Short answer
Switch the disposal off, then unplug it or turn off its breaker before doing anything. Never put a hand or fingers in a disposal. Manufacturer manuals say to free a jam with a long wooden handle through the sink opening, remove objects with long-handled tongs, then press the reset button. If it still hums, trips again or leaks, call a plumber or electrician.
A garbage disposal that hums but does not grind is usually getting power while something stops the grinding plate from turning. A disposal that does nothing at all may have tripped its overload protection, or it may have lost power. In both cases the first step is the same: make it safe.
This is general information from published manufacturer use-and-care manuals, EPA septic guidance and recall notices. Your own manual comes first, because models differ.
First: make it safe
- Turn off the wall switch.
- Cut the power to the unit. If it plugs into an outlet under the sink, unplug it. If it is wired in, turn off its circuit breaker. One manufacturer manual says to turn the power switch off and unplug the power cord before clearing a jam. Another says to unplug the cord or turn off the wall switch or breaker, depending on the model and wiring. Doing both the switch and the plug or breaker is the safest reading.
- Never put a hand or fingers into the disposal. Manuals from three makers say this in plain terms, and the same manuals say to use a long wooden object to loosen a jam and long-handled tongs or pliers to remove an object.
- Find your manual. The model and serial number are on a label on the side or bottom of the unit, according to one manual. Searching the maker's website with the model number usually finds the manual.
What humming, jammed and not working usually mean
| Symptom | What it often means | Safe first step |
|---|---|---|
| Hums, nothing grinds | Power reaches the motor, but something stops the grinding plate from turning | Power off and unplugged, then check for a jam from above |
| Won't turn on, no sound | Overload protection tripped, a tripped breaker, or a switch or outlet fault | Power off, then check the reset button and breaker |
| Stops mid-use | The overload control stopped the motor | Switch off, clear the cause, wait, then reset |
| Loud clatter | A spoon, bottle cap or similar object got in | Switch off, wait for it to stop, remove with tongs |
One manual says that when the motor is overloaded, it stops on its own. Another says loud noise is normal when grinding bones or fruit pits, but can also mean a spoon or bottle cap got in.
How to clear a jammed garbage disposal safely
Follow the steps in order, and stop if anything does not match what your manual says.
- Make sure the power is off (see above), and the water is off.
- Look into the drain with a flashlight. You will see what you can reach from above. Do not reach in.
- Remove objects with tools only. The manuals say to use long-handled tongs or pliers, not hands. If you see a spoon, bottle cap or similar item, lift it out that way. One manual says to remove the splash guard first.
- Loosen the jam with a long wooden object. Manuals describe using a wooden spoon handle or the wooden handle of a broom or mop through the sink opening to turn the grinding plate. One manual says to check whether the turntable rotates freely, and if it does not, to look for an object such as a nail or a metal tab lodged between the turntable and grind ring and dislodge it by turning the plate with the wooden handle.
- Replace the splash guard if you removed it, then try the reset button (next section).
- Restore power, run cold water, and switch it on. If it hums again or trips, switch off and stop.
Some disposals have another way to turn the motor by hand, such as a socket underneath. The manuals I read describe the wooden-handle method and do not describe any other, so follow your own manual for your model. If you cannot find it, do not guess.
Garbage disposal reset button
Most disposals have an overload reset button that protects the motor. One manual says to flip the wall switch off, remove the cause of the overload, wait a few minutes for the overload control to cool, press the reset button, then turn the switch on. It says the button is on the front near the bottom on some models and on the bottom on others. Another manual describes the button as red and says to push it in until it clicks and stays pressed.
If the button is already pressed in, one manual says to check for a tripped circuit breaker or a burned-out fuse. If the unit will not start after that, one manual says wiring or internal problems may require service or replacement. If it trips again right away, do not keep pressing it. Something is still wrong.
What jams a disposal, and what not to put in
The same manuals give lists of what to keep out of the disposer, and they are consistent. They say not to put in:
- clam or oyster shells and other seafood shells;
- drain cleaner or other caustic products, which one manual says can corrode metal parts;
- glass, china or plastic;
- large whole bones;
- metal such as bottle caps, tin cans or aluminum foil;
- whole corn husks, artichoke leaves, leather, cloth, string and rubber.
One manual says to cut up or break up large bones, melon rinds, corn cobs and fibrous items such as pineapple or vegetable stalks, or put them in the trash instead. It says to run a rapid flow of cold water while grinding and for a short time afterward. EPA guidance for septic and drain care also says never to pour cooking oil or grease down the drain.
Chemical drain openers are a bad idea for a jam. They do not free a stuck plate, and the EPA advises avoiding them. See enzyme drain cleaners: do they work? for more.
Disposal smells and gnats
Always switch off and unplug before cleaning, and never put a hand in. One manual says a disposal is self-cleaning when used properly with a rapid flow of cold water and enough run time to flush the waste through, and suggests running citrus rind through it to freshen the smell. If the smell is in several drains, or in the yard, see sewer smell in the house or yard. For small flies, see drain flies and gnats in drains. If the dishwasher also drains through the disposal, see how to clean a dishwasher drain.
If you have a septic system
The EPA says to eliminate or limit the use of a garbage disposal, and that if you must use one, your tank will need to be pumped more frequently. Scrape plates into the trash instead, and see what not to flush with a septic system and how often to pump a septic tank.
When to call a plumber, an electrician or the maker
| Situation | Call |
|---|---|
| Still hums after clearing, trips again, or the plate will not turn | A plumber or appliance technician |
| Leak below the unit, or water backs up in both sink bowls | A licensed plumber |
| Breaker trips, no power to the outlet or switch, or the cord is damaged | A licensed electrician |
One manual says that a damaged supply cord must be replaced by the manufacturer, its service agent or a similarly qualified person. Another says to seek help rather than disassemble a disposer. If the drain itself is blocked, see clogged drain: try yourself or call a plumber and gurgling drains and toilets.
Check for recalls
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted a recall of garbage disposals in which a metal component can break off and come out of the disposal during use, posing an impact hazard, and it says to stop using the recalled disposals immediately. Health Canada has posted a similar notice. If you are unsure of your model, check the model and serial number on the label against the CPSC recalls page (or Health Canada's recalls and safety alerts site in Canada) before you keep using it.
What not to do
- Never put your hand or fingers into the disposal, even when it seems off. Switch off and unplug first, and use tools.
- Do not keep running a jammed disposal. A hum is a sign to stop.
- Do not keep pressing reset if it trips right away.
- Do not pour drain cleaner into it. It does not free a jam and can corrode parts.
- Do not take the unit apart or touch wiring unless you are qualified.
What to look up where you live
- Your manual or the maker's website: the right jam-clearing method and reset button location for your model.
- State or provincial plumbing and electrical licensing boards: to confirm a plumber or electrician's licence.
- County health department or environmental health office: for septic households that use a disposal.
For Canadian readers. Plumbing and electrical work are regulated by each province or territory, and municipalities set local rules. Check your provincial regulator and your city. Costs are in Canadian dollars and cannot be compared directly with US figures.
For plumbing company owners
A jammed disposal is a small, common call, and a homeowner who finds you on Google often becomes a repeat customer. To be the plumber they reach, read plumber missed calls and near me searches for plumbers and septic companies, or book a call with LiveLeadsLane. LiveLeadsLane is a marketing practice for contractors, not a directory, and it does not take jobs or refer homeowners.
