Official KitchenAid trash compactor parts

How to fix your KitchenAid trash compactor when its drawer is difficult to open

Bent support rollers or a damaged trash container can bind up the drawer when opening.

Open the drawer and check the support rollers at the bottom of the trash compactor. If the support rollers don't hold the drawer high enough and the back of the drawer binds up when opening, bend the support rollers up slightly so the drawer slides out easily. Replace the support rollers if they're damaged.

Check the drawer bottom because the drawer won't open smoothly if the bottom is bent or warped. Replace the drawer if its bottom is bowed or warped.

Common replacement parts for KitchenAid trash compactors

• Drawer safety switch. The drawer safety switch prevents the compactor from running if the drawer is open.
• Momentary start switch. The momentary start switch starts the trash compactor motor to compact the trash when you lift the foot pedal. If the momentary start switch is broken, the motor won't run.
• Power nuts. The power nuts are mounted on the sides of the ram and are threaded through the power screws. As the power screws rotate inside the power nuts, the ram travels down the power screws to compact the trash.
• Top limit and directional switch. The top limit and directional switch limits the ram’s upward movement and reverses the direction in which the motor rotates when the ram reaches it bottom travel limit. Reversing the motor direction lifts the ram back up after the compacts the trash in the drawer.