# Garbage disposal not working or jammed: how to fix it safely

Updated: 2026-10-24 · https://pros411.com/en/guides/plumbers/garbage-disposal-not-working

## Short answer

If it hums but does not spin, it is jammed. Turn off the switch and unplug it. Never reach in: look with a flashlight and pull any object out with tongs. Put a 1/4-inch Allen wrench in the hole in the center of the bottom and work it back and forth until it turns freely. Press the reset button on the bottom, plug it in and test it with cold water running.

> Safety first: Turn off the wall switch and unplug the disposal, or switch off its breaker, before you touch it. Never put your hand in the drain opening, even with the power off: use tongs or pliers.

## How to unjam a garbage disposal safely

![Cartoon jammed garbage disposal humming under the sink, with an Allen wrench on the way](https://pros411.com/img/guias/garbage-disposal-not-working.webp)

1. **It hums but will not spin.** Something is wedged between the plate and the ring inside. Turn it off right away: humming heats up the motor.
2. **Switch it off and unplug it.** Flip the wall switch off and pull the plug under the sink. If it is wired in, turn off its breaker.
3. **Never a hand: use a light and tongs.** Look down the drain with a flashlight. Pull out spoons, bottle caps or bones with tongs or pliers.
4. **Free it with a 1/4-inch Allen wrench.** Fit it in the hole in the center of the bottom. Work it back and forth until it turns all the way around freely.
5. **Press the reset button on the bottom.** It pops out when the motor overheats. Push it in until it clicks. If it will not stay in, wait 10 minutes and try again.
6. **Power on, cold water running, test it.** Plug it in, run cold water and flip the switch. It should spin and grind. Keep the water running a few seconds after.

## If it is silent, or spins but will not drain

- Silent: press the reset button, then check the wall switch and the breaker. Still dead? The motor or the switch may be bad.
- Spins but the sink fills up: the clog is past the disposal. Clean the P-trap or see the clogged sink guide.
- Hums again after you free it: something is still stuck, or the motor is failing.

## What not to put in it

- Grease and oil: they harden in the pipes.
- Bones, fruit pits, shells and bottle caps.
- Stringy peels like celery, onion skins and corn husks, which wrap around the plate.
- Lots of pasta, rice or potato peels: they swell into paste.

## When to call a plumber

- It still hums or will not turn after you free it with the wrench.
- It trips the breaker, or the reset button pops right away.
- Water leaks from the bottom of the disposal.
- It stays silent with the power on and the reset button pushed in.

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## Frequently asked questions

### Why is my garbage disposal humming but not working?

It is jammed, or the motor is overheating. Turn it off, unplug it and free the plate with a 1/4-inch Allen wrench from the bottom.

### Where is the reset button on a garbage disposal?

On the bottom of the unit, under the sink. It is a small button that pops out when the motor overheats.

### Can I put my hand in the garbage disposal?

No, never, even with the power off. Use a flashlight and tongs or pliers to pull objects out.

### What size Allen wrench fits a garbage disposal?

Most take a 1/4-inch Allen wrench. Many disposals come with a small wrench for this, sometimes left hanging under the sink.

### Should I repair or replace my garbage disposal?

Replace it if it leaks from the bottom, hums with nothing stuck or keeps tripping the breaker. Freeing a jam and pressing reset are the easy fixes.

### Can I use drain cleaner in a garbage disposal?

No. It can damage the seals and splash back on you when the disposal runs. Use a cup plunger on the sink or clean the trap instead.