How to fix jammed garbage disposal

What causes a garbage disposal to stop working? A broken disposal presents in several ways: You hear the disposal humming but not working, you see water leaking under the unit or filling up the sink, or you flip the switch, and the disposal is not turning on.

Table of Contents Show

Humming Sound
Other Causes of Humming
General Garbage Disposal Care Tips
3 Ways to Fix a Jammed Garbage Disposal
1. Hit the Reset Button
3. Use the Wrenchette
4 Problems and Quick Solutions
Learn More About Garbage Disposals
Final Thoughts
Call 1-Tom-Plumber

Sometimes, the easiest way to fix a garbage disposal is to push the reset button on the bottom of the disposal and try it again. But if that doesn't work, the top reasons for garbage disposal failures are:

Electrical system issues
A jam in the grinding mechanism
Faulty seals in the mounting, hoses, or pipe connections
Clogs in the drain pipe

The most common garbage disposal problems have solutions, are easy to diagnose, and are almost always easy to fix. Read on to see how to get your garbage disposal to work again.

There are several types of garbage disposals, including batch feed and continuous. Batch feed needs to have the cover placed over the drain opening to activate the disposal. Continuous utilizes a switch to turn the unit on and off. An air switch model also uses air to activate the disposal. What all these models have in common is that the power feeding the disposal should come from an outlet under the sink. It also helps to learn more about the various parts or anatomy of a garbage disposal.

For safety, don't work with the power to the disposal on. Additionally, it is always wise to check power to the switch using a voltage tester after you unplug the unit. This step can point you to the potential issue, like a tripped or faulty breaker or GFCI, much faster if it is an electrical problem.

Almost every home today is equipped with a garbage disposal unit. This simple machine provides extremely valuable service and usually operates for many years without a hitch. However, this does not mean that it will eventually breakdown or cease to operate. The good news is that normally getting it into working order is relatively simple. But, what does it mean if your garbage disposal begins to hum?

Humming Sound

The humming (or sometimes buzzing) sound that your garbage disposal makes is an indication that there is power coming into the unit but the blades are not turning. The humming sound can be a sign that the motor is clogged or jammed resulting in its failure to grind. Sometimes you may find that the garbage disposal will stop on its own even if you did not turn the unit off. What is the best way to deal with this?

It is not uncommon that bits and pieces of food are the culprit. These could be stuck between the impeller blade and the drain hole causing the unit to jam. To solve this problem, follow these steps:

Cut the power to the garbage disposer by unplugging the unit and cutting the electrical circuit to prevent the motor from burning out and ensure that you do not get electrocuted;
Go under the sink and stick the hex head Allen wrench in the breaker socket found at the bottom section of the garbage disposer;
Start turning the wrench tool back and forth to get the flywheel to turn and set free the jammed particle in the impeller blades;
If the garbage disposer does not have a hex hole or if you do not have an Allen wrench, get a short broom and stick it into the garbage disposer. Make sure that you force it down against one of the impeller blades and start rotating it manually back and forth;
Feed power back to the garbage disposal unit and check if normal function has been restored. Take note if you can still hear a humming or buzzing sound coming from the unit;
If this process does not work, there may be other reasons why you are experiencing problems with your garbage disposal unit. Go ahead and call an Orange County plumber.

Other Causes of Humming

Aside from what has already been mentioned, there are instances wherein humming sound is emitted by your garbage disposal unit. Understanding them will give you an informed decision on what to do next. So, what are these other causes that you should be aware about?

Stuck Foreign Object – this means objects that are not supposed to be in the garbage disposer in the first place. How did it get there? Possibly, a child threw it down the sink and the object found its way into the unit without being noticed. When this causes the impeller blades to jam, a humming sound is produced. Cut all power to the unit and inspect the disposer for anything that is jammed in the unit. Use a tong to remove any stuck foreign object to restore disposer functionality.
Tripped GFI or Disposer – it is not impossible that the GFI, GFCI electrical outlet, or the garbage disposer itself has tripped. This lack of electrical current to turn the motor may cause a humming sound to be produced. In this instance, the best solution is to simply press the reset button and test if normal disposer operation is restored. The reset button can be found at the bottom of the unit.

General Garbage Disposal Care Tips

In the hopes that after fixing your issue, you won’t eencounter any further, here are some general care tips to keep your disposal in top shape.

Put hard pieces of food like small chicken bones through it occasionally. When the disposal pulverizes these items, the bits of hard material will scour the sides of the grinding chamber and remove build-up. This helps to keep your garbage disposal clean.
Run cold water down the drain when you are running the garbage disposal. Generally speaking, disposals perform at their peak when in combination with cold water. Also, the cold water helps to turn grease and fat to a solid state, which makes them easier to flush through the system.
Once a month, you should clean your garbage disposal by filling it with ice cubes. Then run cold water, and turn on the disposal. This will help to remove any grease or other gunk that is built up on the walls of the garbage disposal.
Don’t stuff the garbage disposal too full. Trying to stuff too much food through at once will cause the disposal to jam. Instead, fill the disposal loosely.
When you put food into the garbage disposal, be sure to run the disposal right away. Don’t put food in there and let it sit. Food that sits in the disposal will lead to corrosion, so turn the disposal on every time you put food in it.
Keep non-food items away from the garbage disposal. The most common way to damage a garbage disposal is by accidentally dropping silverware, jewelry, or other items into the disposal.

Now that you are aware why your garbage disposal unit can be producing a humming sound, you will be able to decide on the best way to remedy the problem. In case you continue to experience problems with the operation of your garbage disposal, call Scott English Plumbing immediately! If you need your garbage disposal or any kitchen plumbing repaired, feel free to give your plumber at Scott English a call.

