InSinkErator Garbage Disposal Making Grinding Noise [Solved]

This guide on Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Making Grinding Noise will break down:

The reasons that cause the garbage disposal to make a grinding noise
Troubleshooting steps to fix the garbage disposal that’s producing rattling noise
How to reset Insinkerator Garbage Disposal?
How can you prevent your Insinkerator Garbage Disposal from making a grinding noise in the future?

What Causes Insinkerator Garbage Disposal To Make Grinding Noise?

Restrictions in the grinding chamber, improper installation, and stuck impellers are responsible for the garbage disposal to make grinding noise.

Obstructions In Grinding Chamber

Your garbage disposal (either from Insinkerator or other brands) will make a rattling noise if foreign materials get stuck in the grinding chamber.

Additionally, putting unprohibited food waste in the garbage disposal can cause blockage and produce a humming.

For example, if you put fibrous (celery) or starchy foods (rice or pasta), they wrap around the disposal blades.

Consequently, the disposal blades fail to move freely due to the restriction and make popping noise as a by-product.

Improper Installation

Insinkerator Garbage Disposal is making a grinding noise, but nothing stuck!

If you hear a loud, vibrating sound from your garbage disposal without having any obstructions, I bet you install the garbage disposal improperly.

In this specific scenario, what happens is- the lower mounting ring unlocks from the mounting assembly.

Because of this, the unit will wobble around, vibrate, and produce a noise when you turn on the waste disposal.

Stuck Impellers

The impellers of garbage disposal are responsible for grinding food waste into pieces.

Impellers rotate independently on the flywheel and bind food particles against the grinding ring. As a result, the food waste turns into liquid, making it easy to flush down.

However, if the impellers get stuck and fail to move freely due to restriction, they will produce a rattling noise.

Generally, the impellers get stuck if you accidentally put screws or coins in the garbage disposal. I experienced this issue a few months ago.

How To Fix InSinkErator Garbage Disposal That’s Making Grinding Noise?

To fix a garbage disposal that makes a loud noise, try these three troubleshooting steps:

Remove Obstructions From The Grinding Chamber

90 % of the time, a garbage disposal makes a humming noise due to a jam in the grinding chamber. Removing the jam will be a simple fix to the grinding noise.

Here is the step-by-step guide to removing obstructions from the grinding chamber:

Disconnect the garbage disposal unit from the electric connection by unplugging its power cord or flipping down the circuit breaker.

Light the flashlight to look down into your garbage disposal. Pay your eyes to the outer edge of the shredder disk for restrictions.

Once you identify the obstructions, it’s time to remove them. Regarding this, use long-handled pliers or tongs to reach the restriction and remove it from the grinding chamber.

Restore the electric supply to the garbage disposal.

Run cold water and turn on the garbage disposal to verify that the disposal is working properly.

Verify that the Garbage Disposal Is Installed Properly

Check the garbage disposal for proper installation.

Regarding this, lock your eyes on the mounting assembly and see if the lower mounting ring comes loose. If yes, tighten up the lower mounting ring.

Insert a wrench into the left side of the metal loop and rock the wrench to the right.

You will hear a clicking noise when the lower mounting ring locks into place.

Free Stuck Impellers By Grinding Bones or Fruit Pits

To free up the stuck impellers, go along with the following steps:

Use a flashlight to see what restricts the impellers in the grinding chamber. Before doing so, ensure you unplug the food waste disposal from the power source.

Try to move each of the impellers by pushing with a spoon handle.

If the impellers don’t rotate freely, put hard foods like fruit pits or bones (beef round steak) into the garbage disposal.

Run the cold water and turn on your garbage disposal. Keep operating the disposal unit until the grinding noise goes away.

Turn off the water and the garbage disposal as well.

Light the flashlight and look into the grinding chamber. Most of the time, this procedure will reveal foreign objects like coins or screws stuck between the impellers and the outer edge of the grinding ring. Remove them using long-handled pliers.

Repeat this procedure two or three times if the impellers still don’t move freely.

Your garbage disposal may require service or replacement if grinding bones fail to free the impellers.

How Do You Reset Your Insinkerator Garbage Disposal?

Resetting the garbage disposal can fix operational problems like grinding noise. To reset your Insinkerator Garbage Disposal, follow these instructions:

Turn off your garbage disposal and unplug it from the electric outlet.

