Garbage Disposal Humming but Not Spinning? How to Fix a Jam Safely

In this guide

Safety First: Never Put Your Hand Inside

• Never put your hand in the disposal, even if it is off.
• Turn off the wall switch, and unplug the disposal or switch off its breaker.
• Use tongs or pliers to remove any object.
• Keep the power off until you finish.

Why a Disposal Hums

A disposal has a spinning plate called a flywheel with small swinging blades. A motor turns it. If a bone, a fruit pit or a utensil jams the flywheel, the motor still gets power, so you hear a hum, but nothing turns. Left too long, the motor can overheat and trip its reset button.

8 Steps to Clear a Jam

1. Turn Everything Off

Switch off the disposal and unplug it from under the sink, or turn off its breaker.

2. Look Inside With a Flashlight

Shine a light down the drain. Look for bones, bottle caps, silverware or fruit pits.

3. Remove What You Can See

Use long tongs or pliers to lift out any object. Do not use your fingers.

4. Use the Hex Key

Most disposals have a small hex socket in the center of the underside. Put a 1/4-inch hex wrench, often supplied with the unit, into the socket and turn it back and forth until it moves freely. This frees the flywheel.

5. Press the Reset Button

On the bottom of the disposal, there is a small red reset button. Press it firmly. It may have popped out when the motor overheated.

6. Restore Power

Plug it in or turn the breaker back on.

7. Run Cold Water and Test

Turn on cold water, then flip the switch. If it grinds, the jam is clear. Let it run for several seconds with water.

8. Check the Drain

If water is standing in the sink, the clog may be in the drain pipe, not the disposal. Do not run the disposal until the drain is clear.

Other Disposal Problems

• No sound at all: check the reset button, the plug, the breaker and the switch.
• Leak under the sink: a loose flange, a worn seal or a cracked hose. A leak from the body of the unit means replacement.
• Bad smell: trapped food. Run cold water and grind small ice cubes, then flush well.
• Slow drain: a clog beyond the disposal.
• Loud grinding: a foreign object or worn parts.

What Not to Put Down the Disposal

• Grease, fat and oil.
• Bones and fruit pits.
• Fibrous foods like celery, corn husks and onion skins.
• Large amounts of pasta, rice, potato peels or coffee grounds.
• Non-food items such as bottle caps and utensils.

A Real-World Example

A customer hears a loud hum from the sink. She turns the disposal off and finds a small metal bottle cap near the blades. With tongs she lifts it out, then uses a hex key on the bottom to free the flywheel and presses the reset button. The disposal works again. Later, she keeps a small hex key under the sink. The lesson is that a hum with a jam is often a quick fix, but only if you do it safely and with the power off.

Good Habits

• Run cold water before, during and after use.
• Cut large scraps into small pieces.
• Feed scraps in slowly.
• Grind a few ice cubes now and then.
• Never use harsh chemicals that can harm seals.

What a Technician Checks

A technician frees the jam if needed, then tests the motor, the seals, the flange and the drain connection. They tell you whether the unit is worth repairing, and give a price before starting. See garbage disposal service. Since many disposals share a drain with the dishwasher, see our guide to a dishwasher that does not clean too.

Repair or Replace?

Disposals often last about 8 to 12 years. A jam or a bad seal is a good repair. A leak from the body, or a motor that has burned out, usually means replacing the unit. Read our guide: repair or replace.

What to Tell Us When You Call

• The brand and the horsepower, if you know it.
• Whether it hums, clicks or is silent.
• Whether it leaks.
• What you tried, such as the hex key and reset.
• How old the unit is.

You can also contact us online.

Quick Summary

• Turn the power off.
• Never use your hand.
• Remove the object, turn the hex key and press reset.
• Run cold water and test.
• Call a technician if it still hums or leaks.

How a Disposal Is Connected, and Why Leaks Happen

A disposal hangs under the sink from a metal flange. A mounting ring holds it in place, and a rubber gasket seals the joint. Pipes and a hose take water away, and a dishwasher hose may connect to a side port. Leaks often come from a loose mounting ring, a worn gasket or a loose pipe. A leak from the body of the disposal means the case has cracked or the seal has failed inside, and the unit must be replaced.

The Dishwasher Connection

If your dishwasher drains through the disposal, a small plug inside the dishwasher port must be removed when a new disposal is installed. If the plug stays in, the dishwasher cannot drain and may stay full of water. If you have a drain problem, our guide to dishwasher problems may help.

Cleaning and Freshening Safely

• Run cold water, then grind small ice cubes to scrub the blades.
• Grind a few citrus peels for a fresh smell.
• Flush with cold water for several seconds.
• Avoid harsh drain chemicals, which can damage seals.
• Never pour boiling water on a plastic part.

Septic Systems

If your home has a septic system, check that the disposal is made for it, and use it lightly. Heavy use can add a lot of solids to the tank. Ask your septic service for advice.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Putting a hand or spoon in to free a jam.
• Pouring grease down the drain.
• Forgetting to run water.
• Running the disposal with no water.
• Using it to chop up big bones.

What Affects the Cost of Repair?

A simple jam costs less to fix than a seal or motor replacement. If the unit is old and the motor is weak, replacing it can be a better value. We tell you the price before we start. For urgent problems, see same-day repair.

When to Stop and Call Us

• The disposal trips the breaker.
• You smell burning from the motor.
• There is a leak near the plug or wiring.
• The hex key does not move.
• The disposal jams again and again.

These signs suggest a worn motor or a damaged part. Stop using the disposal and have it checked. A repeat jam is also a clue that the blades or the flywheel are wearing out.

One More Tip

Keep the hex key where you can find it, such as a small hook inside the sink cabinet. Also write down the model number from the label. If you ever need a part, that number saves time.

A Word on Noise

Some noise is normal. Disposals hum, whirr and grind when food is going through. A rattling sound that does not stop is different. It often means something hard, like a piece of glass or a utensil, is loose inside. Stop using it and clear it with the power off.

Questions

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