A jammed or dead garbage disposal is one of the few appliance problems homeowners can often solve themselves in just a few minutes. Before you call for service, walk through these steps in order.
Safety first. Switch off the wall switch and, if accessible, unplug the unit under the sink before putting your hands or tools anywhere near it.
Most disposals have a small red reset button on the bottom of the unit. If the disposal is completely dead — no hum, no movement — press this button firmly. It often trips after overheating and simply needs a reset.
If the disposal hums but doesn't turn, the flywheel is likely jammed. Most models include a hex-shaped hole on the bottom of the unit made for a 1/4-inch Allen wrench. Insert it and turn back and forth to manually free the flywheel.
With the power still off, use tongs or pliers — never your hand — to remove any visible debris inside the disposal, such as bones, fruit pits, or fibrous vegetable scraps.
Plug the unit back in, flip the switch, and run cold water while testing the disposal briefly. If it runs smoothly, you're done. If it still hums, trips the reset again, or makes a grinding noise, it's time to call a technician.
If the disposal repeatedly trips the reset button, leaks from the bottom, or makes a loud grinding sound with no obstruction, the motor or seal has likely failed and needs professional replacement.
Still stuck after trying these steps? Call us at (240) 885-0836 and we'll get it running again.