A disposal that hums but will not spin is usually mechanically jammed by a hard object between the impeller plate and grinding wall. Free it from underneath first; do not reach inside.
This applies to InSinkErator, GE, Waste King, KitchenAid, and similar under-sink disposals.
Does this affect you?
Use this if the disposal hums, trips its reset button, or goes silent after trying to grind something hard.
Safety first
- Never put your hand or fingers down the disposal opening.
- Turn off the wall switch and unplug the unit or switch off the breaker.
- Use tongs or pliers from above only when you can see the object.
- Run cold water for normal disposal use after the jam is cleared.
Free the jam with the hex key
- Cut power completely.
- Find the small hex hole at the bottom center of the disposal.
- Insert a 1/4-inch hex key or the wrench that came with the unit.
- Rock it back and forth in both directions.
- Keep working until it turns through a full rotation without hard resistance.
- Remove visible objects from above with tongs.
- Take the wrench out before restoring power.
Press reset and check the breaker
- Find the red or black reset button near the bottom of the disposal.
- Press until it clicks.
- If it will not stay in, wait 10 to 15 minutes for the motor to cool.
- Check the home breaker if the disposal still has no power.
- If reset brings back only a hum, the jam is not fully cleared.
Fruit pits, bones, glass, utensils, bottle caps, celery, corn husks, and other fibrous scraps are common jam causes. Coffee grounds, pasta, and rice more often create downstream clogs.
If the plate turns freely but the motor still hums or will not run, the motor winding or bearing may have failed. If the unit also leaks from underneath, replacement is usually the practical fix.
Sources
- InSinkErator – Disposal Is Jammed or Humming (2025)
- GE Appliances – Garbage Disposal Won’t Turn or Reset (2025)
- Waste King – Disposal Troubleshooting: Jams and Resets (2024)