Moen Garbage Disposal Stuck: Reasons & Solutions

This guide on Moen Garbage Disposal Stuck will explain:

• The signs that indicate your Moen garbage disposal gets stuck or jammed
• What causes garbage disposal to get stuck?
• How to unjam or unstick your Moen garbage disposal
• And a lot

In This Article:

• What Are The Reasons  That Cause The Moen Garbage Disposal To Get Stuck?
  • Foreign Objects
  • Improper Use
  • Worn-out Components
• How To Unjam Moen Garbage Disposal?
  • Unplug Your Garbage Disposal 
  • Light Your Flashlight
  • Rotate The Impellers Manually Using the Disposal Wrench 
  • Remove the Obstruction With Long-handled Pliers
  • Reset Your Garbage Disposal
• When To Replace Your Moen Garbage Disposal?
• Moen Garbage Disposal Maintenance Tips To Prevent Jam In The Future
  • Use Garbage Disposal Regularly
  • Run Cold Water
  • Avoid Certain Foods
  • Regular Maintenance 
  • Don’t Overload The Garbage Disposal
• FAQs
• Conclusion

What Are The Signs That Indicate Moen Garbage Disposal Gets Stuck?

Moen Garbage Disposal Humming But Not Spinning! It is the first indication that the garbage disposal gets jammed.

Usually, the first way you will know your Moen Garbage Disposal gets stuck or jammed is- when you turn it on and it won’t rotate.

The garbage disposal will only hum. In short, the motor will make a humming noise.

The tripped reset button is another sign that indicates a jammed garbage disposal.  

You can find the reset button on the side of your Moen Garbage Disposal. It’s a safety feature that cuts off the electric supply to your garbage disposal.

When your garbage disposal gets stuck, the internal component will jam. But the heck is- the motor still wants to turn.

And if it keeps doing that, it will overheat and destroy the motor. Fortunately, the reset button is activated and cuts off the electric supply, protecting the unit from overheating.

In short, you can understand when a garbage disposal gets jammed if:

• The disposal unit won’t turn on
• The garbage disposal only makes a humming sound
• The reset button will get tripped

What Are The Reasons That Cause The Moen Garbage Disposal To Get Stuck?

Here are the common causes of a stuck or jammed garbage disposal:

How To Unjam Moen Garbage Disposal?

Before unjamming your garbage disposal, ensure you have these tools at your fingertips:

• Moen Garbage Disposal Wrench: It helps you rotate the impellers manually to break free blockage.

• Long-handled pliers: The long-handled pliers assist you in removing the restriction.

• Flashlight: Using the flashlight, you can detect the restriction.

Once you have these pieces of equipment, follow the instructions below to unjam your Moen Garbage Disposal.

Unplug Your Garbage Disposal

First, unplug the power cord from the electric outlet to ensure safety. Alternatively, you can shut off the electric supply to your disposal unit at the circuit breaker. 

Light Your Flashlight

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

Use a flashlight to see inside the grinding chamber to identify restrictions. I recommend you look thoroughly between the turntable and the grinding ring. 

Foreign objects like screws can get stuck between the turntable and the grinding ring. 

Rotate The Impellers Manually Using the Disposal Wrench

Stick the disposal wrench down inside the garbage disposal and place it into the center between the two impellers. 

Now, grab the disposal wrench and twist it back and forth until the obstructions break free. 

Remove the Obstruction With Long-handled Pliers

Reach the bottom end of the grinding chamber with long-handled pliers and remove the restrictions. 

Reset Your Garbage Disposal

Continuous attempts to operate your garbage disposal may trip the reset button. 

Locate the reset button at the side of the unit, opposite the power cord. Then, press the reset button gently. 

Plug your garbage disposal, run the cold water supply, and turn on the unit. The garbage disposal should come on. 

When To Replace Your Moen Garbage Disposal?

Your Moen Garbage Disposal may get stuck due to improper use and lack of maintenance. 

Fortunately, you can free the garbage disposal unit by manually rotating the impellers and turntables.

However, if your garbage disposal gets jammed frequently, understand it’s time to replace your garbage disposal. 

You should also replace the garbage disposal when it’s reaching the end cycle of the lifespan. 

Moen Garbage Disposal Maintenance Tips To Prevent Jam In The Future

Improper usage and maintenance of your garbage disposal are the primary reasons for a stuck garbage disposal. 

To prevent jams from forming in the grinding chamber, follow these garbage disposal maintenance tips: 

Use Garbage Disposal Regularly

A garbage disposal has only a moving part inside the grinding chamber- a turntable. On the turntable, you can find two mounted impellers. 

If you don’t use your garbage disposal regularly (two to three times a week), the internal metal parts will get rusted. And guess what- the rusted impellers and turntable will get stuck and never move freely. 

To avoid such a situation, operate your garbage disposal regularly to keep the internal parts smooth and rust-free. 

Run Cold Water

Run cold water before, during, and after using the garbage disposal. The cold water will help flush the food particles smoothly down the drain. If you don’t run cold water while using the disposal unit, the food waste will linger in the grinding chamber and cause a restriction. 

Avoid Certain Foods

A food waste disposal doesn’t have sharp blades like your blender. If you put every type of food waste, it can’t handle and cause a blockage. 

You can’t put fibrous, starchy, and non-food items in your garbage disposal. 

I recommend you read this article to explore what not to put in garbage disposal. 

Regular Maintenance

Garbage disposal doesn’t require regular maintenance, which is a myth about garbage disposal. 

In reality, garbage disposal requires regular maintenance. 

Clean your garbage disposal every week. Fill the sink halfway and mix vinegar & baking soda. Remove the stopper from the sink opening and turn on your garbage disposal. 

Grind ice cubes to dislodge food buildup from the grinding chamber. Don’t forget to put citrus peels to freshen up the garbage disposal. 

Don’t Overload The Garbage Disposal

Never put a lot of food waste in the grinding chamber. Instead, feed food particles slowly to avoid putting strain on the motor. Otherwise, it will clog the garbage disposal. 

FAQs

Does Moen Garbage Disposal have a slot like InSinkErator to insert a hex wrench? 

No, Moen Garbage Disposal has no slot like InSinkErator has at the bottom of the unit to insert a hex wrench. To unjam a Moen Garbage Disposal, you should insert a disposal wrench from the top and manually rotate the impellers.

How can I safely unjam my Moen garbage disposal?

Unplug your garbage disposal, put a disposal wrench from the top, and rotate the impellers to break free the restriction. Finally, remove the blockage using long-handled pliers. 

What tools do I need to unjam my Moen garbage disposal?

To unjam your Moen Garbage Disposal, you should have these tools at your fingertips, including a disposal wrench, a flashlight, and long-handled pliers (tongs). 

Where is the reset button on my Moen garbage disposal?

The reset button on Moen garbage disposal is on the side, opposite the power cord. 

Conclusion

A stuck Moen Garbage Disposal is a consequence of improper use and lack of maintenance.

To fix this issue, you need to unjam your garbage disposal. Regarding this, detach the unit from the electric connection. Use a flashlight to identify the restriction and put a disposal wrench from the top. Then, rotate the impellers manually to break the blockage.

If unjamming and resetting the disposal doesn’t bring any luck, replace your garbage disposal.

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