A disposal that hums and does nothing is jammed. The motor is trying, and something is stopping the blades. Usually that’s a chicken bone, a fruit pit, a bottle cap, or a spoon that went down with the scraps. In 80% of the calls we get about this, the fix takes about two minutes and costs nothing.

Do this, in order

  1. Turn off the switch, and unplug it (or cut the breaker) before you touch anything. Never put a hand in there. Ever.
  2. Look under the sink. At the bottom of the disposal there’s a hex-shaped socket, usually 1/4 inch. Many disposals shipped with a small L-shaped Allen wrench for it. A regular 1/4 inch hex key works.
  3. Insert it and work it back and forth. You’ll feel it break loose. Keep rotating until it turns freely in a full circle.
  4. Look down the drain with a flashlight and pull out whatever’s stuck using tongs or pliers.
  5. Press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit. It pops out when the motor overheats.
  6. Restore power, run cold water, flip the switch.

It still doesn’t work

  • Nothing happens at all, not even a hum: reset button, then the outlet (many are on a switched outlet, with a plug under the sink), then the breaker.
  • Humming, and the wrench won’t turn: something is wedged hard, or the bearings are seized.
  • Water leaking from the bottom: the seals failed. That can’t be repaired. Replace it.
  • Leaking at the top flange or the drain pipes: often just a tightening or new gasket.

Repair or replace

Most disposals last 8 to 12 years. A jam fix is a keep-going. A leak from the housing or a seized motor means a new one. A decent replacement runs $150 to $400 installed, depending on horsepower (1/2 HP is fine for most households, 3/4 HP if you cook a lot).

Habits that make them last

  • Run cold water during and for 15 seconds after.
  • No grease, no coffee grounds in bulk, no celery strings or potato peels by the handful, no pasta or rice in quantity. These swell and clog the line.
  • Throw bones, pits, and shells in the trash.

Quick answers

Why is my disposal humming? Blades are jammed.

Is the reset button safe to press? Yes, with the power off first.

Do ice cubes sharpen the blades? Mostly a myth, but they don’t hurt.

If the wrench trick doesn’t work, give us a call. It’s usually a short visit.