Overview
That steady hum with no grinding means the impeller plate is locked up, usually on a peach pit, a chicken bone or a stray teaspoon. If the red reset button keeps popping, the motor is protecting itself from that lock. Water at the rim of the sink is a flange seal and can be redone. Water dripping off the bottom of the can means the internal seal is gone.
We free jams, reset the motor, reseal flanges and connections, and check the drain beyond the disposal. Sometimes the disposal is fine and the clog is further down the kitchen line.
How we handle it
Power off and check
Free the flywheel, reset the motor.
Find any leak
Flange, dishwasher connection or bottom.
Fix or replace
Reseal or recommend a new unit.
What it costs
Unsticking a locked unit is a quick trip. New gaskets at the sink ring or dishwasher inlet add a little for parts. A can that drips from underneath is a new disposal, which we can usually swap in during the same stop.
Good to know
- Run cold water during and after grinding.
- Grind ice cubes occasionally to clean the chamber.
- Keep fibrous foods like celery and corn husks out.
Fibrous peels, rice and grease are the top causes of disposal and kitchen line clogs we see. Run plenty of cold water while it grinds.
Garbage disposal repair questions
Can I free a jam myself?
Kill the power first. Lots of models take a quarter inch hex key in the bottom center to rock the plate loose. If it will not budge, leave it for us.
Why does it smell?
Food trapped under the splash guard or a slow drain.
Fix or replace?
A lockup or a rim leak is a small bill. Leaks from the base mean a new unit.
Can a disposal cause the dishwasher not to drain?
Yes. A clogged disposal or a blocked dishwasher inlet can stop it.