A jammed garbage disposal is a sure way to wreck your night. You toss the remains of dinner down the drain and hit the switch, only to discover that it's not working. Fortunately, you can usually fix this one yourself without taking anything apart.
There's one key rule to remember when you try to repair a disposal: Never, never, for any reason, reach into the disposal. Even with the power off, the blades can spring to life when the jam is cleared, shredding your fingers.
Clearing Disposal Jams
To fix your disposal, you first need to determine if it is jammed or if the motor is off. You can find this out by turning the disposal on. If you hear a hum and the disposal doesn't turn, it's jammed.
Turn off the power for the disposal at the main circuit breaker. Verify that the power is off by turning the switch to the on position. If it doesn't hum, then the power is off and you can flip the switch back to the off position. If it still hums, you did not turn off the proper breaker. Try again. Some garbage disposals plug into an outlet under the sink. You should unplug this as well as an additional cautionary step.
After ensuring that the power is off, take the handle from a plunger or some other long, thin piece of wood, and insert it at an angle into the disposer. Use this to spin the impeller blades inside the disposal. This works a majority of the time to loosen the jammed object.
If this step doesn't clear the jam, you will need to use an allen wrench. One should have been supplied with your disposal. If you can't find it, you can get a replacement at a hardware store.
Place the allen wrench in the hole located at the bottom of the disposal. Engage it with the flywheel and turn it back and forth, until it turns freely.
Once the jam is cleared, you can remove whatever was stuck in there. Using long, needle-nose pliers, you can reach in and pluck the object out of the disposal. If you would rather not reach into the disposer, you can use a wet/dry shop vac to suck out the object.
Plug the disposal in and turn the breaker back in. It should run smoothly.
No Sound from Disposal
If you turn on the disposal and hear nothing, not even a hum, it means that there's no power going to the motor. Check the breaker to make sure the circuit is turned on and check the plug to make sure it's secure.
If you still hear nothing, feel around on the bottom of the disposal for a small plastic switch. Some disposals have built-in circuit breakers to prevent the motor from overheating or getting stripped when the disposal jams. Press the switch in and turn on the power. If you hear a hum but the blades don't turn, it's a sign that there's a jam.
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