Garbage Disposal Stuck? Here's How To Safely Unjam It

It's a common problem, an object falls into the sink, jams the garbage disposal and it stops running. Now what?

First, and most importantly, only attempt to clear the disposal once the power has been disconnected. Do not rely on turning power off at the switch, unplug the disposal from the outlet located under the sink. If the unit is hard-wired and has no plug, turn off the power at the circuit breaker.

It is not recommended that you forcefully try to remove whatever object is stuck inside the disposal. Instead, most under-sink disposals can be unjammed using an Allen wrench to manually turn the motor shaft and free the impeller. The flywheel lug is located on the bottom of the disposal. Insert the wrench and turn the shaft counterclockwise, then clockwise until the obstruction is cleared and you can feel the motor shaft spinning freely. It may takes several attempts to free the shaft. Once it has been cleared, restore power to the disposal, turn on the cold water, and check that it is operating correctly.

If the disposal cannot be powered on, you may need to press the reset button located on disposal. Make sure the disposal power switch is in the OFF position before pressing the reset button.

Have garbage disposal problems? Call ABC; we can help with all your plumbing, sewer, and drain repairs.