Ace Hardware InSinkErator Badger 5, 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal Logo
Posted on Aug 01, 2009
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Water won't drain. no food in bottom of disposal

Turns on but water won't drain down...can't feel anything in disposal with my hand

1 Answer

woobie dog

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  • Master 1,273 Answers
  • Posted on Aug 01, 2009
woobie dog
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Joined: Jul 05, 2009
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Sometimes, the dishwasher can back stuff up into your disposer drain and plug it up. Disconnect the disposer drain and make sure that it is unplugged. If it is in a bind, you can rotate the innards my applying the wrench that comes with the unit to the socket on the bottom side of the disposer. It is an allen head usually.
You can also fill the disposer with hot water and plunge it like you would a stuck drain, but this is really less preferable as there are many ways to plumb these drains, and you may wind up either just relocating the plug to something (dishwasher?) else, or pop the drain line off, making a mess.
IF it is a new disposer, and has never been used, you'll want to make sure theat the casting inside of the outlet tube is cleaned out.
best regards, --W/D--

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0helpful
1answer

Dishwasher won't drain

Good Morning Jean,

I see that you are having trouble with your Frigidaire dishwasher, model# FFBD2411NS, draining. There are a few things I would suggest:

1) If the appliance is hooked up to a food waste disposer, make
sure the disposer is empty.
2) Check to see if the knockout plug has been removed
from inside the food waste disposer inlet.
3) Check to see if drain hose is kinked.
4) Check the glass trap filter to see if anything is preventing the water from draining.
5) Overfill Protector should move up and down freely about one inch. If it does not move, lift and clean underneath. Clean occasionally with
household cleaner containing vinegar or bleach to dissolve any buildup.

If none of these suggestions help your dishwasher to drain the water, I suggest contacting your local authorized technician.

-Best Regards-
WP
tip

Install a new garbage disposal

A garbage disposal can be either installed from scratch or instead of an older disposal.

First of all you need to shop for the disposal that best matches your needs.
For example you should consider whether a noisy disposal would be a problem in your household, what kind of plumbing you have, or if you have kids or not.

Here are some guidelines:
- Choose a motor suitable for your household. There are models with lower or higher horsepower, for smaller households with small amounts of food waste, or larger households with more food waste.
- Consider the features that you need. Like a quieter disposal, or one made of stainless steel, or one that connects to the dishwasher. There is a vast variety of options and prices.
- If you have kids you might want to consider getting a batch feed disposal rather than a continuous feed one. The batch feed disposal is a bit more expensive but it is also safer for kids, as it requires the use of a stopper prior operation. While the continuous feed disposal starts running when you flip the switch on and will continue running a bit also after you switch it off. This can be dangerous if someone drops utensils down the drain or sticks a hand inside the disposal.
- If your plumbing connects to a septic tank you need a disposal made for septic tanks.

After shopping for the right disposal, you need to get hold of these tools you'll be needing for the installation:
- Electrical cord
- Disposer wrench
- Hacksaw
- Screwdriver
- Water pump pliers
- Plumber's putty
- Safety supplies: goggles, dust mask, gloves

When you are ready, the first thing to do before installing the new disposal is to turn off power and make sure nobody turns it back on while you work.

Now you can proceed removing the old disposal.
If the old disposal is attached to a dishwasher, loosen and detach the dishwasher hose with a screwdriver.
Then with the wrench unscrew the slip-nut connecting the disposal to the "P" trap waste line, putting a bucket under the trap to catch any waste water sitting at the bottom of the trap.
Remove the old disposal with the screwdriver and take apart the rest of the mounting assembly, including the ring on the sink sleeve, the sink sleeve, the flange, the fiber gasket and the old plumber's putty. Make sure to clean well the sink, the sleeve, the flange and sink opening from old putty and grime before installing the new disposal.

You are now ready to wire your disposal, whether it came with appliance wires attached or if you need to attach them yourself following carefully the manufacturer's instructions (after unscrewing the cover plate beneath the disposal and then screwing it back in).

The next step is installing the drain flange and mounting ring by rolling some plumber's putty between your hands to form a snake about half inch thick and 10 inches long and applying it to the underside of the drain flange. Insert the flange into the drain hole and press down to attach it. You can then snap on the backup ring, fiber gasket and mounting ring.
Use a knife to cut away the extra plumber's putty that will have squeezed out around the flange.

