How to Clear a Jammed Garbage Disposal
Humming but not spinning, or dead silent? Most jams clear in a few minutes without calling anyone — but never put your hand inside.
Before you start: this is general information, not a diagnosis of your specific situation. Shut off water where instructed, take your time, and stop if anything looks different than described here. If you're not comfortable at any point, stop and call us — that's what we're here for.
- 1Turn off the disposal at the wall switch and, if you can, unplug it under the sink or shut off its breaker — never work on a disposal that could power on with your hand or a tool inside it.
- 2Look underneath the unit for a small hex-shaped hole (the manual reset wrench port) — most disposals ship with a small hex key for exactly this.
- 3Insert the hex key and work it back and forth firmly in both directions to manually turn the flywheel and break up whatever's jamming it.
- 4Once it turns freely, remove the hex key, use tongs or pliers (not your hand) to pull out any visible debris from the top, and check for a small red or black reset button on the bottom or side of the unit — press it if present.
- 5Restore power, run cold water, and turn the disposal on briefly to confirm it spins freely before putting anything else down it.
Never reach into a garbage disposal with your hand, even when it's off and unplugged — always use the hex key from underneath and tongs from the top. If it still won't turn after this, hums but doesn't spin with the hex key too, or trips the breaker repeatedly, the motor may be the problem — that's a call, not a DIY fix.
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