Why does my garbage disposal hum but not turn?

The motor's getting power but the grind ring is jammed. Something hard is stuck between the impeller and the ring. Kill the power, free it with the hex key underneath, then push the red reset button. If it goes right back to humming, the motor bearing has probably gone.

Where is the reset button on a garbage disposal?

It's a small red button on the bottom of the unit, usually near the center. An overload trips it, and the disposal won't run again until you push it. Check it first. Most people have never been told it's there.

Can I put a hand in the chamber if the power is off?

No. The grind ring has sharp edges whether the motor can turn or not, and you don't need to. A flashlight and a pair of tongs reach anything your hand would. For the flywheel, use the hex key underneath.

Is a garbage disposal worth repairing?

If it's jammed, tripped or leaking at the flange, yes. Those are cheap fixes. A cracked body or a dead motor usually isn't. A new unit doesn't cost much, and the labor makes the repair a bad deal. We'll tell you which one you've got.

Garbage Disposal Not Working? Try These Five Things First

Garbage disposal under a kitchen sink with a hex key in the bottom socket to free a jam, lit by a flashlight

Key takeaways

Shut off the power first and never put your hand in the chamber. The grind ring has sharp edges whether the motor turns or not.
Check the small red reset button on the bottom first. It covers a big chunk of the calls we get about a disposal that won't turn on.
A hum with no spinning means the grind ring is jammed. Free it with the hex key underneath, then push the reset button.

Garbage disposal not working? It’s one of five things. Two of them you can fix in about three minutes without a single tool. Go down the list in order. The reset button alone covers a good share of the calls we get.

Stop There’s one rule with no exceptions. Shut the power off before you do anything, and never put your hand in the chamber. The hex key does everything your hand would, and it can’t get cut.

Work through it in order

Stop as soon as one of these fixes it. You don't get a prize for finishing the list.

1 Kill the power first, every time
Switch it off at the wall. If the unit is hardwired, shut off the breaker too. Everything below assumes the power is off. Never put your hand in the chamber, powered or not. The grind ring has sharp edges whether the motor is turning or not.
Stop here if: You can't tell for sure that the power is off. Stop and call us.
2 Find the reset button
There's a small red button on the bottom of the unit. When the motor overloads it trips, and it stays tripped until you push it. That one button covers a big chunk of the calls we get about a disposal that won't turn on, and most people don't know it's there.
Stop here if: You push it and the unit runs. That was the whole problem.
3 If it hums but won't turn, free the flywheel
A hum with no spinning means the motor's getting power but the grind ring is jammed. Look for a hex fitting in the center of the bottom. Most units come with the key taped to the side. Work it back and forth until it turns freely, then push the reset button.
Stop here if: The flywheel comes loose and it runs normally. Fish out whatever jammed it before you use the sink again.
4 Look down into it with a flashlight
With the power still off, shine a light down into the chamber. Bottle caps, silverware and fruit stickers are what we usually find. Pull them out with tongs or pliers, never your fingers.
Stop here if: You find something hard and get it out. Push the reset and test it.
5 Check underneath for a leak
Run your hand along the bottom of the unit and around the joint where it meets the sink flange (the metal ring down in the drain). A leak at the flange means the seal needs to be reseated. A leak from the body of the unit is a cracked housing, and that's a replacement, not a repair.
Stop here if: Water's coming out of the body, not a joint. The unit is done. Stop and call us.

Common questions

Why does my garbage disposal hum but not turn?

The motor's getting power but the grind ring is jammed. Something hard is stuck between the impeller and the ring. Kill the power, free it with the hex key underneath, then push the red reset button. If it goes right back to humming, the motor bearing has probably gone.
Where is the reset button on a garbage disposal?

It's a small red button on the bottom of the unit, usually near the center. An overload trips it, and the disposal won't run again until you push it. Check it first. Most people have never been told it's there.
Can I put a hand in the chamber if the power is off?

No. The grind ring has sharp edges whether the motor can turn or not, and you don't need to. A flashlight and a pair of tongs reach anything your hand would. For the flywheel, use the hex key underneath.
Is a garbage disposal worth repairing?

If it's jammed, tripped or leaking at the flange, yes. Those are cheap fixes. A cracked body or a dead motor usually isn't. A new unit doesn't cost much, and the labor makes the repair a bad deal. We'll tell you which one you've got.

Past the point of a home fix?

Call and we'll give you a flat rate before anyone starts.

Call (480) 791-8858

(520) 788-4004 for Pinal County · (480) 791-8858 for Maricopa County

Garbage Disposal Not Working? Try These Five Things First

Key takeaways

Work through it in order

Common questions

More on dishwashers, disposals and compactors

Past the point of a home fix?

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