At this point you can place the disposal into the mounting ring making sure that the disposal's outlet is facing the drain pipe connection, and tighten it until it stays in place.
Connect the P-trap, using the hacksaw to cut the discharge pipe to size if too long, and attach it to the outlet of the disposal. Make sure to connect it properly by reading carefully the manufacturer's instructions. If your disposal connects to the dishwasher attach the discharge tube to the disposal as well.

You can now turn the power back on and run cold water into the sink, turning on the disposal to make sure it's working and to check if there are any leaks, and running some food through the disposal to make sure it grinds and disposes properly.

You can also use this video to follow more visual instructions and help you in the process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPaMgqnLW1M

Make sure to mantain your garbage disposal in good shape by avoiding grinding certain items like hard shells from shrimps, crabs or other shellfish, unpopped popcorn kernels and hard bones, by avoiding fibrous or starchy foods like banana peels, celery, potato peels, corn cobs, artichokes, fruit pits and hard seeds like avocados or peaches, onion skins and egg shells, as they create clogs and membranes that will ruin the disposal, and by cutting down big pieces of food into smaller pieces.
It is also best to run cold water while the disposal is on, keeping both water and disposer running for about a minute after the sink is cleared. Cold water helps push food down, avoid overheating of the system and unlike hot water, doesn't melt fat, that would re-solidify as a blockage further down the drain.
on Dec 23, 2013 • Garbage Disposals
0helpful
1answer

Dishwasher not draining

This could be due to a clog in the drain line. Most dishwashers are connected to the same drain line as the kitchen sink and most are ported into the side of the garbage disposal if there is one. Under the kitchen sink, look for a small flexible tube connected to the side of the disposal or teed into the drain line. Typically this is connected with a hose clamp, so just loosen the clamp and pull off the line. Have a bucket placed underneath to catch any water/waste present in the line. My bet would be that there is a clog at this connection. Be sure to tighten the hose clamp when you reassemble the connection. Another thing to look for is food particles clogging the drain INSIDE the dishwasher. If water is standing in the bottom, put on some rubber gloves and feel around the bottom center and brush aside anything which may be clogging this area. Some dishwashers have removable/cleanable drain traps which must be cleaned out by hand periodically. Good luck.
1helpful
1answer

Whirpool built-in puddle of water in bottom, food on drain

see this causes and proceed according. God bless you
Belt, Water Pump Although few dishwashers have a water pump belt, if the dishwasher won't drain there might be a worn or broken water pump belt. After removing the lower kick panel the motor can be seen in the front, the water pump belt is on the bottom of the motor.

Drain Pump If the dishwasher won't drain, the drain pump might be defective. Test the pump motor with an Ohm meter. Drain pumps are not repairable, if it's defective it will need to be replaced.

Drain Impeller The drain impeller is attached to the pump and pushes the water out of the dishwasher, through the drain tube and into the garbage disposer or drain line. If the dishwasher won't drain, the drain impeller might be broken or worn out. Replace both the impeller and seal at the same time.

Drain Solenoid Kit If the dishwasher won't drain, the drain solenoid kit might need to be replaced. The drain solenoid is an actuator that opens a flap to allow the water to drain.
Drain Valve The drain valve can get clogged with debris and should be cleaned out if the dishwasher won't drain. If it seems clear of debris but won't actuate, it will need to be replaced. The drain valve is not repairable Pump and Motor Assembly If the dishwasher won't drain, the pump and motor assembly might be defective. If the motor runs during the drain cycle, check for a blockage in the drain line. If the motor won't run during the drain cycle or if it just hums when it should be running, the pump and motor assembly might need to be replaced.

Clogged or Improperly Installed Garbage Disposer If the dishwasher won't drain and the garbage disposer was installed recently, the installer might have forgotten to knock out the drain plug from this disposer. All garbage disposers are sold with a solid plug in the drain tube for situations where a dishwasher isn't connected. However, if the dishwasher is connected, the plug will need to be removed. If the disposer wasn't replaced recently, remove the dishwasher drain hose from the disposer and clean out both the fitting on the disposer and the end of the drain hose. These are the most common places to find an obstruction if the dishwasher won't drain.

Clogged or Improperly Installed Garbage Disposer If the dishwasher won't drain and the garbage disposer was installed recently, the installer might have forgotten to knock out the drain plug from this disposer. All garbage disposers are sold with a solid plug in the drain tube for situations where a dishwasher isn't connected. However, if the dishwasher is connected, the plug will need to be removed. If the disposer wasn't replaced recently, remove the dishwasher drain hose from the disposer and clean out both the fitting on the disposer and the end of the drain hose. These are the most common places to find an obstruction if the dishwasher won't drain.

