Garbage disposal humming or not working? Reset and unjam it
By the technicians at Maximum Appliance Repair. Updated
Never put your hand in a disposal. Turn the switch off, and unplug the disposal or turn off its breaker, before you do anything below.
Safety first: unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before you open panels, and shut off gas or water if you'll be near those lines.
1. Turn off the power
Switch the disposal off at the wall. If it plugs in under the sink, unplug it. If it's hard-wired, turn off its breaker.
2. Look for the jam
Shine a flashlight into the drain. Remove anything you can see, like a bottle cap, fruit pit or utensil, with tongs or pliers.
3. Free the motor with a hex wrench
Most disposals have a socket in the center of the bottom of the unit. Fit a 1/4-inch hex (Allen) wrench into it and work it back and forth until it turns a full circle freely. Many disposals came with this wrench.
4. Press the reset button
A jam often trips the overload protector. Find the small red button on the bottom of the disposal and press it in. If it doesn't stay in, wait 10 minutes for the motor to cool and try again.
5. Test it with cold water
Restore power, run cold water, and switch the disposal on. Run it with water for a few seconds before adding any food.
When to call a technician
Call us if it still hums after you free it, if it doesn't make any sound, if it keeps tripping the reset, or if it leaks from the body. A disposal that leaks from the bottom of the unit can't be repaired and needs to be replaced; we can install a new one.
Questions
What shouldn't go in a garbage disposal?
Grease, fibrous peels and stalks (like celery and corn husks), large bones, fruit pits, eggshells in quantity, coffee grounds in quantity, and pasta or rice, which swell. Most jams come from these.