Use a flashlight to see if there is a restriction in the grinding chamber.

Remove the blockage (if it is in the grinding chamber) by using long-handled pliers.

Locate the red reset button at the bottom of the unit.

Press the reset button.

Restore power to the disposal unit, run cold water, and turn on the unit. Your garbage disposal should come on.

Maintenance Tips To Prevent Garbage Disposal From Making Rattling Noise

Following the proper garbage disposal maintenance practices can help you operate the disposal unit trouble-freely with no unusual noises. Go along with the following instructions to maintain your garbage disposal like a pro:

Use Garbage Disposal Correctly

Before turning on your garbage disposal, run the cold water supply. Continue to turn on the cold water until the grinding is complete. It will help flush the food waste down the drain smoothly.

I highly suggest you operate the garbage disposal regularly, even if there is nothing to grind. Regular use of the disposal unit will keep the moving parts functional and corrosion-free.

Most importantly, never put unprohibited food waste like fibrous foods, non-food materials, and FOG (fat, oil, and grease) into the grinding chamber.

Read to explore the complete list of what not to put in garbage disposal.

These avoided puts cause a restriction in the grinding chamber. Consequently, you will hear a rattling noise from your waste disposal.

Nonetheless, don’t overload the garbage disposal as it causes the reset button to trip due to overheating.

Finally, run cold water for three to five seconds after grinding is complete.

Clean The Garbage Disposal

Once a week, clean your garbage disposal. Food particles may accumulate over time and cause a restriction.

To clean the garbage disposal:

Turn off your garbage disposal and unplug it.
Insert a wrench into the center hole at the bottom of the unit and rock it back and forth to dislodge food buildup.
Use a flashlight to detect the objects and remove the obstructions using long-handled pliers.
Plug the garbage disposal into the outlet, run cold water, and turn on your disposal to flush the unit.

Grind Ice Cubes

how to clean garbage disposal with ice cubes

Put ice cubes into the grinding chamber and turn on your garbage disposal. It will help dislodge the accumulated food debris (a source of grinding noise) and sharpen the edges of the impellers.

FAQs

Why is my Insinkerator garbage disposal making a grinding noise?

A grinding noise from your garbage disposal indicates a restriction in the garbage disposal that prevents the impellers from moving freely.

How do I troubleshoot a grinding noise from my garbage disposal?

To troubleshoot a grinding noise from your garbage disposal, turn the unit off and detach it from the electric connection. Then, use a flashlight to detect the obstruction in the grinding chamber. Once you identify the blockage, clear the restriction using long-handled pliers. Finally, run cold water and turn on your garbage disposal to verify if the noise persists.

Can I use chemical drain cleaners to try and clear a clog in my garbage disposal?

No, you can’t use chemical drain cleaners to clear a clog in the garbage disposal as the chemical can corrode the internal components of the disposal unit and the drain pipes. Instead of using drain cleaners, use baking soda or vinegar to clean your garbage disposal.

Relevant Article: Insinkerator Garbage Disposal Troubleshooting

Conclusion

InSinkErator is a reliable brand for garbage disposal. Garbage disposal from this brand will serve you for over 10 to 15 years if you maintain and use the garbage disposal correctly.

However, improper maintenance can cause operational problems, like the garbage disposal making a rattling noise.

To resolve the grinding noise issue, turn off your garbage disposal and detach it from the electrical power source. Then, look down into the grinding chamber using a flashlight to detect if there is any restriction.

Clear the restriction by using long-handled pliers. Then, restore the power, run cold water, and turn on the unit to ensure that the noise doesn’t persist.

If the noise persists, check your garbage disposal for correct installation. Finally, ensure that the impellers are moving freely. Free up the impellers if they don’t rotate.

I bet these troubleshooting steps will help you resolve the grinding noise issue you experience with your garbage disposal.

Let me know if the mentioned troubleshooting steps bring luck to you by leaving a comment below.

Sohel

Sohel Rana is the founder of FixTheDisposal.Com. He is a plumbing expert with 7+ years of hands-on repairing garbage disposals, water heaters, space heaters, and other appliances used in a home. Before the launch of Fix The Disposal, he wrote and provided advice on water heaters, sump pumps, and space heater repairing & troubleshooting tips for LilDutchUncle.Com.

InSinkErator Garbage Disposal Making Grinding Noise: Reasons & Solutions

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