A garbage disposal humming but not working almost always means the motor is getting power but the spinning plate inside is stuck, usually on a fruit pit, a bone, or a stray piece of silverware. In most cases the unit is not dead, and you can free it in a few minutes with the hex key that came with it. Newman's Plumbing Service & Repair has worked on kitchen plumbing across Hampton Roads since 1994, licensed and insured under Virginia License No. 2705161180. Turn the switch off now so the motor does not overheat, then work through the checks below, or call (757) 465-0883 if you would rather have us handle it.
Why a Disposal Hums Instead of Spinning
Inside every disposal is a motor that turns a flat plate, called the flywheel, with two swinging lugs on top. The lugs fling food against a grind ring until it is fine enough to wash down the drain. That hum you hear is the motor trying to turn and being held still.
When we open up a humming unit in a Portsmouth or Chesapeake kitchen, the cause is usually one of these:
- A hard object wedged between the flywheel and the grind ring: a peach or olive pit, a chicken bone, a bottle cap, a twist tie, or a spoon
- Fibrous scraps like celery, corn husks, or onion skins wrapped around the lugs
- Starchy waste such as rice, pasta, or potato peels packed into a paste that sets up overnight
- Rust or mineral buildup that froze the flywheel in a unit that has not been run for weeks, common in rentals and vacation homes
- On older units, worn bearings that drag the motor to a stop even with nothing inside
How to Fix a Jammed Garbage Disposal Safely
Never put your hand in the disposal, even with the switch off. A jammed flywheel can let go suddenly. Work through these steps in order:
- Turn the wall switch off, then unplug the unit under the sink or switch off its breaker so it cannot start while you work.
- Shine a flashlight down the drain. If you can see the object, pull it out with tongs or needle-nose pliers.
- Find the six-sided hole in the center of the bottom of the unit. Insert the quarter-inch hex key, or an Allen wrench of the same size, and work it back and forth until it turns a full circle freely.
- Press the small red reset button on the bottom of the unit. If it does not click, wait 10 minutes for the motor to cool and try again.
- Restore power, run cold water, and switch it on. If it spins, run it for 30 seconds with water flowing to flush out whatever broke loose.
When the Disposal Is Silent or Keeps Tripping
A disposal that makes no sound at all is a different problem from one that hums. Check the reset button first, then the breaker, then whether the unit is plugged in. Many kitchens wire the disposal to a switched outlet under the sink, and a loose plug or a tripped GFCI outlet on the same circuit will cut it off completely.
If the reset button keeps popping every time you run it, the motor is overheating. That can mean a partial jam the hex key did not fully clear, or a motor that is wearing out. And if you hear the motor spin freely but water will not go down, the disposal is working and the clog is further along, in the trap or the drain line. We walk through that situation in what to do when a kitchen sink is clogged on both sides.
How Long Do Garbage Disposals Last?
Most garbage disposals last about 8 to 15 years. Where a unit lands in that range depends on how hard it works and what it is built from. A budget third-horsepower model in a busy family kitchen may give out in six or seven years, while a heavier unit with stainless grinding parts often runs well past ten.
Hampton Roads humidity is hard on the cabinet under the sink, and a small drip from a worn seal can rust out a disposal from the outside long before the motor fails. If yours is the original unit in a house built in the 2000s or earlier, it is worth planning for a replacement rather than waiting for the hum.
Signs It Is Time for a New Unit
Freeing a jam is a repair. Some problems are not worth repairing, and we will tell you so instead of selling you a service call you do not need. Replace the disposal if you see any of these:
- Water dripping from the bottom of the unit itself, which means the internal seal has failed and cannot be fixed
- Jams every few weeks even when you are careful about what goes in
- The reset button tripping on almost every use
- A grinding or metal-on-metal screech after the jam is cleared, a sign of worn bearings
- Visible rust on the housing or a persistent smell that cleaning does not fix
What Not to Put Down the Disposal
Most jams are preventable. A disposal is built for the soft scraps left on a plate after you scrape it into the trash, not for meal prep waste. Keep grease, bones, pits, shells, coffee grounds, eggshells, rice, pasta, and stringy vegetables out of it, and always run cold water before, during, and for 15 to 20 seconds after grinding.
If the hex key and reset button do not bring yours back, our residential plumbing service covers kitchen plumbing from the sink to the wall, with the price before any work starts and our 100 percent workmanship guarantee behind it. We serve Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Hampton, and Smithfield from our shop at 2140 Colorado Ave. in Portsmouth. Call (757) 465-0883 day or night.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I replace a garbage disposal instead of repairing it?
Replace a garbage disposal when it leaks from the bottom of the unit, jams or trips the reset button over and over, or is more than about 10 years old and starting to fail. A leak from the housing means the internal seal is gone, and that cannot be repaired. A one-time jam on a younger unit is almost always worth fixing with the hex key and reset button.
Is it safe to put my hand in a garbage disposal to clear a jam?
No, never put your hand inside a garbage disposal, even with the switch off. Unplug the unit or turn off its breaker, then use tongs or pliers to pull out anything you can see and a hex key on the bottom of the unit to free the flywheel.
Why does my garbage disposal hum and then shut off?
A disposal that hums and then shuts off is jammed, and the motor's thermal overload switch has tripped to protect it from overheating. Turn the power off, free the flywheel with the hex key on the bottom, let the motor cool for about 10 minutes, and press the red reset button before trying it again.
Can a plumber fix a garbage disposal that won't turn on?
Yes, a plumber can diagnose a disposal that will not turn on and either repair it or replace it in the same visit. Newman's Plumbing checks the power, reset, and wiring connection first, then the unit itself, and gives you the price before any work starts. Call (757) 465-0883.
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Newman's Plumbing has served Hampton Roads since 1994.