Questions · Fixtures
A disposal that hums or jams
A hum with no turning means the unit is jammed and the motor is stalled. Silence means it is not getting power, so check the reset button and the breaker. Switch it off at the wall before reaching anywhere near it, and never put a hand into the chamber.
If it hums
- 01
Switch it off at the wall switch, and unplug it or switch off its breaker
- 02
Use the hex wrench that came with it in the socket underneath, and work the motor back and forth by hand
- 03
Look into the chamber with a flashlight and remove what you find with tongs or pliers, never with fingers
- 04
Restore power, press the reset button underneath, and run cold water before switching it on
- 05
If it hums again right away, stop, because running a stalled motor is how it burns out
If it is silent
- 01
Press the small reset button on the underside of the unit
- 02
Check the breaker for the kitchen circuit
- 03
Check that the switch itself works, since a wall switch can fail
- 04
If it has power and does nothing, the motor or the internal switch has gone
When it is finished
- It trips its reset repeatedly within a day
- It leaks from the body of the unit rather than from a connection
- It turns freely and still will not run with power at the unit
- It runs but barely grinds, which usually means the impellers or the grind ring are worn
Answers
Is it safe to reach into a disposal?
Not with your hand, even switched off. Use a flashlight and tongs. The chamber is full of edges, and that is exactly the injury we would rather nobody has.
What jammed it?
Usually something fibrous, a bone or a fruit pit, or a spoon that fell in. Grinding a lot at once without enough cold water running is the other common cause.
Can a jammed disposal block the sink too?
Yes, often at the same time, because what did not get ground is still sitting in the drain. Clearing the jam and clearing the drain can be two jobs.
If you need this done
- Garbage disposalsNew installs, and repairs for a disposal that hums, jams, leaks or won't turn on.
- Drain cleaningSinks, tubs, showers and main lines cleared to the root of the blockage instead of pushed further down the line.
- Where we workEvery town and ZIP across the Valley we cover.
In-home estimate
Rather have someone look at it? Tell us what's going on
We come out, look at the problem and explain what it needs before any work starts. For something urgent, calling is fastest.
Rather talk? Call or text (602) 833-4133.