Restart a Garbage Disposal That Only Hums

Flip the switch and get a hum but no grinding? The disposal is jammed or tripped — and it's designed to be un-jammed without taking anything apart.

How to do it

1. Turn the switch OFF. Never reach inside the disposal, ever.
2. Look under the unit for a small red reset button and press it.
3. Find the hex socket in the center of the bottom. Insert a 1/4-inch Allen wrench and work it back and forth until it spins freely — this manually breaks the jam loose.
4. Remove the wrench, run cold water, and turn it on.

A piece of bone, a bottle cap, or a twist tie is usually the culprit. If it trips again right away, there may still be debris — shine a flashlight in from the top and fish it out with tongs, switch off.