Garbage Disposal Jammed, Humming or Won’t Turn On
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Quick answer: If it hums, turn the switch off right away and unplug the unit or switch off its breaker. Never put your hand in the disposal. Work a 1/4-inch Allen (hex) wrench back and forth in the hole in the center of the bottom until it turns freely in full circles, pull any object out with tongs or pliers, then press the small red reset (overload) button on the bottom (InSinkErator). Run cold water and switch it on. If it’s silent, check the breaker or fuse. If the reset button doesn’t restore power, This Old House says to consult a licensed electrician.
This Old House explains that a disposal has no blades: lugs on a spinning plate fling food against a shredder ring. When something blocks that plate, the motor stalls and you hear the telltale hum. Work through the steps in order — the free checks come first.
Test order: easiest & free first
- Power off firstFREE · 1 min
Turn the wall switch off. Then unplug the disposal under the sink, or switch off its circuit breaker (Whirlpool). If you hear humming when you switch it on, This Old House says to turn the switch off immediately and unplug the unit. Bail out a full sink with a pot first (InSinkErator). - Look, don’t reachFREE · 2 min
Shine a flashlight into the opening and check around the edge of the shredding disk. Remove anything you see with tongs or pliers — never your hand (InSinkErator). A spoon, coins and rings are common culprits, says This Old House’s Richard Trethewey. - Free the jam with the hex wrenchFREE · 5 min
Put the self-service wrench that came with the unit, or a standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench, into the hole dead center on the bottom of the disposal. Work it back and forth like a crank until it turns freely in complete circles in both directions. InSinkErator says it’s OK to use some force; the wrench is designed to bend before the disposal is damaged. (On InSinkErator Builder Series, Amana and ES units with no bottom hole, rotate the turntable from above with a wooden spoon, with the power off.) Pull out whatever came loose with tongs. - Press the red reset buttonFREE · 1–20 min
The overload protector is a small red button on the bottom of the disposal. If it has tripped it sits about a quarter inch (5 mm) lower. Press it gently; if it won’t stay in, wait ten minutes and try again (InSinkErator). On some units InSinkErator says to let the motor cool for up to 20 minutes before turning it back on. - Test with cold waterFREE · 1 min
Restore power, turn on the cold water, then switch on the disposal. If it jams again, repeat the wrench step; you may need to do it several times (InSinkErator). - Silent? Check the breaker or fuseFREE · 5 min
No hum at all means no power. Reset a tripped breaker or replace a blown fuse at the main panel (This Old House; InSinkErator), then press the reset button again. - Still dead or still jammed? Call a proPRO
See the triggers below.
⚠ Safety & when to call a pro: Never put your hand in the disposal, and keep the power off (switch off and unplugged, or breaker off) whenever you work on it (InSinkErator; Whirlpool). Wear safety glasses (This Old House). Call a licensed electrician if pressing the reset button doesn’t restore power, or for any electrical problem beyond resetting the breaker (This Old House). Call a plumber or service pro for leaks from the disposal or its connections, jams that don’t free up with manual turning, or unusual noises or burning smells while it runs (This Old House). Renting? See what you can fix vs. call your landlord.
Tools
| Tool | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4-inch Allen (hex) wrench or disposal self-service wrench | Fits the hole in the center of the bottom of most disposals (InSinkErator; This Old House) | Check price [PLACEHOLDER – no affiliate link] |
| Flashlight and tongs or pliers | For finding and removing objects without using your hand (InSinkErator) | Check price [PLACEHOLDER – no affiliate link] |
💡 Prevent the next jam: Run a moderate flow of cold water while grinding and for a few seconds after; don’t grind with hot water; never pour grease or fat down the drain (InSinkErator). Avoid fibrous foods like celery and corn husks, cut large scraps smaller, and keep silverware away from the opening (This Old House). Sink draining slowly after the jam is cleared? See Clogged or slow sink drain; dishwasher backing up? See Dishwasher not draining.
Watch it done
Video by InSinkErator on YouTube. FixCode Guide isn't affiliated with this channel.