Badger 5 Garbage Disposal Troubleshooting 

Manufactured by Insinkerator, the Badger 5 is considered the company’s garbage disposal model for household use and focuses on consistent performance and durability. Better yet, it’s one of the top-selling 1 ⁄ 2 HP garbage disposals in the USA, thanks to its compact size, efficient operation, and reliability, making it a great option for smaller households.

However, like any other kitchen appliance, the Badger 5 will encounter some problems from time to time. For instance, the disposal can get stuck, causing the motor to shut off automatically and prevent the unit from working. 

Luckily, most Badger 5 problems are relatively easy to fix and get the unit working properly again. But for that to happen, it’s important to about troubleshooting common Badger 5 garbage disposal problems. Interestingly, that is exactly what we’ll be looking at in this blog post! 

Troubleshooting Badger 5 garbage disposal

• My garbage disposal is jammed 

If you hear a banging sound, then the units stop working instantly or the impeller blades of your Badger 5 won’t rotate when you turn it on, there is a good chance it’s jammed. Luckily, you can fix this problem by following these steps; 

Unplug your Badger 5 from the outlet under the sink to turn off its power by flipping its circuit breaker. 

Next, locate the hex slot at the bottom of the Badger 5 and insert a ¼” Allen wrench into the hole. 

Rotate the Allen wrench back and forth in either direction until it starts to rotate freely. 

Use a pair of tongs or long-nose pliers to remove the item that caused the jam inside the garbage disposal. 

Wait for about 5 minutes, then push the red (reset) button on the bottom of the garbage disposal to reset it. 

Lastly, restore power to the unit and turn it on to see if it’s running normally. If the unit is still not working, turn off the power again and repeat the whole process. 

• Badger 5 disposal is leaking 

Badger 5 garbage disposals can leak from various locations. Therefore, the first step is to identify where the water is coming from. To do that, shine a flashlight under the kitchen sink and around the garbage disposals and look for a water source. 

In most cases, the leak occurs at the following locations; 

Mounting assembly 

If you suspect the water is coming from the mounting assembly, check if it is properly assembled. 

Next, make sure the locking ring of the garbage disposal is rotated fully to the right. 

If it’s a new installation, check if there is excess plumber’s putty under the kitchen sink flange. If this is the case, uninstall the disposal, remove the excess plumber’s putty, tighten the screws, re-install the garbage disposal, and re-test for leaks. 

At the discharge 

If the disposal is leaking at the discharge, check if the discharge bolts or nuts are tight. 

Secondly, check for accumulated debris or cracks in the gasket and replace any cracked parts. 

Lastly, check if there are cracks at the discharge elbow and replace any cracked parts. Also, make sure that the trap/ elbow joint is tightened properly. 

At the dishwasher inlet 

If your Badger 5 disposal is leaking at the dishwasher inlet, check if the dishwasher inlet plug was removed. The knockout plug is usually removed when connecting the dishwasher drain hose to the garbage disposal. However, it should be left in place if the garbage disposal will not be connected to the dishwasher. 

If the leak is not coming from the dishwasher inlet plug, check if the clamps and the trap/ elbow joint are tight. 

And if you’re using a hose adapter, make sure it is intact and tight. 

• Badger 5 disposal is not draining 

If your Badger 5 garbage disposal is not draining it’s likely because of clog. 

Similar to how other garbage disposals work, Badger 5 has a canister with serrations on it and a spinning impeller. When the motor’s rotor spins, the impellers push kitchen waste against the serration to shred food into finer particles. The shredded food is then washed through a gap between the canister and the rotor. 

At times, some food items like small bones and stingy foods get stuck between this gap because it’s not wide. Over time, food debris fills the entire gap. Thus preventing water from passing through and causing it to back up into the kitchen sink. 

To unclog your Badger 5 garbage disposal, follow these tips; 

Use a plunger to free the clog. If you’ve got a multiple-bowl sink, put a stopper to block off the other sinkhole. 

Fill the clogged sink with 4 inches of water. Then put the plunger over the disposal opening, and press it down slowly and gently. Use your strength to quickly pull up the plunger upwards and repeat the pulling action a few times to free the clog. 

Once the clog is dislodged, run cold water and the garbage disposal for about 2 minutes to clear up the debris.

• My Badger 5 food disposal won’t turn on 

To fix a Badger 5 garbage disposal that won’t turn on, first, check if it’s connected to an outlet or hardwired into your home’s electrical system. 

If the disposal is plugged into a power outlet, follow these steps to troubleshoot it; 

Flip the circuit breaker or fuse off and on to see if it’s working and replace it if it is not. 

If the fuse or breaker is working properly, check if the electrical switch is functioning. To do that, unplug your garbage disposal from the outlet and plug in another appliance to see if it’s working when connected to the outlet. 

If the test appliance turns on and off when plugged into the outlet, your Badger 5 garbage disposal needs servicing. But if the test appliance isn’t turning on and off, the problem is with the outlet. So, if you replace the outlet, your garbage disposal may start working again. 

On the other hand, if your Badger 5 garbage disposal is hardwired into your home’s electrical system, follow these steps to troubleshoot it; 

Check if the associated circuit breaker or fuse is working by flipping it off and on.

If the circuit breaker is working properly because the garbage disposal still doesn’t run, inspect the electrical system and the garbage disposal. 

For the garbage disposal, check if the red reset button on the bottom of the unit has popped up. If it has popped up, wait for about 10 minutes, and gently push it down. 

Conclusion 

Hopefully, these simple troubleshooting tips will help you solve any issue you may be having with your Badger 5 garbage disposal.

 However, if you’re still having problems with your disposal, reach out to the professionals at Insinkerator or schedule an in-home Insinkerator service by contacting them at 1-800-558-5700. Alternatively, you can contact their customer service department through Insinkerator’s official website or the nearest authorized service agency. 

After all, you’ll get a 2-year limited warranty for in-home service that covers workmanship- and material-related defects when you buy a new Badger 5 garbage disposal.