Unstick a humming garbage disposal in five minutes
Quick answer
A disposal that hums but will not spin is jammed, not dead. Cut the power, pull any object out with tongs, turn the flywheel from underneath with the hex wrench, and press the red reset button. It usually takes about 10 minutes.
A disposal that hums but will not spin is jammed, not dead. You almost never need a new one.
This guide is general information and is awaiting technical review by Pando Plumbing. Always follow your fixture manufacturer's instructions.
Tools
- 1/4-inch hex wrench (came in the box)
- Flashlight
- Tongs
Before you start
- Electrical safety first: turn off the wall switch and unplug the unit or flip its breaker. Never reach into a disposal that has power.
- Find the hex wrench that came with the disposal, or a 1/4-inch hex key.
- Clear the cabinet under the sink so you can see the bottom of the unit.
Steps
- 1
Kill the power first
Switch it off at the wall and unplug it under the sink, or flip the breaker. Never reach into a disposal that still has power to it. This is the whole safety lesson.
- 2
Look before you reach
Shine a flashlight down the drain. Nine times out of ten there is a bottle cap, a cherry pit, or a fork wedged against the impeller. Pull it with tongs, never fingers.
- 3
Turn the flywheel by hand
Find the hex socket in the center of the underside of the disposal. Insert the hex wrench and rock it back and forth until it spins a full circle freely.
- 4
Press the reset button
That little red button on the bottom pops out when the motor overheats. Push it back in. If it will not stay in, let the unit cool 10 minutes and try again.
- 5
Restore power and test with cold water
Run cold water first, then flip the switch. Cold keeps grease solid so it grinds instead of coating the pipe. Hot water is how you build a clog for later.
Common mistakes
- Reaching in with fingers instead of tongs.
- Restoring power before the flywheel spins a full circle freely.
- Running hot water while grinding, which melts grease into the pipe.
- Pressing reset over and over instead of letting an overheated motor cool for 10 minutes.
Final check
Run cold water, then flip the switch. It should spin and grind without humming. Look under the sink for drips. If it still only hums, leaks from the body, or backs up into the other basin, stop and call Pando.
Plumber's tip
Coffee grounds, eggshells, potato peels, and pasta are the four horsemen of a clogged disposal. Compost them instead.
Stop and call Pando if...
It still only hums after freeing the flywheel, it leaks from the body, or the sink backs up into the other basin.