My Garbage Disposal Is Humming But Not Spinning: How to Fix It in 60 Seconds

In this brief article brought to you by Mr. Rooter Plumbing, we underline some of the most common causes of a humming, non-spinning disposal, share some troubleshooting tips, and highlight when to call a professional plumber.

What the Hum Is Telling You

The motor inside of a garbage disposal spins a flywheel, which in turn drives the impellers that grind food waste.

When the motor receives power but the flywheel cannot turn, the motor is working hard against resistance it cannot overcome… so it starts humming. Left running in this state, the motor overheats quickly and trips an internal safety switch designed to protect it from burning out.

Three things most commonly create that resistance.

• A jammed flywheel is the leading cause. Food debris, a foreign object, or a hard piece of waste may have wedged itself between the flywheel and the grinding ring. The motor strains against the jam, produces the hum, and gets nowhere.
• A failed capacitor prevents the motor from generating enough torque to start the flywheel spinning, even without a physical jam. The motor receives power, attempts to start, and hums without producing rotation. This typically means the unit needs pro attention or a garbage disposal replacement.
• A worn or seized motor in an older unit may no longer generate enough force to spin the flywheel even under normal conditions. Years of use wear down motor components, and a unit that hums without spinning could be at the end of its life.

Not sure which of these applies to the disposal? Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing to have a trained plumber in Palmetto, FL investigate.

Troubleshooting Steps to Try Before Calling Anyone

These steps resolve the problem in many cases (particularly when a jammed flywheel is the cause):

• Step 1: Turn the disposal off and cut the power. Never work on a disposal with live power running to it.
• Step 2: Shine a flashlight down into the disposal opening and look for any obvious blockage. Use tongs, needle-nose pliers, or a wooden spoon to remove it.
• Step 3: Every garbage disposal has a small hex socket at the center of its base. Insert an Allen wrench and work it back and forth in both directions. This manually rotates the flywheel and can break up whatever is causing the jam.
• Step 4: Once the flywheel moves freely, find the small reset button on the bottom of the unit and press it firmly until it clicks.
• Step 5: Restore power and test. Plug the unit back in, restore the circuit breaker if it was switched off, run cold water into the sink, and flip the wall switch.

If the disposal still hums after completing all five steps, then the problem is likely beyond a simple jam. At that point, it’s time to call Mr. Rooter Plumbing for plumbing repair service.

Contact Mr. Rooter Today

Garbage disposals typically last eight to twelve years with proper use and reasonable care. After that, things start to wear down and you find yourself dealing with plumbing repair service more often than you’d like.

At Mr. Rooter, we provide repair solutions but also recognize that a garbage disposal replacement can be more cost-effective than seemingly endless repairs.

Call or message us today to have a plumber inspect and assess your garbage disposal.