A properly installed food waste disposer that makes no sound when activated can sometimes be activated by?

A properly installed food waste disposer that makes no sound when activated can indeed sometimes be activated by pressing the thermal cutoff button. This button typically serves as a safety feature that interrupts power to the disposer when it overheats. Overheating can occur when the motor is overloaded, possibly due to too much food waste or objects that shouldn't be ground up. Pressing the thermal cutoff button resets the system, allowing the disposer to operate again.

In this context, it's essential to understand that pressing the thermal cutoff button is a proactive step to restore functionality without requiring any other physical changes or repairs. This is relevant for users who might encounter a non-responsive disposer, as simply pressing this button can often solve the problem.

Other options, while they may seem plausible, do not address the specific scenario of a silent disposer directly. Connecting to the power supply implies that there might have been an issue with the power source from the outset, turning the activation switch usually indicates a working machine, and removing the drain cover does not relate to the activation of the unit itself but rather is more about the disposal system's maintenance or clearing clogs. Thus, the focus on the thermal cutoff button directly targets the issue of an inactive food waste disposer, making it the appropriate choice.