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When a dishwasher discharges its wastewater, it uses a pump to quickly move a lot of water. If anything in the drain line or the garbage disposal impedes the high volume of water, it will back up into the sink through the drain or the garbage disposal. Following regular dishwasher maintenance tips like clearing clogs, keeping them cleared, and occasionally running the disposal will eliminate the problem.

These appliances do unscrew, but you need to disconnect everything properly when you replace your garbage disposal. Make sure you shut the power off to the area first and check that it’s off with a voltage detector. Disconnect the main drain line and P-trap, and then disconnect the dishwasher drain line if you have one connected. You can then unscrew your garbage disposal using a disposal wrench. Just make sure you disconnect the electrical lines before removing your appliance.

While unplugging your garbage disposal and plugging it back in may help, most units have an actual reset button, a bright red switch found on the underside of your unit. If your garbage disposal needs resetting, you may notice this button sticking out about a quarter of an inch from the surface of the unit, with which it’s usually flush. Simply depress this reset button to reset the unit, and then test to ensure it’s working about 10 minutes later.

Whether you choose to repair your garbage disposal will depend on the problem. For minor issues like a bad seal, you can fix the unit for less than $10. If the motor unit is broken, which can easily cost $150, you may want to consider replacing the entire disposal if it’s getting on in years.