Garbage Disposal Jammed or Not Working
A jammed garbage disposal is usually a 2-minute fix once you know the trick. The disposal has a built-in safety feature for exactly this situation. Before you do anything: NEVER put your hand inside a disposal, even if you think it's off. Use tools, not fingers.
What to Check Before You Call Someone
Turn it off and make sure it stays off
Flip the wall switch off. For extra safety, unplug the disposal under the sink or turn off the breaker. The motor can be powerful enough to cause serious injury.
Fix: Confirm it's off by flipping the switch... nothing should happen. If the disposal is hardwired (no plug), turn off the breaker.
Use the Allen wrench hole on the bottom
Look at the very bottom of the disposal unit under the sink. There's a hex-shaped hole designed for a 1/4-inch Allen wrench (hex key). Most disposals come with one, and it's probably taped to the side of the unit or in a junk drawer.
Fix: Insert a 1/4-inch Allen wrench into the hole and work it back and forth. This manually rotates the grinding plate and frees whatever is jamming it. You'll feel resistance, then it'll break free. This is the manufacturer's intended way to unjam the unit.
No Allen wrench? Use a broom handle from the top
If you don't have an Allen wrench, you can free the jam from above. Insert a wooden broom handle or thick wooden spoon into the disposal from the sink opening and press it against the impeller plate.
Fix: Push the impeller plate in one direction, then the other, until it moves freely. Use wood or plastic... never metal, which can damage the grinding components.
Remove the stuck object
Once the impeller moves freely, use long tongs, needle-nose pliers, or chopsticks to reach in and remove whatever caused the jam. Common culprits: bones, fruit pits, utensils, glass, bottle caps, and twist ties.
Fix: Pull out any foreign objects. Run cold water and turn on the disposal briefly to test. If it runs freely, you're done.
Press the reset button
If the disposal hums but doesn't spin, or if it doesn't turn on at all, the thermal overload switch may have tripped. There's a small red or black button on the bottom of the unit.
Fix: Press the reset button firmly until you feel it click. Wait 5 minutes for the motor to cool, then try the switch again with cold water running. If it keeps tripping immediately, the motor may be burned out.
Check for power if nothing happens at all
No hum, no sound, nothing when you flip the switch. Check that the disposal is plugged in (feel under the sink for the cord and outlet), check the GFCI outlet reset button, and check the breaker.
Fix: If power is confirmed but the motor is completely dead (no hum, no response, reset button won't stay in), the motor has failed. Disposal replacement costs $100-$400 installed, or $50-$200 for the unit if you DIY.
When It's Time to Replace
If the motor is dead (no hum, no response with confirmed power), if it jams constantly despite clearing, or if it leaks from the bottom (internal seal failure), it's replacement time. Disposals last 8-15 years. A new 1/2 HP disposal ($50-$100) is a straightforward DIY swap for someone handy, or $150-$300 installed by a plumber. If yours is more than 10 years old and giving you repeated problems, replacing it is simpler and cheaper than repeated repair visits.
Read our full Garbage Disposal replacement guide →When to Call a Professional
Call a plumber if: the disposal leaks from the bottom or side (seal or housing failure), you can't free the jam with the Allen wrench method, the reset button won't stay engaged (possible electrical issue), or you need the disposal replaced and aren't comfortable with basic plumbing connections. Most disposal replacements take a plumber 30-60 minutes.
This guide is for informational purposes. For gas leaks, electrical issues, or emergencies, call a licensed professional immediately.