Plumbing tips · October 25, 2026
The disposal that won't wake up
A disposal that hums and will not turn is usually jammed, not broken. One that does nothing at all has usually tripped its reset.
Switch it off first
Turn the disposal switch off before you touch anything, and unplug it if the plug is under the sink. Never put your hand down the drain opening, even with the power off. Use tongs or pliers to pull out anything you can see.
If it does nothing at all
Look on the bottom of the unit for a small red button. That is the reset. When the motor overheats or jams it trips, and the disposal goes silent. Press it in, turn the water on, and try the switch again.
If it hums but will not spin
Something is wedged between the plate and the ring inside. Under the middle of the unit is a six-sided socket. The hex key that came with the disposal fits it, and so does a 1/4 inch Allen wrench. With the power off, work it back and forth until it turns a full circle, then press the reset and try it with water running.
When to call
If it still hums after that, trips the reset over and over, or leaks from the bottom of the unit, the motor or the seals are going. A leak from the bottom of the body usually means the disposal needs replacing, not repairing.
Questions we get asked
What jams a garbage disposal?
Hard things that do not grind: fruit pits, bones, glass, bottle caps and silverware. Stringy and starchy food, like celery, onion skins, rice and pasta, can bind it up too.Why does my disposal keep tripping the reset?
It is overheating. Running it without water, feeding it too much at once, or a partial jam all make the motor work too hard. If it trips with nothing in it, the motor is wearing out.Can I pour drain cleaner into a disposal?
No. Chemical drain cleaner can damage the seals and the metal parts, and it leaves a caustic mix sitting in the unit for whoever has to work on it next.Plumbing questions we answer
Where we go
Parker, Wise and Tarrant County, out of the shop in Springtown. Springtown, Weatherford, Azle, Boyd, Decatur, Newark, Millsap, Fort Worth and the country in between.
Call 817-487-8866