When you flip the switch to turn on the garbage disposer and all you get is a hum—or a loud, metal-on-metal grinding noise—you know something’s wrong. It might be revived with a simple fix. Here are three things to try.
1. If your garbage disposer is hard-wired, start by flipping off the circuit breaker. If it plugs in, unplug it.
Look for a jam. Something too tough to grind, such as a piece of glass, could be jamming the motor. Remove the rubber baffle inside the drain—most just lift out—and shine a flashlight into the hole. Fish out the obstruction with a pair of tongs or needle-nose pliers.
2. Turn the motor manually. You’ll need a hex wrench. Some disposers come with one bent at a convenient angle, but if you don’t have it, you can buy one at a hardware store or use a standard Allen wrench. Rotate the wrench back and forth as shown until the motor turns a full revolution, then remove the wrench and switch on the motor.
3. Press the reset button. If your motor has overheated by working too long, wait five minutes for it to cool down, then push the reset button. (It’s usually located on the underside of the disposer.) The motor may also have overheated because of a jam. If the motor doesn’t start after manually turning it, try pushing the reset button. Turn on a cold stream of water and turn the disposer switch to “on” position; the disposer should now run again.