Garbage Disposal Humming but Not Working? Free the Jam Safely
A hum is good news: it means the switch, outlet and motor are getting power. If yours makes no sound at all, start with our garbage disposal not working guide instead. The steps below follow InSinkErator’s and Moen’s own instructions, so they apply to InSinkErator, Badger and Moen disposals; other brands work much the same way, but check your manual.
⚠️ Power off before you start
Turn the wall switch off and unplug the disposal under the sink, or switch off its breaker. InSinkErator: “Do not place your hand in the garbage disposal at any time.” Use tongs or pliers to lift anything out. Don’t leave a humming disposal switched on while you work out what’s wrong: a stalled motor heats up fast, which is what trips the overload.
Why a garbage disposal hums but won’t spin
When you flip the switch, the motor tries to turn the turntable (the spinning plate with the small swivel lugs, sometimes called impellers). If a fruit pit, bone, bottle cap or a wad of fibrous peel is wedged between the turntable and the grind ring, the motor can’t turn. It hums, gets hot, and after a few seconds the overload protector usually cuts the power.
| What you notice | Most likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Hums, nothing turns | Jammed turntable | Free the jam |
| Hums, then goes silent | Jam, then the overload tripped | Free the jam, then reset |
| Hums and the wrench turns freely | Motor or internal fault | Still humming? |
| Spins but water backs up into the sink | Clogged drain, not a jam | Check the trap and drain line |
| No hum at all | Power, switch or tripped overload | Not working guide |
Which unjamming method fits your disposal?
Disposals free up in one of three ways. Look under the sink at the very bottom of the unit before you start.
- A six-sided hole in the dead center of the bottom (most InSinkErator and Badger models): use a hex key from below.
- Moen disposals: Moen’s own instructions use a flat un-jamming wrench from above, through the sink opening.
- No socket at all (InSinkErator lists Builder Series, Amana and ES units): turn the turntable with a wooden spoon.
Hex key from below (InSinkErator, Badger and most others)
InSinkErator says every unit “is shipped with a self-service wrench,” a small silver crank about four inches long. If you can’t find it, “you can use a standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench.”
- With the power off, find the hole. InSinkErator: it’s “under the sink at the bottom of the garbage disposal, dead center, facing the floor.”
- Push the wrench in and use it like a crank. “Work the wrench back and forth in both directions.”
- If it’s stiff, InSinkErator says “it is OK to use some force. The wrench is designed to bend before any damage is done to the garbage disposal.”
- Keep going “until it turns freely in complete circles in both directions.”
- Shine a flashlight down the drain, paying attention to the outer edge of the shredding disk. Lift out anything you see with tongs or pliers.
On InSinkErator EZ Connect models the steps are the same with the small “wrenchette”: work it in the center hole “until it turns one full revolution.”
Wrench from above (Moen)
Moen’s unjam guide works through the sink opening, with the power off:
- Lift out the splash guard if it’s removable (grip it from the top and pull up). If it’s built into the mount, leave it.
- Check for bones, metal, glass or ceramic with a flashlight and remove them with tongs. Moen notes fibrous scraps like corn husks and broccoli stems can wrap around the impellers.
- Lay Moen’s un-jamming wrench (Moen part #1037) flat on the turntable with its ends against the two swivel impellers.
- Turn it either way until the turntable rotates freely for “at least two full revolutions,” then take the wrench out and refit the splash guard.
No socket? Use a wooden spoon
For its Builder Series, Amana and ES units, InSinkErator’s instruction is to switch off the disposer and water, then “dislodge any object(s) by rotating the turntable, in either direction, with a wooden spoon.” Remove the spoon and lift the object out with tongs. Use a wooden spoon or broom handle, never a metal tool and never your hand.
Reset the overload, then test
A jam usually trips the overload protector. On most InSinkErator models it’s “a small square red button” on the bottom of the unit; on Moen it’s on the side opposite the power cord and may need a screwdriver to press.
- With the switch off, gently press the red button. InSinkErator: “If it does not stay up, wait ten minutes and try again.”
- Models without a button reset themselves: InSinkErator says to leave the disposer off for “up to 20 minutes.”
- Run cold water, then switch the disposal on.
- If it jams again, repeat the wrench step. InSinkErator says “you may need to repeat the process several times.”
Need more detail on the button? See where the reset button is and what to do if it won’t reset.
Still humming after you’ve freed it?
If the wrench now turns freely in full circles, nothing is visible in the chamber, and the disposal still hums without spinning, the problem is inside the unit. Don’t keep switching it on: each attempt heats the motor. Stop and arrange service or a replacement.
- Check the warranty first. InSinkErator, for example, backs the Badger 5 with a 5-year in-home service warranty; the label on the disposal gives the model.
- Don’t open the electrical cover plate or test the motor yourself. That’s work for a disposal pro or electrician.
- Fixr puts fixing a jammed disposal at about $75 to $150 if you’d rather have a pro do it, and HomeAdvisor puts an installed replacement at $200 to $625.
Stop it jamming again
- Cold water, every time. InSinkErator: “Run garbage disposal along with a moderate flow of cold water,” and keep it running “for a few seconds after grinding is complete.”
- Feed it gradually. Don’t fill the chamber before switching on.
- Keep out the jam-makers: fruit pits, shells, bones in quantity, and anything non-food such as bottle caps, twist ties and glass.
- Never pour grease or fat in. InSinkErator says never to put it in your disposal or drain.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my garbage disposal humming but not spinning?
Something is wedged between the turntable and the grind ring, so the motor can’t turn. With the power off, free it with the hex key in the bottom socket (or Moen’s wrench from above), remove the object with tongs, then press the reset button.
What size Allen wrench fits a garbage disposal?
InSinkErator says a standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench works if you’ve lost the wrench that came with it. It goes in the hole in the dead center of the bottom of the disposal.
Can I use a broom handle to unjam a garbage disposal?
For disposals without a bottom socket, InSinkErator’s method is to turn the turntable with a wooden spoon from above, with the power off. A wooden broom handle works the same way. Never use your hand.
Is it safe to leave a humming disposal on?
No. A stalled motor overheats quickly, which is why the overload trips. Switch it off right away and free the jam with the power off.
My disposal hums but there’s no jam. What now?
If the wrench turns freely and the chamber is clear, the fault is inside the disposal. Stop using it and check the warranty or call a disposal pro; don’t open the electrical cover.
Sources: InSinkErator: fixing a jammed garbage disposal · InSinkErator: how to reset a garbage disposal · Moen: how to unjam a garbage disposal · InSinkErator: Badger 5 warranty · Fixr: disposal repair cost · HomeAdvisor: disposal replacement cost.
Updated October 28, 2026. Written and edited by Jordan Hale. Steps checked against InSinkErator and Moen support pages; no hands-on test is claimed. Disposal designs vary, so follow your owner’s manual.
