Symptoms
- Outlet under the sink has no power to anything plugged into it
- Disposal is silent with no hum at all
- A nearby GFCI outlet may have tripped
- Other kitchen outlets may still work fine
Likely causes
- CommonTripped GFCI outlet feeding the under-sink outletMany kitchen circuits are GFCI-protected, sometimes from an outlet elsewhere in the kitchen.
- CommonTripped breaker for that circuitDisposal circuits are often shared with the dishwasher.
- PossibleLoose or damaged outlet wiringAge or water exposure can degrade connections inside the outlet.
- PossibleOutlet switched by a wall switch that's in the off positionSome under-sink outlets are controlled by the same switch as the disposal.
What to do
- Check your breaker panel for a tripped breaker on the kitchen circuit and reset if needed.
- Look for GFCI outlets in the kitchen, including the countertop outlets, and press reset on any that show a tripped indicator.
- Test the under-sink outlet with a phone charger or small lamp to confirm whether it has power.
- Check whether a wall switch near the sink controls this outlet and make sure it's in the on position.
- If the outlet is confirmed dead with no tripped GFCI or breaker found, the outlet itself may be faulty.
- Avoid repeatedly plugging and unplugging a suspect outlet; treat a confirmed dead outlet as an electrical repair.
Tools and parts
- Voltage tester or small lamp/phone charger
When to call a pro
If the outlet is dead with no tripped protection found anywhere, call an electrician to inspect and repair the wiring.
Safety
Use caution
Don't work inside an outlet box without shutting off its breaker first.