How do I unjam a garbage disposal?
Switch the disposal off and cut its power at the plug or breaker. Fit the hex wrench that came with it, or a 1/4-inch Allen wrench, into the hole in the center of the underside and work it back and forth until it turns freely. Lift out the object with tongs, let the motor cool, reset it and test it with cold water running.
Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.
By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
Step by step
Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.
Step 1: Cut the power
Switch the disposal off, then unplug its cord or switch off its circuit breaker before you reach under the sink.[4]
Step 2: Keep your hands out
Never put your hand into the grinding chamber; use a flashlight to look and tongs or pliers to reach.[1]
Step 3: Empty the sink
If the sink is full of water, wait for it to drain or bail it out with a bucket or pot.[1]
Step 4: Find the wrench
Use the small crank-shaped wrench that came with the disposal, or a standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench if it is lost.[1]
Step 5: Free the grinding plate
Fit the wrench into the hole in the center of the disposal's underside and work it back and forth until it turns full circles in both directions.[1]
Step 6: Builder Series: use a spoon
InSinkErator's instructions for its Builder Series, Amana and ES units turn the grinding plate from above with a wooden spoon instead.[1]
Step 7: Remove the object
Shine a light into the chamber, check around the outer edge of the grinding plate, and lift out anything you find with tongs.[1]
Step 8: Let the motor cool
On a unit with a red reset button, InSinkErator's Badger manual lets the motor cool for 3 to 5 minutes before you press it.[3]
Step 9: Press the reset button
Gently press the small red button on the bottom of the unit; if it does not stay up, wait ten minutes and try again.[2]
Step 10: EZ Connect or Builder Series
These InSinkErator units have an automatic overload switch: leave the wall switch off, or unplug an air-switch unit, for up to 20 minutes before turning it back on.[1]
Step 11: Power up and test
Plug the cord back in or switch the breaker on, run cold water, then switch the disposal on.[1]
Step 12: Repeat if it jams again
If it jams again, go back to the wrench; it can take several rounds to clear a stubborn jam.[1]
Step 13: Check the panel if it is silent
If the motor still does nothing, look for a tripped breaker or blown fuse at the service panel.[3]
Most jammed garbage disposals can be freed in a few minutes with a small hex wrench and no parts. The motor stops or hums because something hard or unexpected, such as a bottle cap, a piece of shell or a utensil, has wedged the grinding plate against the ring around it. You turn the plate by hand from underneath, take the object out from above, and reset the motor.
The cutaway above shows why this works. The round plate in the chamber is turned by the motor below it, and the hex hole on the bottom gives you a way to turn the same shaft by hand. Free the shaft and the plate is free.
What you need
A flashlight, tongs or long-nose pliers, and the hex wrench. Every InSinkErator ships with a small silver wrench shaped like a crank. If you cannot find it, a standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench does the same job.[1] A towel on the cabinet floor helps, because the bottom of the unit can drip.
Cut the power first
The wall switch alone is not enough. Waste King's advice is to unplug the power cord from the wall or turn the breaker box switch to the off position[4] before you start. If your disposal plugs into an outlet under the sink, pulling the plug is the simplest and surest way. If it is hardwired, with a cable running straight into the bottom of the unit, switch off its breaker at the panel. If the disposal is controlled by a push-button air switch, InSinkErator says to turn it off and unplug it.[1]
Never reach into the grinding chamber, even with the power off. Use the flashlight to look and the tongs to reach.
Freeing the jam
Find the hex hole: it is on the underside of the disposal, dead center, facing the floor. Push the wrench in and use it like a crank, working it back and forth. It may barely move at first. InSinkErator says it is fine to use some force, because the wrench is designed to bend before any damage is done to the disposal.[1] Keep working it until it turns freely in complete circles in both directions.
InSinkErator's instructions for its Builder Series, Amana and ES units use a wooden spoon from above[1] instead of the wrench: rotate the turntable in either direction with a wooden spoon[1] until it moves freely.
Now take out whatever caused the jam. Shine the light into the chamber and look all the way around. Pay particular attention to the outer edge of the grinding plate, where the small teeth are.[1] Lift anything you find out with the tongs.
