Short answer
How do I safely unclog a garbage disposal?
Always cut power to the disposal first. Flip the breaker or unplug it under the sink. Never put your hand in the disposal under any circumstances. Look down with a flashlight to spot the jam. Use long tongs or pliers to remove what you can see. For a stuck flywheel, insert the hex wrench that came with the disposal into the bottom center socket and rotate it back and forth to free the impellers. Restore power, run cold water, and test.
DIY methods
Step by step: freeing a jammed disposal
- Turn off the power: Unplug the disposal under the sink, or flip the breaker for it in the electrical panel. Don't skip this step, since a disposal can restart on its own if a jam frees up while you're working on it.
- Look for the jam: Use a flashlight to look down the drain. If you can see what's jammed (a bone, a piece of silverware, a bottle cap), use long-handled tongs or pliers to remove it. NEVER use your hand.
- Use the bottom hex wrench: Most disposals have a six-sided socket in the center of the bottom of the unit. Use the hex key that came with the disposal: usually a 1/4-inch Allen wrench. Insert it into the hole. Turn it back and forth firmly. This turns the grinding plate by hand and breaks the jam.
- Press the reset button: Most disposals have a small red button on the bottom of the unit. If the disposal tripped its internal breaker, this button popped out. Push it firmly back in.
- Restore power and test: Plug it back in or flip the breaker. Turn on cold water (always run cold water with a disposal, never hot). Flip the switch briefly. If it hums but does not turn, it's still jammed. Turn the power off again and repeat the hex wrench step. If it runs normally, you're done.
- If you smell burning: If the motor smells burned or you see smoke, the motor has probably burned out. Stop, turn the power off, and call (909) 312-4516 or text (909) 247-6791. A burned-out motor means the disposal needs replacing, and we can install the new one.
Service Area
Serving 24 cities across the Inland Empire.
Chino · Chino Hills · Claremont · Colton · Corona · Diamond Bar · Eastvale · Fontana · Grand Terrace · Highland · La Verne · Loma Linda · Mira Loma · Montclair · Norco · Ontario · Pomona · Rancho Cucamonga · Redlands · Rialto · Riverside · San Bernardino · San Dimas · Upland
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions.
What if the disposal does not hum at all when I flip the switch?
The reset button may need pressing, the breaker may be tripped, or the disposal may have failed. Check the reset button first, then the breaker. If both are good and it still won't run, the unit has most likely failed and needs replacing; call or text Sweetwater and we'll install a new one.
Can I use chemical drain cleaners in a garbage disposal?
No. Drain cleaners damage rubber seals and can splash up. A jammed disposal is freed mechanically (hex wrench, tongs), and a clog in the drain below it needs a drain cleaning, not chemicals.
What should I never put down a disposal?
Bones, fruit pits, eggshells (the membrane wraps around the grinder and the grit settles in the trap), coffee grounds (they clog the trap), grease, fibrous foods like celery and corn husks, pasta and rice (they expand and clog), and anything non-food.