Check Valve If the dishwasher won't drain the check valve might be stuck closed. The check valve is a small plastic device which prevents water from returning to the dishwasher after it has drained. If the valve gets stuck closed, it will prevent the water from draining. The check valve is the device that the drain hose is attached to on the dishwasher.

Check Ball If the dishwasher won't drain the check ball might be stuck. The check ball is a small plastic ball in the check valve which prevents water from returning to the dishwasher after it has drained. If the ball gets stuck, it will prevent the water from draining also. The check valve is the device that the drain hose is attached to on the dishwasher.


10_17_2012_1_03_37_pm.jpg
6helpful
1answer

Garbage Disposal Ace 2000 model 47982.... The water won't drain out of it and the sink is backed up and hasn't gone down for a whole day now. It seems like the blades are turning. I've been...

Hi David,

Are the blades actually turning or is just the motor running?
First, turn off the power to the disposal at the circuit breaker. Do not put your hand in until you do this.

If you hear the motor running, but not the blades, then the blades are jammed. On most disposers you can put an allen wrench in an opening under the unit and move the blades. If the blades move freely, then your drain line is probably plugged.
If the motor runs, but the blades don't and they will move freely by hand, then the disposal needs repair.
If the blades are jammed with food, you can clear the jam with your hand and the allen wrench trick from underneath.
Once the disposer is freed up, run cold water down the drain for a few minutes to harden any grease build up inside. Then running the disposer should get rid of the hardened grease.
By the way, most disposers have a reset button on the bottom of the motor should your disposer jam and turn off or trip your breaker.

Orange peels, etc. will not harm your disposer. A good way to keep it clear is to put egg shells down it periodically. The shell action will scrape junk off the inside of the disposer.

You can also keep the disposer clean of grease buildup by pouring some baking soda in the disposer followed by a mix of hot water and vinegar.

Hope this helps. If it does, I'd appreciate a 4 thumbs up. Thanks,

Handie Andie
0helpful
1answer

I put half a small lemon down the garbage disposal. The disposal kept working fine with the water running, but then it violently threw out water and food particles. I stopped the disposal immediately, the...

Sounds like a clog at or beyond the P trap of the sinks. With water coming back into the sinks, it has to be part of the drain line that is common to both sinks. If you try and unclog the sink, work on the side that does NOT have the garbage disposal in it. A small hand snake for sinks might do the job. You could also try a plunger on either side, but when you do, put a wet rag over the other drain so you are not just pushing air back and forth. Work on one side with the plunger while holding the wet towel down tight over the other drain. Sounds like a clog that was there prior to you putting the lemon in the GD.
1helpful
1answer

Water in the bottom and not working

Check for a clogged drain (e.g.: via drain hose), or a water pump malfunction due to foreign obstruction (e.g.: glass, etc).

Note: If you changed a food waste disposer (kitchen sink area) and did not remove "plug" from disposer for dishwasher drain hose (assuming dishwasher drain hose connected to food waste disposer), then water cannot drain from dishwasher.
0helpful
1answer

Water not draining

If you're dishwasher goes into the pump out cycle, but does not drain, then check the drain hose where it connects to the garbage disposal, and i bet it is plugged. Happens a lot when using disposal, food gets into hose and d.washer will not drain. If you're hand is small enough to slip in disposal, you can feel the opening at the end of hose. Do not let anyone near the on switch!! You can also place a large pan or medium bucket under the sink and take the clamp off, remove hose and clean out. Turn on unit and it should pump the water into bucket.If the hose is clean and it still doesn't drain, then you have a worn out impeller that sets on top of the motor, and will have to be repaired by a tech. I am sure the hose is the problem. Please let me know as I am here to help.
Good Luck
Shastalaker7
Nov 06, 2009 • Dishwashers
1helpful
1answer

What wrong with garbage disposal when it won,t grind the food up and send it down the drain

Disposal is jammed or has gone off on reset. There is a red reset button on the bottom of the unit. If jammed, turn off breaker and switch.Clean out any debris so that you can get a good visual, most common problem is small piece of bone or a coin (dime or penny) stuck between the blades. Garbae disposals are hard on plumbing pipes-best solution is remove all together.
Sep 11, 2009 • Home
0helpful
1answer

Garbage disposal...won't drain

There should be a reset switch on the bottom of the disposal.
When using a disposal, always run water first, then turn on disposal. Then dispose food. Then keep water running until it all sounds clear before turning it off.
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