How to Fix a Jammed Garbage Disposal

Got a jammed garbage disposal? 

Here are some easy steps you can take to try and clear it yourself.

1. Check to see if there is power going to the disposal. If you turn on the disposal and hear a hum, that indicates that there is power to the unit.
2. Push the red reset button on the bottom of the unit. This is a circuit breaker for the unit, and sometimes, just by pushing it back in, the unit will work again.
3. If pushing the reset button does not work, turn off the power to the garbage disposal. If the unit plugs into the wall below the sink, you can just unplug it before you try to clear the jam. Otherwise, you’ll need to go to the circuit breaker and turn off power to the garbage disposal.
4. Get an Allen Wrench and put it in the socket underneath the center of the disposal and turn it. If it spins around smoothly, the disposal should work fine once you reconnect the power. If not, let’s try going in from the top with step 5.
5. If you have a basin wrench, you’ll want to insert it into the top of the disposal and move it either clockwise or counterclockwise to dislodge whatever is still stuck in the disposal. Do not stick a broom handle (Yes, folks do this all the time.) into the disposal as the wood can break off and create a worse jam. Need help clearing a jam in your garbage disposal? The experts at Agentis are ready to help.