Getting it running again
InSinkErator disposals have an overload protector, a small red button on the bottom of the unit, and Waste King units have a reset button too.[4] On an InSinkErator it turns the motor off by itself if the disposal is jammed, has run for a very long time, or something else is wrong.[2] Waste King notes that if the grinding plate jams, it can overheat the motor and trip the reset button.[4] If it has tripped, the red button sits about a quarter of an inch lower than normal.[2]
How you reset it depends on the model. On a unit with the red button, give the motor time to cool first: InSinkErator's Badger manual lets the motor cool for 3 to 5 minutes before pressing reset.[3] Then press the button gently. If it does not stay up, wait ten minutes and try again.[2]
InSinkErator's EZ Connect and Builder Series units are equipped with an automatic overload switch instead.[1] For those, turn off the wall switch and let the disposal cool for up to 20 minutes before turning it back on.[1] If the unit runs from a push-button air switch, turn it off and unplug it for up to 20 minutes before plugging it back in.[1]
Restore the power, then test it the way the maker intends it to be used. Turn on the water first, then the disposal, and keep cold water running for a few seconds after the grinding sound stops.[1] If it jams again straight away, go back to the wrench; a stubborn jam can take several rounds. If the motor still will not run, check the service panel for a tripped breaker or blown fuse.[3]
If the breaker is fine and the unit is still silent, InSinkErator's test for a plug-in unit is to plug a lamp or radio into the same outlet and flip the disposal switch on and off. If the test device does not switch on and off either, InSinkErator says the outlet needs an electrician.[5] If the lamp works and the disposal does not, the disposal itself needs service.
What jams a disposal
Jams usually come from things that should not have gone in. InSinkErator's manual lists clam or oyster shells, glass, china, plastic, metal such as bottle caps or utensils, and hot grease or other hot liquids[3] among the things never to put in, along with caustic drain cleaners.[3] Large amounts of fibrous scraps such as corn husks can block the drain line.[3] Leaving the stopper in the drain when the disposal is not running reduces the risk of objects falling in.[3] For the full list, see what you should never put down a garbage disposal, and for habits that prevent the next jam, how to keep a garbage disposal working longer.
Stop and call a pro if
- The wrench will not turn at all, even with firm pressure, or it turns but the motor still only hums. The fault is probably inside the unit. Read why a disposal hums but will not spin before deciding what to do.
- The breaker trips again each time you switch the disposal on, or the outlet does not work with a test lamp. That is an electrical fault for a licensed electrician.
- You smell something burning, see smoke or sparks, or the cord, plug or outlet feels hot. Switch the disposal off at the breaker, leave it off and call a licensed electrician.
- The disposal is hardwired and the wiring needs attention: a loose cover plate, scorched wires, a damaged switch or a cable pulled out of its clamp. Do not open the electrical cover; call an electrician.
- Water is dripping from the body or the bottom of the unit, not just from a drain joint.
- The unit is still under warranty. Unjamming it is normal use, but before you take anything apart, read whether to repair or replace a garbage disposal, because the maker's warranty can pay for an in-home repair.
Getting help on Loclis
If the disposal still will not run, local repair businesses on Loclis handle garbage disposal repair along with other appliance repair. You can also find plumbers in Blacksburg for a replacement, or browse every appliance repair answer.
When you are ready, describe the disposal problem once and local businesses quote it.
Common questions
- Where is the hex hole on a garbage disposal?
- It is on the underside of the unit, dead center, facing the floor of the cabinet. You will need to crouch and look up at the bottom of the disposal with a flashlight. InSinkErator's instructions for its Builder Series use a wooden spoon from above instead, to turn the grinding plate.
- What size Allen wrench fits a garbage disposal?
- InSinkErator says a standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench works if you have lost the crank-shaped wrench that came with the unit. Other brands may differ, so check your model's manual if a 1/4-inch key does not seat firmly.
- Can I use my hand to clear a garbage disposal jam?
- No. Both InSinkErator and Waste King say never to put your hand into the disposal, even with the power off. Look in with a flashlight and use tongs or long pliers to lift objects out.
- Why does my disposal hum after I clear the jam?
- A hum means power is reaching the motor but the grinding plate still is not turning. Go back to the wrench and work it until it spins freely in full circles, then check again for anything caught at the edge of the plate. If it turns freely and still only hums, the fault is likely inside the unit; see the guide to a disposal that hums but will not spin.
- Is it safe to unjam a hardwired disposal?
- Clearing the jam itself is the same job, as long as you switch off the breaker that feeds the disposal first, not just the wall switch. If the wiring, switch or junction box looks damaged, or the breaker keeps tripping, stop there and call a licensed electrician.
Sources
- [1] Fixing a Jammed Garbage Disposal, InSinkErator. Checked October 26, 2026.
- [2] Resetting a Garbage Disposal, InSinkErator. Checked October 26, 2026.
- [3] Badger Series Installation, Care and Use Manual, InSinkErator. Checked October 26, 2026.
- [4] Frequently Asked Questions, Waste King. Checked October 26, 2026.
- [5] Garbage Disposal Won't Turn On or Off, InSinkErator. Checked October 26, 2026.
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