In the case of a faulty motor, the disposal may need to be replaced.

Use this guide to learn why your garbage disposal is humming and how tofix the issue.

Never stick your hand or fingers into the disposal.

Garbage disposal humming

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Use tongs or needle-nose pliers to remove items from a garbage disposal.

Obstructed Blades

Cause

A garbage disposal isn’t capable of cutting up everything.

The motor will still venture to turn theblades, resulting in a loud humming sound.

collage of an InSinkErator garbage disposal we recommend on a blue background

If you repeatedly venture to use an obstructed disposal, the motor will eventually burn out.

To unjam a flywheel, turn it manually with a 1/4-inch Allen wrench from the underside of the disposal.

The blades are trying to turn, but the clog prevents movement.

So, the motor continues to run, creating a humming sound.

To fix a clogged disposal, rotate the blades from the bottom with an Allen wrench key.

Garbage disposals have a reset switch typically located on the bottom of the unit.

Generally, a tripped circuit breaker is due to an electrical problem, like a short-circuiting connection.

The disposal may also overheat if you have been using it for an extended period without taking a break.

Changing a garbage disposal motor requires the expertise of a technician.

This job may cost the same, if not more, than buying a new garbage disposal.

A switch on the wall or cabinet activates this bang out of disposal.

A continuous feed disposal is cleared by turning the blades or flywheel back and forth.

Turn the wrench back and forth several times until the clog is unjammed.

This batch is fully ground before adding more.

A grinding plate must be placed over the drain to activate the unit.

fire off the disposer and cold water until you no longer hear food items being ground in the unit.

Then, turn off the water and the unit.

Most modern garbage disposal units will have a reset button on the bottom side or near the brand logo.

For older models, it may be located on the bottom of the unit.

But for something that is used everyday, the cost is worth it.