Garbage disposal hums but won't spin
A humming disposal is getting power, but the motor cannot turn. Nine times out of ten that is a jam, and the hex wrench that came with the unit clears it in two minutes. If the plate turns freely with the wrench and the unit still only hums, the motor has failed and the disposal gets replaced. A reset button that pops back out every time means the motor is still stalled, so stop running it.
Read the full guideGarbage disposal is dead and makes no sound at all
A disposal that makes no sound at all is not getting power to the motor. A jam hums. Silence means the thermal reset has popped, the outlet under the sink is dead, or the motor has an open winding. Press the reset button on the bottom of the unit first, because that fixes it more often than anything else. If the outlet under the sink is dead with the wall switch on, the fault is the switch or the wiring, and that is an electrician's job, not a new disposal.
Read the full guide
Ready to hire? Find your city to see what garbage disposal repairs cost there and how Runhome calls local contractors for you.