How To Unjam A Garbage Disposal?

This guide on How To Unjam A Garbage Disposal will cover: 

• How to use an Allen wrench or disposal wrench to unjam a garbage disposal?
• How to use a broom to unjam a garbage disposal?
• Should I press the reset button after unjamming the garbage disposal
• Maintenance tips to prevent a jam in the future

How To Unjam A Garbage Disposal With Allen Wrench?

To unjam a garbage disposal with an Allen wrench,  follow these instructions:

• Turn the electric power off by unplugging the garbage disposal. If the disposal unit is hardwired, go to the breaker box and flip down the circuit breaker for the disposal.

• Use a flashlight to make the obstructions visible, which will help you detect the blockage in the grinding chamber. 

• Get an Allen wrench and insert it into the hole at the bottom of the garbage disposal. 

• Turn the Allen wrench back & forth until the restriction breaks free. 

• Remove the blockage from the grinding chamber using long-handled pliers.

• Restore the power to your garbage disposal. 

• Run the cold water supply and turn on the disposal to test the operation. 

How To Unjam A Garbage Disposal With A Broom Handle?

Every garbage disposal doesn’t have a slot or hole at the bottom of the unit for inserting an Allen wrench like InSinkErator. For example, Moen Garbage Disposal has no hole at the bottom of the unit. 

In this case, you should use a broom handle to unjam a garbage disposal. Below, I will show how you can use a broom handle to unjam your food waste disposal. 

• Unplug your garbage disposal from the electric outlet. 

• Remove the splash guard from the top of the garbage disposal. 

• Insert a broom handle into the grinding chamber and use force to rotate the impellers manually. 

• Keep rotating the impellers until the restriction breaks free. When you can turn the impellers freely, you have successfully removed the blockage.

• Using long-handled pliers or tongs, remove any blockages from the grinding chamber.

• Plug your garbage disposal into the outlet or restore the power at the circuit breaker. 

• Turn on the cold water supply and the garbage disposal to flush the remaining dirt buildup down the drain. 

Should I Press The Reset Button After Unjamming the Garbage Disposal?

Yes, you should press the reset button once you unjam the garbage disposal, as it’s the last step in troubleshooting and fixing a jammed garbage disposal.

Here’s why you should press the reset button after unjamming a food waste disposal:

• Safety Mechanism: The reset button is a feature that trips when your garbage disposal experiences a problem like a jam or overheating.

• Restore Power: Pressing the reset button will restore power to the unit after it has shut off due to an issue.

• Ensures Readiness: It confirms that your garbage disposal is ready to operate after you have cleared the jam.

• Part of the process: Resetting the garbage disposal is the final step in troubleshooting and fixing a jam garburator or food waste disposal.

• Prevents Damage: If the garbage disposal motor gets overheated due to a jam, resetting the disposal unit will allow it to cool. 

To properly reset your garbage disposal:

• Ensure you turn off the power switch.

• Locate the reset button. You can find the reset button either on the bottom of the unit or the side, opposite the power based on brand & model. For example, the reset button on an InSinkErator Garbage Disposal is located at the bottom of the unit. On the other hand, a Moen Garbage has a reset button on the side of the unit.

• Press the reset button firmly once you locate the reset button.

• If the reset button won’t stay in, wait a few minutes and try again.

• Restore the power and test the garbage disposal.

How To Prevent Your Garbage Disposal From Getting Jammed In The Future?

To prevent your garbage disposal from getting jammed, follow these garbage disposal maintenance tips:

• Run cold water before, during, and after using the garbage disposal.

• Avoid certain types of foods, including fibrous (celery, corn husks), starchy (rice, pasta), hard items (bones, fruit pits), and FOG (fat, oil, and grease). You can read this guide to discover what not to put in a garbage disposal.

• Before disposing of large food scraps, cut them into smaller pieces.

• Never overload the garbage disposal with food waste.

• Feed the waste into the disposal gradually instead of disposing of all the garbage at once.

• Clean the garbage disposal every week to prevent food buildup and odor. Use baking soda & vinegar to clean the food waste disposer.

• Grind citrus peel to deodorize the disposal unit.

• Put ice cubes into the disposal once a week to clean the garbage disposal.

• Never throw non-food items like plastic and glass into the disposal.

• Run sufficient water to flush the food particles smoothly.

• Run the garbage disposal regularly to prevent rust & corrosion.

• Never use chemical cleaners like bleach to clean the garbage disposal, as they can rust the pipes. 

FAQs

What causes a garbage disposal to seize up?

A garbage disposal generally gets seized up due to the following reasons:

Age and normal wear and tear.

Foreign objects (utensils, bones) fall accidentally into the grinding chamber.

Disposing of improper food waste (fibrous veggies, starches).

Overloading or lack of water.

Electrical issues or worn components.

Rust, corrosion, or mineral buildup.

What tool is used to unjam a garbage disposal?

You can use a disposal wrench, an Allen wrench, or a broom to unjam a garbage disposal. Locate the hex-shaped hole at the bottom of the unit and insert the wrench into the hole. Then, turn the wrench back & forth to unjam a garbage disposal. If your garbage disposal has no hole at the bottom, you can use a broom handle to unclog the garbage disposal. 

How do I know if my garbage disposal is jammed?

A humming sound from the garbage disposal indicates that the food waste disposer gets jammed. 

How much does it cost to fix a jammed garbage disposal?

You don’t have to spend a penny to repair a jammed garbage disposal. Take a disposal or Allen wrench and insert it into the hole at the bottom of the disposal unit. Then, rotate the wrench back & forth to break the restriction free. 

Conclusion

Unjamming a garbage disposal is easy. 

Insert a disposal wrench into the hole at the bottom of your garbage disposal. Then, rotate the wrench back & forth until the blockage breaks free. 

You can use a broom handle to rotate the impellers manually. Just insert the broom handle into the grinding chamber from the top and turn the impellers to break the restriction. 

To avoid a jam in the garbage disposal, maintain the disposal unit properly.