In this article, you’re going to learn exactly what to do if you jam your garbage disposal. As a bonus, we’ll also tell you how to solve four other common garbage disposal problems.

3 Ways to Fix a Jammed Garbage Disposal

Generally speaking, disposals are dependable home appliances. But have you ever had an experience like this:

You’ve just had a big dinner. Instead of throwing the left-over food and debris into the trash, you stuff it all down your disposal. You hit the power switch and…nothing. Once again, you hit the switch, only to be met with a humming sound, then a click. You do it again, and not even the humming greets you.

You’re not alone. A jammed garbage disposal happens a lot.

Here’s how to fix it.

1. Hit the Reset Button

Before attempting any fix, make sure the disposal’s power switch is in the “off” position. When you jam your garbage disposal, there is a reset button underneath it that trips out. It’s a safety measure similar to how your circuit breaker “trips” off when too much electricity flows through it.

Wait about 15 minutes before you hit the reset button. It’s located on the underside of most disposals and usually red. You should hear a click when you push in the red reset button. That means it has been reset.

With the water running, try switching on the disposal. In many cases, this is enough to fix the problem. But if it’s really jammed, it will probably trip again. If so, leave the switch off for a few minutes before hitting the reset button again.

The reset button can be found on the bottom of the jammed garbage disposal.

Do you still have a jam in your garbage disposal? No worries, here’s what to try next.

Use a pair of tongs — never put your hands down a garbage disposal, even if it’s off — remove any large items from the disposal.

Once you remove the largest pieces of food and debris, hit the reset button, turn the water on, and hit the on switch. It should be running smoothly now.

Remember to always throw away large pieces of food and debris into a trash can, not your disposal. You’ll avoid having to go through this process next time.

Important: Never stick your hand down a food waste disposer, even if it’s turned off. Use a pair of tongs instead.

3. Use the Wrenchette

If the disposal is still balking at your previous efforts, locate the wrenchette (it’s simply the small, custom wrench that came with your garbage disposal).

If you threw it away with your packaging, you can use a 1/4-inch Allen wrench instead (also called a Hex wrench).

Insert the wrenchette or Allen wrench into the hex hole (also called the flywheel) under the disposal and rotate It back and forth. Continue working the wrench until it turns freely in a complete revolution — both clockwise and counterclockwise.

Remove the wrench before you try the disposal again. At this point, going through all three steps above, your garbage disposal should not have any issues working again. If not, you should probably contact a trusted local plumber.

Insert your wrenchette provided by the manufacturer, or a 1/4-Inch Allen or Hex wrench, into the flywheel hole. Then turn back and forth (clockwise and counterclockwise).

4 Problems and Quick Solutions

We’ve seen how to get a jammed garbage disposal working again. But there are other problems that impact the performance of your disposal. Here are solutions to four such issues.

Not Running At All
It could be an obstruction (if so, use the above instructions) or a power issue. Check the power to the circuit that feeds the disposal. If it’s okay, then check the power at the switch. If you have power coming into, but not leaving, the switch, then your switch is the culprit. Turn the circuit off and replace the switch or call a service company.

Poor Draining

Make sure the water is running full blast when using the disposal. The more water, the better drainage. If it’s still draining slowly, disconnect the J bend (also called a P-trap or S-trap, it is the U-shaped pipe under your sink) and check for a clog. This is normally easy to do by unscrewing the pipe nut with a pipe wrench or channel lock wrench. Place a bucket under it first to catch water and debris. You are likely to get grease and other nasty things that have accumulated in your pipes over time. An old wire coat hanger can easily dislodge most clogs. Once you’ve scraped out what you can, just reattach and tighten snugly into place. Your drain issue should now be a thing of the past.

Leaking

If your garbage disposal is leaking around the mounting assembly, try tightening the screws on the sink-mounting ring. You’ll need an offset screwdriver to be able to reach the screws once the disposal is already assembled.Check to be sure that the disposal’s lower mounting ring is fully engaged and locked to the mounting assembly. If the leak is coming from the drainpipe, tighten the screw that holds the drain gasket. If the leak persists, you might try replacing the drain gasket. And if you’ve already gotten frustrated by that point, consider hiring a plumber.

Too Noisy

Let’s start with this: garbage disposals have never been known for being the quietest appliance in your home. They’re noisy by nature (sounds like the name of an old-school rap group!). But you’ll know when the sound is even louder (and more grating) than normal. They make quite a ruckus when something gets in there.

With the power switch off, grab a flashlight and look down the drain for anything that might be causing the extra-loud noise. Pay special attention to the area around the outer edge of the rotating shredder, where you will see V-shaped or window openings.

Plastic or metal items (spoons, forks, knives) are usually the culprits. Fish out the item(s) with a pair of tongs. If there’s nothing in the disposal, check the mounting screws. If loose, they may vibrate enough to cause a lot of noise. The noise could also indicate that you have a damaged flywheel. If that’s the case, you’ll be better off buying a new unit than going through the motions and expense of trying to repair it.

Learn More About Garbage Disposals

Want to learn even more about repairing garbage disposal problems and other common problems — including what food items should never go into your disposal?

Final Thoughts

All in all, most garbage disposals are unusually dependable, always there when you need them, and rarely complain.

But if you jam your garbage disposal, you can bet it’s going to protest. In fact, it will either get too noisy, spring a leak, or just stop doing your bidding. So keep these garbage disposal repair tips close by. You might need them someday.

In the meantime, keep these tips in mind: always turn the power off before you work on them, never put your hands down the disposal, and don’t put plastic, metal, and these food items down your garbage disposal.

Call 1-Tom-Plumber

If you need help unjamming, repairing, or installing a garbage disposal, don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237).

1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain, or water damage problem, including excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.