Submitted by Homebridge t3_zwzks8 in DIY
I have a garbage disposal that I cannot get to work at all. I've reset the button and checked the power, that's not the issue. When trying to use the Allen wrench to loosen the blade I ended up stripping it. I went and got another one but when I try to move it the entire unit wiggles and moves excessively. Is it bound up? Should I just get a new unit?
Thanks, I did check inside as my husband very graciously did the big batch of dishes before this, but unfortunately it seems like the motor seized!
Broom handle, spin from sink side
Agree. The key is to use the soft wood to get the blade moving. It’ll only move in one direction. If you can’t get it moving, disposals aren’t too hard to replace yourself.
Take notes: broom handle next time, not hand. Signed:Stumpy McStumpin.
This is the answer.
This
You can pull the rubber guard out from the drain opening and look down inside with a flashlight. It doesn't take much to wedge the blades, especially if the foreign object is just the right size. Typically you will find things stuck under the blade or between the blade edge and the side wall. I have a long pair of needle nose pliers that are curved at the end that I use all the time for this. Good luck.
You can remove the rubber drain and use the handle of a hammer to back the blades up and release what has it locked.
I've had to do it dozens of times. Old apt handyman.
I can hear the motor going but it doesn’t move. Does that sound like it’s jammed up, in your expert opinion? I don’t know shit about these things.
Yup exactly like that
Quite apt, i’d say
After unplugging it, try using some needle nose pliers to rotate the blades. Same as using the Allen wrench on the bottom. Or use a light to see what jammed it up and remove it that way.
Ooh, good idea! I couldn't move the blades with my hand, but pliers may work. Thanks!
The Allen wrench at the bottom is a plumbers hack lol. Does it hum when you’re trying it? It’s pulling power but jammed. Don’t stick your hand and pliers in the blades please lol. Use an Allen wrench to turn the unit manually from the bottom.
Something else to check: the switch that powers it. If you flip the switch and don’t hear the motor trying to turn, and you’ve already found the power reset on the disposal, it’s worth checking the switch VERY CAREFULLY with a multi-meter. Switches can wear out with use over time (I’ve had this happen 3 or 4 times with disposals and light switches).
Being sure the power is off either reach in with some kind of pliers and turn it back a quarter then or see what allen wrench it takes on bottom (if it has it)
Pulled a dime out of our disposal. The SO has no idea how it got there.
A kitchen spider tried to pay rent but dropped the dime into the sink.
Ours got jammed up, could not free it, so we replaced it with a slightly bigger one. Pulled the old one apart to find a bolt wedged in it, really not sure how that got in there, thought maybe it came out of the disposal but nothing felt loose.
I have unmounted and disassembled garbage disposals a few times in order to get them unstuck. It's not hard and doesn't take long. You should be able to open up the grinding chamber to get to whatever may be jamming it. I've had little pebbles and pieces of silverware get tightly jammed between the blades and the casing. Maybe check YouTube for a video if you need encouragement.
Does it hum or does it make no sound?
No sound at all
If the motor were engaging, you should get a hum. You checked both the circuit breaker on the device and the circuit breaker in the breaker box?
Note that a half-tripped breaker won’t be easy to spot. They often look like they’re on. You have to flip them all the way off and then back on.
Good suggestion, I'll check the breaker too. Thanks!
Sounds like the bearings gave out and locked up.
There is an Allen wrench hole on the bottom you can turn to unlock it.
There may me a huge nut on the inside where you can attach a 3/4" drive socket, extension and breaker bar. Worked for me.
call about taking it back if u cant get it working
we got ours from home depot and the warranty was good enough that any time w brought it back they gave a new one
easy to install, dont forget the popout
Just get a new one, they are fairly cheap and easy to install. Think about getting one with a higher horsepower
this happened to me a few months back. a screw had come loose from the pendant light above and fallen into the garbage disposal causing it to jam.
Do you have a shop-vac? Try to vacuum it out from the top. If something like a shard of glass got lodged in it, and you can stick the vacuum in and also try to move it counter clockwise, you can often fix this.
I do, and that's a very helpful suggestion! Thanks!
Like mentioned, replacing a garbage disposal is easy. However, they're probably about $100 at least.
If it is badly jammed, I have fixed mine by throwing it upside down outside on the driveway. Just gentle drops to dislodge any objects in the garbage disposal. But I would put a new one in even if you are able to fix your old one
Sometimes, something can get stuck hard enough that even the “Allen wrench solution” won’t fix. In those cases, I take a butter knife and put inside the disposal try to rake the inside of it, making sure to hit every surface area possible. Then use metal tongs to try and fish out if there’s any small pieces that loosen up. I then use said butter knife and try to spin the blades by pushing on them in either direction to help “unbind” the motor.
If this doesn’t fix it, then yeah, it’s probably permanently seized and you’d need a new one.
Just buy new one. There like 100$ or less.
twohedwlf t1_j1xorrv wrote
Have you checked inside it and removed the spoon?
Just kidding, it does sound like something inside it has jammed it. If not, time for a replacement.