Why is My Garbage Disposal Humming But Not Spinning?

Introduction

It’s a familiar and frustrating scenario: you flip the switch to your garbage disposal and instead of the familiar whirring sound, you’re met with a loud, angry hum. Your sink is backing up, and your kitchen cleanup has come to a grinding halt. To answer your question directly: If your garbage disposal is humming but not spinning, it's almost always because something is jammed between the impeller blades and the shredder ring, or the unit's internal circuit breaker has tripped. As a licensed master plumber, I’m here to walk you through the safe way to troubleshoot this issue and explain when it’s time to call a professional.

Safety First! Before You Do Anything…

Your garbage disposal is a powerful appliance with sharp, fast-moving parts. Before attempting any troubleshooting, you must follow these safety steps:

• NEVER, under any circumstances, put your hand down the drain into the garbage disposal.

  
  

• Turn the garbage disposal switch OFF

  
  

• For complete safety, go to your home's breaker box and turn OFF the circuit breaker that powers the garbage disposal.

A Simple 3-Step Troubleshooting Guide

With the power completely disconnected, you can now safely investigate the problem. Most of the time, a humming disposal can be fixed with these simple steps.

1. Look for a Foreign Object (with a flashlight)

The most common cause of a jam is a non-food item that has fallen in, like a bottle cap, a small utensil, a twist-tie, or a piece of bone. Take a flashlight and look down into the drain. If you can see an obstruction, use pliers or tongs to carefully pull it out.

2. Press the Reset Button 

Nearly all garbage disposals have a small thermal overload protector, or reset button, located on the bottom of the unit under the sink. It's typically a small red or black button. After ensuring the drain is clear, press this button firmly. It should click and stay in. This acts like a mini circuit breaker for the unit itself.

3. Use the Jam-Buster Wrench

If the disposal is still stuck, the jam is internal. Look at the very bottom of the unit; there should be a small hexagonal hole in the center. Most disposals come with a small Allen wrench (often called a jam-buster wrench) that fits this hole. Insert the wrench and turn it back and forth, clockwise and counter-clockwise. This manually moves the impeller blades to dislodge whatever is stuck inside.

When the Hum Means It's Time to Call a Master Plumber

The steps above will resolve about 90% of simple jams. However, you should call a professional plumber immediately if:

• You've tried all the steps and the disposal still only hums.

  
  

• The disposal is leaking water from the bottom of the unit (a sign of a failed seal).

  
  

• The unit trips the main circuit breaker immediately after being reset.

  
  

• You are not comfortable performing any of these troubleshooting steps yourself.

Your Houston Garbage Disposal Repair & Replacement Expert 

A jammed garbage disposal doesn't have to ruin your day. At LTP Plumbing, I can quickly and safely diagnose the issue. I’ll determine if your unit can be repaired or if it's time for a replacement, and I will provide you with a clear, upfront quote before any work begins. I can get your Houston kitchen back in working order in no time.

Author & Related Information

Eric Santillan is a licensed master plumber and the owner-operator of LTP Plumbing. With years of experience serving homeowners throughout the greater Houston area, he is dedicated to providing honest, high-quality plumbing solutions with transparent pricing. Eric believes in solving problems correctly the first time, ensuring every customer feels confident and respected.