Reset and unjam a garbage disposal
If the disposal just hums or doesn't respond, it's almost always jammed or tripped. Both are DIY fixes — before you call anyone.
What you'll learn
- How to tell a jam from an electrical failure
- Where the red reset button is (bottom of the disposal, facing down)
- How to use the hex-key slot to manually turn the flywheel
- Which objects commonly jam disposals (peach pits, chicken bones, small bones, fibrous veggies)
Step by step
- Shut off the disposal at the wall switch.
- Look under the sink — find the disposal housing.
- On the bottom, insert a 1/4-inch hex key into the center slot; work it back and forth to free the flywheel.
- Press the red reset button on the bottom (it pops out when tripped).
- Turn the switch back on; run cold water and test.
If it still just hums or trips again immediately, the motor may have seized — and trying again will burn it out. Call for diagnostic. Disposals that are over 8 years old with any failure are usually better to replace than repair.
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