Garbage Disposal Humming but Not Spinning? How to Free a Jam Safely

Quick answer

A garbage disposal that hums but won’t spin is usually jammed by something wedged against the grind ring or wrapped around the spinning plate. Turn it off and cut the power, turn the plate by hand with a jam wrench (on InSinkErator models, a 1/4-inch hex wrench in the center hole on the bottom), pull the debris out with tongs, then press the red reset button on the bottom. If the plate won’t turn at all, or turns freely and the disposal still only hums, it likely needs service or replacement.

What the humming means

A hum with no grinding means the motor has power but the turntable (the spinning plate) isn’t rotating (Waste King). Moen explains that bones or fibrous food get lodged in, or wrapped around, the parts inside.

Turn the switch off as soon as you hear it. Repeated tries can trip the unit’s internal breaker, and then it makes no sound at all (Moen). A jammed plate can also overheat the motor and trip the reset button (Waste King). So a disposal that hummed earlier and is silent now is often just tripped, not dead.

What happens when you flip the switch	What it usually means	Where to start
Hums, but the plate does not turn	Something is jamming the turntable	Steps 1 to 5 below
Hummed before, now completely silent	The overload protector tripped after a jam	Steps 1 to 3, then the reset in Step 4
Runs, but clanks or rattles	Usually a spoon, bottle cap, or other object fell in (Waste King)	Step 1, then Step 3
No sound at all, even after a reset	No power reaching the disposal	“If it makes no sound at all”
Plate won’t turn even with the wrench, and nothing is visible	Possible internal problem	“When to call a pro”
Plate turns freely, reset is pushed in, still only hums	Possible motor or internal problem	“When to call a pro”

A quick guide to where to start. Your owner's manual has the steps for your exact model. Source: InSinkErator, Moen, and Waste King support pages and manuals listed below

Step 1: Turn it off and cut the power

1. Turn the disposal’s wall switch (or sink-top air switch) off.
2. Under the sink, unplug the disposal’s cord. No plug means it’s hardwired: turn off the circuit breaker that feeds it.
3. If the sink is full of water, let it drain or bail it out with a pot (InSinkErator).
4. If the splash guard (the rubber flaps in the drain opening) lifts out, pull it straight up. Some are built in (Moen).

Step 2: Turn the plate by hand to free it

Every brand’s fix is to turn the turntable by hand until it moves freely, from below or from above depending on the disposal.

InSinkErator, from below. Every InSinkErator disposal ships with a Jam-Buster wrench, a small silver crank about 4 inches long. If yours is lost, a standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench works too.

1. Find the hole in the bottom of the disposal, dead center, facing the floor.
2. Insert the wrench and work it back and forth in both directions. InSinkErator says some force is fine, and the wrench is designed to bend before the disposal is damaged.
3. Keep going until it turns freely in complete circles both ways.

The Jam-Buster wrench fits only InSinkErator-made disposals. On another brand, look for a hex hole in the center of the bottom and check your manual.

Moen and Waste King, from above. With the power off, Moen’s un-jamming wrench (part 1037) goes in through the sink opening and lies flat on the turntable, its ends against the two swivel impellers (the small metal lugs on the plate). Turn it either way until the turntable rotates at least two full turns. Waste King does the same with a wooden spoon handle pushed against one impeller, and notes that it’s the turntable, not the impellers, that has to move freely.

Brand	How to turn the plate	Reset
InSinkErator (most household models, such as Badger)	Jam-Buster or 1/4-inch Allen wrench in the center hole on the bottom	Small square red button on the bottom, facing the floor
InSinkErator EZ Connect	Wrench in the center hole until it turns one full revolution	Automatic overload switch: turn off and let it cool
InSinkErator Builder Series, Amana, ES	Wooden spoon from above	Automatic overload switch: turn off and let it cool
Moen (GX series)	Un-jamming wrench (part 1037) from above, or a long wooden object such as a wooden spoon	Red button near the bottom, opposite the power cord
Waste King (EZ Mount)	Wooden spoon or un-jamming wrench from above	Red button near the bottom, opposite the discharge elbow (outlet pipe)

Designs vary by model. Your owner's manual shows yours. Source: InSinkErator support pages and Badger manual; Moen support and GX series manual (INS10477C); Waste King EZ Mount manual (INS10674) and FAQ

Step 3: Remove whatever was jamming it

Once the plate moves, the object is often loose. Shine a flashlight inside and check the outer edge of the plate, where the little teeth are (InSinkErator). Moen’s usual suspects:

• A chicken bone, a metal spoon, or broken glass or ceramic wedged in the grind ring
• A corn husk or broccoli stem wrapped around an impeller

Pull out anything you find with tongs or needle-nose pliers, never your fingers. For a magnetically actuated disposal, Moen’s manual calls for non-magnetic tools.

