You’re cleaning up after dinner, rinsing plates like usual, and suddenly — your garbage disposal hums, groans, and then… stops.
Sound familiar?
A jammed garbage disposal is one of those household problems that always seems to happen at the worst possible time. The good news? Most clogs are fixable at home — safely — if you know what you’re doing.
Let’s walk you through the steps to get things moving again, without calling a plumber right away.
⚠️ But First — Safety First!
Before we go anywhere near your disposal, cut the power. This isn’t optional.
- Unplug it from under the sink, or
- If you can’t reach the plug, turn off the breaker connected to your kitchen outlet.
Even if it’s not spinning, it can start suddenly — and those blades aren’t something you want to mess with.
🔎 Step 1: Identify What’s Causing the Jam
Grab a flashlight and peek inside the drain opening. You’re looking for anything that shouldn’t be in there:
- Bones
- Fruit pits
- Silverware (yep, it happens)
- Fibrous veggies like celery or corn husks
If you spot something, do NOT use your fingers. Instead, use long-handled tongs or pliers to gently pull the item out.
🔧 Step 2: Manually Free the Blades
Most disposals have a small hex-shaped hole underneath (dead center of the motor). Here’s what to do:
- Find a 1/4-inch Allen (hex) wrench — sometimes your unit came with one.
- Insert the wrench into the hole and turn it back and forth firmly.
- You’ll feel resistance if the blades are stuck. Keep working until the wrench turns freely.
This helps manually rotate the flywheel and dislodge whatever’s causing the jam.
♻️ Step 3: Press the Reset Button
Still stuck? Most units have a red reset button underneath.
- Once you’ve cleared the jam manually, press the reset button to restart the motor’s safety mechanism.
- Then restore power to the unit (plug it back in or flip the breaker).
Give it a test — run cold water, flip the switch, and see if it spins freely.
💡 Extra Tips to Avoid Future Jams
- Run cold water every time you use the disposal — it helps solidify grease so it’s chopped up instead of clogging the pipes.
- Avoid dumping eggshells, coffee grounds, or grease down the drain.
- Cut up larger food scraps before sending them into the disposal.
🚫 Still Not Working? Time to Call a Pro
If the disposal still hums but doesn’t spin — or does nothing at all — you might be dealing with a burned-out motor or deeper electrical issue.
That’s when it’s best to call in a professional.
At Ali Appliance Repair, we handle garbage disposal repairs and replacements quickly and safely. We’ll diagnose the issue and have your kitchen running smoothly again — often the same day.
📞 Need Help With a Stubborn Disposal?
Don’t stress or risk injury trying to force it. If your garbage disposal is jammed or unresponsive, call the experts at Ali Appliance Repair today.
👉 Schedule a visit online or give us a call — we’ve got your back.
