How To Repair A Trash Compactor

Your trash compactor is one of the most underappreciated appliances in your home. Learn how to detect and fix some of the most mutual problems.

Your trash compactor tin make dealing with household waste material so much easier, just not when it isn't working properly. Few things are more than frustrating than having your trash compactor or other garbage disposal system go on the fritz.

While your American Home Shield® domicile warranty tin can encompass repair or replacement of your trash compactor, it's always simplest and easiest if you can troubleshoot and repair trash compactor problems on your ain.

These solutions to common trash compactor bug will help you avert waiting on a repair and the frustration that comes with realizing you could take fixed a simple trouble yourself and saved some coin.

Your Compactor Is Making Weird Noises

If your trash compactor has started making loud noises, similar banging, thumping, squealing or whining, the problem may be the bulldoze gear. Turn off power to the unit, and then remove the bottom encompass to locate the drive gear, which has plastic teeth. Breakage or clothing on these teeth could hateful information technology'southward time to supersede it. Check for harm to the power screw sockets, the motor gear and the chain while you're at it. The motor gear, which is connected to the drive shaft, also has plastic teeth which can break. Make sure to cheque that the concatenation has the right amount of tension — about half an inch of deflection — particularly if y'all are replacing it. Lubricate all gears earlier putting your trash compactor dorsum together.

Banging, crashing or whining noises could as well be the result of a faulty directional or top limit switch. This switch tin can be institute inside the acme of the unit of measurement. Shut off power to the unit, remove it from your cabinet if it's built-in, and unscrew the tiptop panel. Verify that the tab on the ram is positioned to activate the switch lever. Utilize a multimeter to bank check the switch for continuity. When activated, the switch should have no continuity; if information technology does, replace it.

If that'south not the problem, identify the ram in the top position, and check the power nuts. Tape the switch in place to keep it from breaking while you perform this cheque. If you can't motion the ram to its top position, place the unit of measurement on its side and accept off the bottom console. Check the power nuts for harm, so lubricate them.

Your Compactor Won't Start

A trash compactor that won't start may accept issues with the get-go switch, the drive motor, the foot pedal or the directional switch. Locate the get-go switch backside the control console if your compactor powers on via a button on the control console, or in the drawer if it powers on via foot pedal. Make certain the contacts on the switch are undamaged and are not corroded. If you have a foot-pedal-activated compactor, brand sure it's lined up right to actuate the switch when pressed. Consult your compactor's wiring schematic and use a multimeter to check the continuity of the switch; it should show continuity when activated, but not when at rest.

To check your compactor's drive motor, shut off ability to the unit and remove it from the cabinet. Take off the lesser panel and disconnect the wires from the motor, taking care to remember which wires hooked up to which terminals. Use your multimeter to bank check for continuity in the centrifugal switch and the motor windings. The readings should bear witness almost no resistance in the centrifugal switch and a few ohms of resistance in the motor windings.

Check the directional switch by removing the top panel to find information technology, as described to a higher place. Consult your unit's wiring schematic to determine which terminals to test for continuity. Usually, terminals C and NC should have continuity when not activated, and terminals C and NO should have continuity when activated.

If your compactor turns on via human foot pedal, pull out the drawer and make sure the foot pedal mounting screws are tight. Bank check that the activator lever is coming into contact with the switch.

The Ram Gets Stuck

If the ram is stuck in a downwards position, open up the bottom panel and check the drive gear. Brand sure that the concatenation has the advisable one-half-inch of deflection. If there are no problems with the drive gear, check the directional switch. Y'all can lay the unit on its side and manually turn the bulldoze gear to raise the ram. You tin can remove the pinnacle panel and the ram mounting brackets to remove the ram from your unit. Check the switch terminals for continuity and make sure that they aren't stuck open or closed. They can become welded open or airtight over time.

With the ram in an up position, check the power nuts for impairment. These are located on the sides of the ram. Replace them if they are worn or broken, and lubricate them before reassembling your compactor. Take care not to intermission the directional switch while manipulating the ram; it's a good thought to tape it, equally information technology can break easily.

It Keeps Running Afterward the Cycle Ends

If your compactor keeps running after the cycle ends, it could need a new top limit/directional switch or a new start switch. Locate these as described above, and employ your unit's wiring schematics to check their continuity with a multimeter. The height limit/directional switch should have no continuity when activated. The kickoff switch should testify continuity merely in the start position, but it may show continuity in the off position too, if it is defective.

It Won't Stay On to Consummate a Cycle

If your trash compactor won't stay on long enough to complete a cycle, you may need to cheque and replace the acme limit/directional switch or the drive motor. The wheel selector switch could also exist the issue. The cycle selector switch is located on the control panel. Yous will demand to remove the unit of measurement from the cabinet and cheque its wiring schematics to determine which terminals to check for continuity. If there is no continuity when the switch is set to normal, you should supplant it.

Nosotros've already discussed locating and testing the tiptop limit/directional switch. To locate and remove the drive motor, accept off the bottom panel and the bolts on the motor mounting plate. Loosen and remove the drive chain, motor gear and bulldoze gear. Disconnect any connecting wires from their terminals, equally well as the wire harness connector. Then take off the motor mounting bolts and remove the motor itself in lodge to replace information technology.

The Drawer Won't Open or Won't Stay Closed

When your trash compactor'due south drawer won't open or won't close, usually it'south a problem with either the drawer rollers or the pes pedal. The drawer rollers may take become damaged or warped, or they may only demand to exist greased. To check them, lift the drawer out of its opening and inspect the rollers for damage. If they need to be replaced, you lot may need to use a socket to take off the hex nuts securing the drawer frame. You lot may also need to remove the unit's feet. Brand certain your rollers are well-lubricated before reassembling your unit of measurement.

If the rollers await practiced, cheque the foot pedal mounting screws. Tighten them if they are loose. Audit the foot pedal and drawer catch for damage, and ensure that the foot pedal is aligned to come into contact with the drawer catch.

Sometimes, fixing your ain appliances is only too much trouble, peculiarly when you're busy with work, kids, friends and hobbies. American Home Shield can help. Our home warranty coverage options are designed to brand information technology easy to fit repairs into your busy life. Call us today and get the help you need to repair and maintain your home'southward systems and appliances.

AHS assumes no responsibleness, and specifically disclaims all liability, for your use of whatsoever and all information contained herein.

Source: https://www.ahs.com/home-matters/repair-maintenance/common-trash-compactor-problems-and-how-to-fix-them/

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