Garbage Disposal Not Working? 5 Safe Checks

If your garbage disposal hums but doesn't turn, it's jammed: switch it off, then turn the flywheel with a 1/4-inch hex key in the socket underneath and press the red reset button. If it does nothing at all, press the reset button and check the breaker or GFCI. Never put your hand inside. A disposal that leaks from its body or stays seized needs replacing.

5 checks you can do safely

1. Turn off the power. Switch off the wall switch and, for safety, the breaker before any check.
2. Unjam with a hex key. Insert a 1/4-inch hex (Allen) key in the socket on the bottom and work it back and forth.
3. Press reset. The small red button on the bottom pops out when the motor overheats; press it in.
4. Remove objects. With power off, use tongs — never your hand — to remove pits, bones or utensils.
5. Check the GFCI. Many disposals plug into a GFCI outlet; reset it if it tripped.

When to call a technician

• It still hums with no movement after unjamming (seized motor).
• Water leaks from the disposal body — the unit needs replacing. We don't repair plumbing or drain-line leaks.
• It trips the reset button again and again.

Stay safe

Unplug the appliance (or switch off its breaker) before touching anything inside it, and never open a sealed refrigeration system, a gas valve or a microwave. If a code points to a part, the part has to be tested before it is replaced; we do that on the $75 diagnostic visit, credited toward the repair.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a new garbage disposal cost installed?

About $300–$600 in Las Vegas depending on horsepower.

What shouldn't go in a disposal?

Bones, pits, grease, pasta, rice, coffee grounds in quantity and fibrous peels.

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