You can't turn off the compactor.

Check for:

• No power reaching the outlet.
• Defective electrical cord.
• The safety lock is not on.
• Open drawer.
• Overloaded motor.
• Defective switch.
• Loose electrical connection.

Remedies:

• Check the fuse box/circuit breaker.
• Test the cord and replace it if damaged.
• Turn on the safety lock.
• Remove anything that keeps it from closing.
• Remove the wall plug and allow 10 minutes for the motor to cool. Then, check the drive chain or drive belt and look for broken gears and worn ram screws.
• To find the switches on your unit, check the owner's manual. Then test each switch.
• Check every wire and connection.

Unit starts, but blows a fuse of trips the circuit breaker.

Check for:

• Too many appliances on one circuit.
• Short circuit in cord or plug.
• Short circuit in switch.
• Short circuit in motor.

Remedies:

• Run the unit on its own circuit.
• Test the plug and cord for continuity.
• Test the switches for continuity.
• Call a qualified contractor.

The motor runs, but the trash isn't compacted.

Check for:

• Loose or broken drive chain.
• Loose gears or pulleys.
• The ram is seized up.

Remedies:

• Check the chain for problems, then adjust or replace it.
• Check the gears and pulleys, then tighten or replace them if necessary.
• The ram screws need lubrication. If the screws are stripped, they must be replaced.

The compactor is unusually noisy.

Check for:

• Loose drive chain.
• The unit needs to be lubricated.
• Loose parts.

Remedies:

• Tighten the chain.
• Lubricate the unit.
• Check and tighten every bolt and screw.

The unit smells unusual.

Check for:

• The deodorant is empty.
• Clogged aerosol nozzle on the deodorant.

Remedies:

• Replace the deodorant.
• Clean the nozzle out with thin wire.

Trash spills out of the unit.

Check for:

• Bag in wrong position.

Remedy:

• Check the position of the bag and the clips that hold it.