Garbage disposal hums but won't spin
A humming garbage disposal is usually jammed. How to reset it safely with the red button and the hex key, and when to call maintenance.
About 2 minutes · no tools needed
Safety first. Never put your hand inside the disposal. Turn the wall switch OFF before touching anything under the sink.
- 1
Switch it off
Turn the disposal's wall switch OFF and wait a minute for the motor to cool.
- 2
Press the reset button
Look under the sink at the bottom of the disposal for a small red (sometimes black) button. Press it firmly until it clicks.
- 3
Free the jam with the hex key
With the switch still OFF, put the hex key (or a 1/4-inch Allen wrench) in the hole at the very bottom center of the unit. Work it back and forth until it turns freely all the way around.
- 4
Test with cold water
Run cold water, then switch the disposal on. Keep the water running while it grinds.
Stop and contact maintenance if
- · It still only hums after the reset and the hex key
- · Water is leaking from the bottom of the unit
- · You smell burning or the breaker trips
What to tell them: Tell them it hums but won't spin, that you tried the reset button and the hex key, and send a photo of the label on the side of the unit.
For property managers
FixRoute walks your residents through this by text, at 2am, and only sends a vendor when it's really needed.
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