn a stuck flywheel, it creates friction, which heats up and gives off a burning smell.
Electric motor problems: If the motor is running for too long, or has jammed components or electrical issues, it can overheat and start breaking down its insulation.
Electrical shorts or loose connections: If there’s high resistance and extra heat when electricity flows through the wires, this can cause the insulation to melt and create a burning smell. The wires could also short out if the disposal starts leaking and water gets to the internal parts.

Keep safety first

When working on any appliance, remember to keep safety first. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Always power off and unplug your garbage disposal or switch off the circuit breaker before you attempt any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by preventing any risk of electric shock.
If the garbage disposal has recently been used, give it plenty of time to cool down before working on it.
Take your time while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries. Rushing is the enemy of precision.
Work in a well-lit area so you can clearly see and access garbage disposal parts.
Keep your workspace free of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
Never work on internal parts with wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
Check the user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions related to your garbage disposal or replacement part.
Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the garbage disposal or cause personal injury.
Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts and debris.
When working with wires, avoid touching any exposed wires or terminals. If you need to touch a wire, use a non-conductive tool or wear insulating gloves to prevent electrical shock.
Consider wearing safety glasses and/or a dust mask when working with chemicals, dust or a large amount of debris to prevent irritation or injury.

Troubleshooting steps

Step 1- Check for leaks

Flip the switch off for the garbage disposal at the circuit breaker and unplug it from the wall outlet so it doesn’t accidentally turn on while you’re working on it.
Look over all the plumbing connections going to and from the disposal. Grab a flashlight and shine it behind the disposal to check for any signs of moisture or drips around hose clamps, slip joints, the dishwasher inlet, the drain line and the electrical conduit.
Tighten any loose clamps or fittings. You might also be able to fix minor leaks by adjusting the plumbing. But if you come across hoses or gaskets that are cracked or worn out, they’ll need to be replaced.

Step 2 – Check for clogs

If you don’t see any leaks, see if there are any clogs in the disposal. Sometimes food scraps or other objects can get stuck between the flywheel and the grinding ring, which can put too much strain on the motor.

Many garbage disposals have a little access port on the bottom that you can stick an Allen wrench into the flywheel. If your model has this feature (check your use and care manual), just use the wrench to give the flywheel a few spins in both directions. That should get rid of anything that’s stuck in the grinding parts.

If your disposal doesn’t have an access port, you can try sticking a handle or a wooden spoon down the sink drain opening to gently rotate and remove any blockages. Be very careful and remember to never use your hands to reach inside the disposal.

After clearing any clogs, turn the power back on briefly. Run some water through the disposal while turning it on and off quickly to help flush away any small bits of debris. If this doesn’t fix the problem, turn the power back off and proceed to the next step.

Step 3 – Reset the overload

If your disposal is clear of jams but still emits a burning smell, you’ll want to check the built-in circuit breaker or overload protector.

Look on the base of the unit for a small red button. This button pops out when the motor overheats. By pushing it back in, you can reset the breaker and attempt to restart the appliance.

If the reset button trips repeatedly, it likely means there’s a different problem causing the disposal to overheat. Proceed with the remaining troubleshooting tips to find the issue and correct it.

Step 4 – Check for damaged wiring

Take a good look at the entire power wiring for any signs of damage. Look for brittle or cracked insulation, exposed copper wires, wires that feel unusually warm, and dark scorch marks on wires or connections.

If you spot any wires with obvious damage, replace them. Make sure to use wiring with the same gauge and insulation. When replacing the wiring, double-check that all connections are tight and that the insulation is cleanly stripped back to the correct amount before reconnecting the wires.

Step 5 – Replace the motor

If, after going through all the other checks mentioned above, you still catch a whiff of something burning, it could mean there’s an issue with the motor itself. Motors tend to wear out over time from all that grinding, and if they get overheated too often, it can mess with the motor windings.

You can confirm this by testing the motor for resistance with a multimeter:

Make sure the disposal is turned off.
Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting (looks like an upside-down horseshoe).
Touch the two meter probes to the motor windings and check the reading. If the meter shows an open line (OL), no resistance or resistance that’s outside of the acceptable range stated in your user manual, you’ll need to replace the motor.

Garbage disposal maintenance tips

Follow these easy maintenance tips to keep your disposal smelling fresh and prevent any future issues from popping up:

Don’t cram a large pile of food waste down the drain all at once. Instead, feed it into the disposal in small batches to prevent jams and reduce strain on the motor.
Dispose of bones, grease, coffee grounds, eggshells, and fibrous vegetables in the trash instead of sending them down the disposal, since they can clog it up.
Always run cold water while the disposal is in use to carry debris through the system.
To keep it smelling great, drop in some citrus peels and a sprinkle of baking soda from time to time.
Periodically drop in ice cubes to keep the blades sharp.
Always follow your disposal’s manufacturer guidelines.

More information

Thank you for reading! We hope this guide helped you get your garbage disposal working again.

If you have any other appliance repair needs or projects, don’t hesitate to explore our other troubleshooting guides and videos.

If you need replacement parts or some extra help with ordering them, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com, where you can chat with a pro, read our DIY blog and more. We can also help you troubleshoot common garbage disposal problems here.

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Samantha Bullington

Hey there, I’m Samantha and I’m super excited to be a part of the Appliance Parts Pros team! With 9 years of experience, I’ve had the awesome opportunity to assist countless customers in troubleshooting their home appliances and finding DIY repair solutions.