Garbage Disposal Humming But Not Turning?

Clogged Motor

If your garbage disposal is humming but not turning, you know the device is receiving power – it’s just not working properly. Often a blockage or blockage in the engine is the cause of such symptoms. Loosening the flywheel usually fixes this problem. So follow these steps:

Unplug the appliance and turn off the power to the bin using the circuit breaker – you can never be too careful when repairing a bin.

Reach under the sink and insert the Allen key into the circuit breaker socket on the bottom of the appliance. Low-end models do not have this option.

Turn the wrench back and forth to loosen and rotate the flywheel, which should loosen anything stuck in the turbine blades.

If you don’t have an Allen wrench or can’t find the outlet on your device, use a short broom. Insert it into the garbage disposal through the drain and press it against a turbine blade. Manually move the blade back and forth with the broom handle. Once the foreign body is free, remove the broom.

Restore power and turn on the device to check if it works.

If the unit doesn’t work properly with these steps, it’s time to call your plumber.

Tripped GFCI or Disposer

A garbage disposal that buzzes but won’t spin could also be caused by a GFCI outlet tripping or the appliance’s disposal tripping. In this case, no power gets to the motor and the lack of power can cause a hum. If you suspect this problem, press the reset button on your GFCI and/or garbage disposal unit and then test it for operation. The garbage disposal reset button is located on the bottom of the device. If there is no power, you won’t hear anything.

Faulty Motor

If your garbage disposal is making a humming noise but won’t spin, the unit’s motor may be defective. The engine may be repairable, although at this point many owners are thinking about completely replacing the unit. Only InSinkErator will repair a motor and it must be under warranty. Most disposals take about 10 years. So if you’re close to this point, upgrading to a new model might be the best solution.

The new bins are very quiet – so quiet that you can easily have a conversation while using them! If you need to purchase a new garbage disposer due to a broken motor, invest your money in a unit with better grinding performance rather than one that cannot grind the material as finely, as this performance will keep your pipes cleaner and save you money on pipes. Cleaning services!

Caring for Your Garbage Disposal

The best way to avoid a buzzing but not spinning garbage disposal and other problems is to maintain the unit. Although this is not necessary for waste disposal, you should operate the garbage disposal daily. The engine must run regularly, otherwise problems can arise. Make sure it gets enough water when using it – always let the water run for a minute longer than you think it will!

Garbage Disposal Repair and Replacement

If your garbage disposal is humming but not turning and you don’t understand why, stop using the device and call your plumber for repairs. Heartland Plumbing offers garbage disposal repair and replacement when it’s time to purchase a new unit. Call us today to schedule service.