InSinkErator
Motor Overheating / Electrical Insulation Breakdown
Disposal emits a burning smell or smoke when running
Advertisements
Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
Advertisements
Possible Causes
Prolonged jam causing motor stall, Overloaded with hard waste, Failing motor windings, Shorted internal wiring
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Immediately turn off the disposal and shut off the breaker. Do not continue to run a smoking or burning-smell unit.
- Allow cooling: Let the unit cool for at least 20–30 minutes.
- Clear jams: Use the bottom hex socket with the InSinkErator wrench to free the grind plate. Remove any foreign objects with tongs.
- Reset overload: Press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit.
- Test briefly: Restore power, run water, and test for a few seconds. If burning smell returns or unit hums only, shut it off.
- Replace if necessary: Persistent burning odor or visible smoke indicates motor damage. Replace the disposal; internal motor repair is not practical.
Advertisements
Repair Difficulty
Medium
3/5
Required Part
Disposal Unit (Complete Assembly)
Check Price on Amazon
We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Advertisements