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.
Rather have a pro handle it?
We match you with a vetted local appliance tech across San Diego County. Leave a message and we call you back.
Keep learning.
Clean your refrigerator condenser coils
Dust-covered coils force the compressor to run longer, raising your power bill and cutting fridge life by years.
Clean your dryer vent line
Clogged dryer vents cause most dryer fires. They also make your dryer work twice as hard for half the result.
Check and replace washing machine supply hoses
Rubber supply hoses burst at the 5-7 year mark. A burst hose can dump 650 gallons an hour into your laundry room. Replacing them is a 20-minute job.