Garbage disposal humming but not spinning?

A hum with no spinning means the motor has power but the grinder is stuck. With the power off, you can usually free it with the hex (Allen) key from below, and the fix costs nothing.

Not sure which one it is? Snap your garbage disposal and we’ll narrow it down.

Is it completely silent when you flip the switch?

That's a power problem, not a jam. Garbage disposal won't turn on

Likely causes

Food or debris jammed against the grinder
Most commonEasy DIY
A steady hum or buzz when you flip the switch, nothing spinning, and the reset may have popped. Often follows fibrous scraps, peels or a small hard item.
Foreign object (bone, utensil, bottle cap)
CommonEasy DIY
A clunk or grinding noise before it seized. You may see the item in the chamber with a flashlight.
Overloaded or seized from sitting unused
CommonEasy DIY
Hums after a long stretch of no use, or after lots of food at once. Rust or buildup is stopping the flywheel. It often turns freely once worked loose with the hex key.
Worn or failed motor or bearings
Less commonCall a pro
Hums again right after you free the jam, the flywheel won't turn freely with the key, or it's close to 10 years old. A failed motor in an old unit is usually replaced, not repaired.
Leaking body or seal
Less commonCall a pro
Water drips from the unit's body or the bottom, often with rust, and a jam keeps coming back. A leaking body is usually replaced, not repaired.

Quick checks

Turn the disposal off at the wall switch and unplug it or switch off the breaker before reaching into the sink or working underneath. Never put a hand in the chamber; use tongs or pliers to pull out objects, with the power off. Press the reset button once or twice at most. If it keeps tripping, stop: the motor is overheating or jammed. Never pour chemical drain cleaner into a disposal, and if someone already has, don't reach in or work on the jam, because it can splash. If water is leaking under the sink near the disposal's wiring or outlet, turn the power off before touching anything.

Turn the disposal off at the wall switch, then unplug it or switch off its breaker. Do this before anything else.
Shine a flashlight into the chamber. If you see an object, pull it out with tongs or pliers, never your hand.
From under the sink, fit the hex (Allen) key that came with the unit (if you've lost it, a standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench fits most units) into the socket at the center of the bottom, and work it back and forth until the flywheel turns a full rotation freely.
Press the reset button on the bottom once, restore power, run cold water, then try the disposal.
If it still hums or the reset trips again, stop and leave it off.

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Snap one of these:

the bottom of the disposal, showing the reset button and the hex-key socket
the model label on the side of the unit
the outlet or switch under the sink

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When to call a pro

The hex key won't turn the flywheel, the jam returns right away, the reset keeps tripping, there's a leak from the body or near the wiring, or drain cleaner was used. At about 10 years old, replacing the unit usually beats repairing it. If it's silent rather than humming, see won't turn on. For lifespan and upkeep, see the garbage disposal guide.

Typical cost: Freeing a jam or pressing reset is a free DIY fix. If the unit has to be replaced, expect about $200–625 installed (around $550 on average): the unit is $50–400 depending on horsepower, plus labor at $50–100 an hour, about an hour for a standard swap. Big-box store installation averages $189 ($97–339), and electrical work can add $100 or more.

Sources: HomeAdvisor: How much does it cost to replace a garbage disposal? (updated June 19, 2026), NerdWallet: How much does it cost to replace a garbage disposal? (updated April 1, 2026)

After a scan, Fixology can also help you find pros near you.