Step 4: Press the reset button

The overload protector shuts the motor off when it jams or overheats. To reset it:

• InSinkErator: with the switch off, let the motor cool for 3 to 5 minutes, then lightly push the red button (Badger manual). A tripped button sits about 1/4 inch (5 mm) lower than normal. If it won’t stay up, wait 10 minutes and try again.
• Moen: the button may be set back slightly, and you may need a screwdriver to reach it. Push firmly.
• Waste King: push the button in until it clicks and stays in.

No red button? InSinkErator’s EZ Connect, Builder Series, Amana, and ES disposals have an automatic overload switch. Turn the disposal off and let it cool for up to 20 minutes. With a push-button air switch, unplug it for that time as well.

Step 5: Turn the power back on and test

1. Put the splash guard back if you removed it: cup side first, then press the outer edge until it’s snug (Moen).
2. Take tools out of the sink and keep everyone away from the opening.
3. Plug the disposal back in, or turn its breaker back on.
4. Turn on the water first, then the disposal (InSinkErator).

If it hums again, cut the power and repeat Steps 2 to 4; InSinkErator says it may take several rounds. If it still hums after that, Moen says to contact its consumer support.

If it makes no sound at all

A silent disposal has no power, or its overload protector is still tripped. Check in this order:

1. The reset button (Step 4). After a jam, this is the most likely cause.
2. The circuit breaker or fuse. Switch the breaker off and then on to be sure, or replace the fuse (InSinkErator). If the breaker trips again, stop and call an electrician.
3. The outlet (plug-in disposals). Plug a lamp or hair dryer, switched on, into the disposal’s outlet and flip the disposal switch (InSinkErator, Moen). If the lamp follows the switch, the disposal needs service. If it doesn’t, the outlet or switch is at fault: call an electrician.
4. Hardwired disposals: if the breaker is fine and it still won’t run, the problem may be in the disposal or the home’s wiring (InSinkErator). Call a pro.
5. Batch-feed models (the stopper turns them on): the stopper presses a small switch in the disposal’s side wall. If that switch sticks or breaks, the unit won’t start (Moen).

What not to put down a garbage disposal

Most jams start with something the disposal was never meant to grind. The three manuals largely agree:

Keep out	Listed by
Clam or oyster shells	InSinkErator, Moen, Waste King
Caustic or chemical drain cleaners	InSinkErator, Moen, Waste King
Glass, china, or plastic	InSinkErator, Moen, Waste King
Metal such as bottle caps, cans, and utensils	InSinkErator, Moen, Waste King
Hot grease or other hot liquids	InSinkErator, Moen, Waste King
Large whole bones	Moen, Waste King
Whole corn husks	Moen, Waste King (InSinkErator: no large amounts of fibrous material like corn husks and artichokes)
Large amounts of egg shells	InSinkErator
Paints, solvents, household chemicals, automotive fluids, plastic wrap	InSinkErator
Leather, cloth, rubber, string, feathers	Waste King

Moen notes that disposals rated 1/3, 1/2, 3/4, or 1 horsepower differ in what they can grind, and smaller units are not meant for bones or fibrous materials like husks. Source: InSinkErator Badger manual and FAQ; Moen GX series manual (INS10477C); Waste King EZ Mount manual (INS10674)

Some hard scraps are fine: InSinkErator says small bones, fruit pits, and ice help scour the grind chamber, and its FAQ says Standard Series models can grind any food except stringy, fibrous materials such as banana peels, celery, and rhubarb.

Habits that prevent the next jam

• Run cold water, not hot, while grinding and for several seconds after (InSinkErator). Waste King says about 15 seconds, because cold water keeps fats solid so they flush away.
• Feed food in gradually. Start the water and disposal first, then add vegetable peels a little at a time rather than all at once (InSinkErator).
• Leave the stopper in when the disposal isn’t in use, so utensils can’t fall in (all three manuals).
• No grease or fat. Put it in a jar or can and throw it in the trash (InSinkErator).
• Dishwasher on the same drain? Make sure the disposal is empty before you run the dishwasher, so it can drain properly (Waste King). If water still stands in the tub, see Dishwasher Not Draining. For odors, Dishwasher Smells Bad covers cleaning the disposal too.

When to call a pro

More kitchen appliance guides are in the refrigerator and kitchen section. Read the safety disclaimer before working on any appliance.