How to Fix a Garbage Disposal that Only Hums

If your garbage disposal turns on but only makes a humming sound, it means that you have a jammed flywheel or a jammed cutting wheel. This usually happens when a foreign object has been dropped down the disposal so that it jams the blade and can no longer turn. If left on long enough, the humming noise will stop because the protective circuit breaker on the unit will disengage. The jam must be cleared prior to the breaker being reset.

Disposal wrench
Bleach

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the main breaker at the household breaker panel. This is an absolute before beginning to work on the garbage disposal.
- 2
  Use the wrench that comes with all garbage disposals. They are generically sized so that one wrench will fit every model.If you have lost yours then you can find a replacement at virtually any hardware store. They look like a hex wrench, and an actual hex wrench of the correct size can be used instead.
- 3
  Insert this wrench into the hole on the bottom side of the garbage disposal. Turn the wrench clockwise and then counterclockwise several times. Turn the power back on and with the garbage disposal running, run hot water down the drain with a cap full of bleach for up to 10 minutes to clear out any remaining items.

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