Help! My Garbage Disposal is Humming But Not Working
There you are, scraping dinner plates into the sink, you flip the switch and… hmmmmmm. That’s it. Just a hum instead of the usual grinding noise. The sink’s filling with water, the pasta bits are floating around, and your kitchen clean-up just hit a major roadblock.
I’ve been fixing plumbing issues for years at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, and this scenario is something we hear about almost daily: “My garbage disposal is humming but not actually working!” If you’re facing this frustrating situation right now, let me walk you through what’s happening and how to fix it.
What That Humming Sound Really Means
That persistent humming sound isn’t just annoying – it’s actually telling you something important. When your disposal hums but doesn’t grind, it means the motor is getting power and trying to work, but something is physically preventing the grinding mechanism from turning.
This is actually pretty serious business – that motor will keep trying to run until one of three things happens:
The jam clears and everything starts working again
The motor’s thermal protection kicks in and shuts it off
The motor burns out completely (and trust me, that’s the expensive outcome we want to avoid!)
The Most Likely Culprits
In my experience, when a disposal is humming but not turning, here’s what’s usually happening:
Something’s Stuck in There: The most common issue by far is that something hard has wedged itself between the spinning plate (what we call the flywheel) and the outer grinding ring. Common offenders include fruit pits, small bones, bottle caps, or even the occasional piece of silverware that slipped down unnoticed.
Old Age and Wear: If your disposal has been loyally grinding away for 8+ years, the internal components might simply be worn out or seized up. The bearings can rust or the impellers can corrode to the point where they just won’t turn anymore.
Overheated Motor: Did you recently run the disposal for a long time or put something particularly challenging through it? The motor might have overheated and triggered its own protection switch.
Electrical Problems: Sometimes what seems like a mechanical issue is actually electrical – you might have a short in the wiring or insufficient power reaching the unit.
DIY Fixes You Can Try Right Now
Before you call us (though we’re always happy to help!), here are a few things you can safely try on your own:
1. Safety First!
Turn off the power to the disposal before trying anything. Either unplug it from under the sink or flip the appropriate circuit breaker. This is non-negotiable – safety always comes first when dealing with electrical appliances!
2. Hit the Reset Button
Look underneath your disposal unit for a small red button. This is the reset button that triggers when the disposal overheats or experiences an electrical issue. If it’s popped out, simply push it back in, restore power, and try running the disposal again.
3. Try the Wrench Trick
Most disposals come with a special wrench, or you can use a ¼” Allen wrench or hex key. Look for a hexagonal hole at the very bottom center of the disposal. Insert the wrench and try rotating it back and forth several times. This manually turns the flywheel and often dislodges whatever’s causing the jam.
4. Check for Obvious Obstructions
With the power still OFF, use a flashlight to look down into the disposal. If you can see something that doesn’t belong there, use pliers or tongs (NEVER your fingers) to carefully remove it.
Important note: If you try these steps and your disposal is still just humming, stop trying to run it! Continuing to run a jammed disposal can burn out the motor completely, turning a potentially simple fix into a full replacement job.
When to Call the Pros
DIY solutions are great, but there comes a point when professional help makes more sense. It’s time to give us a call if:
- You’ve tried resetting the unit, but it still just hums
- You can’t get the flywheel to turn manually with the wrench
- The disposal makes a burning smell when you try to run it
- Your disposal is more than 8 years old and giving you trouble
- You’ve cleared any visible blockages but it’s still not working
- The humming sound is accompanied by a tripped circuit breaker
At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, our motto is “Dependable + Trustworthy = DEPENDAWORTHY!” What that means for you is that when we show up, we’ll actually solve the problem – not just patch it over temporarily.
What to Expect When We Handle It
When you call us for a humming disposal, here’s how we approach the situation:
First, we conduct a thorough inspection – checking the electrical connections, the disposal unit itself, and the drainage system. No assumptions, just methodical troubleshooting.
If we find a jammed flywheel, we’ll remove the obstruction properly without damaging other components. If the motor is still good after clearing the jam, great! We’ll have you back to normal in no time.
But if the motor has burned out or there’s significant internal damage, we’ll walk you through replacement options that make sense for your home and usage patterns. No upselling – just honest recommendations.
Before we consider the job complete, we run the unit through a full test – checking the grind performance, water flow, and making sure there are no unusual noises or leaks.
Quick Answers to Common Questions
How many times can I try resetting my disposal before giving up?
Just once or twice. If it immediately trips again, something more serious is going on and continued reset attempts could damage the motor.
Is it worth repairing my old disposal or should I just replace it?
If your unit is under 7 years old, repair usually makes sense. Beyond that, replacement often becomes more economical than repeated repairs.
What causes that burning smell sometimes?
That’s the motor overheating or electrical components shorting out – both serious issues that need immediate attention. Unplug the unit and call us right away if you smell this.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
That humming sound might seem like a minor annoyance, but it’s actually your disposal’s cry for help. Left unaddressed, a jammed disposal can quickly turn from a simple fix to a complete replacement job.
At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, we promise to fix it right or you don’t pay. That’s not just marketing talk – it’s how we approach every job, including your humming garbage disposal. Give us a call today, and let’s get your kitchen back to normal!
