A garbage disposal or waste disposal is powered by an electric current and often mounted below the sink. This device collects food waste and shreds them into tiny pieces. The spinning disc or impeller plate is a blade that spins rapidly within the grinding chamber. The ground food particle is then washed by water through the holes in the chamber wall.
Garbage disposal humming sound is an issue most garbage disposals often face. If your disposal is giving a humming sound, this is a sign that you need to quickly fix the disposal. This problem can escalate and you will need to change the whole unit when the motor gets damaged.
Here in this article, we would briefly discuss how to fix the issue of garbage disposal humming but not working.
Garbage Disposal Humming
A stuck or jammed flywheel/impeller is the main reason your garbage disposal is humming. when the impeller blade is jammed, the reset button gets popped out, the disposal would power off and the circuit breaker would trip off.
Once you notice a humming sound from the garbage disposal, you must quickly ensure to turn off the disposal from the power outlet to avoid the motor from getting damaged. Foreign objects or food particles such as large bones are often the cause of a jammed blade.
How do You Fix a Humming Garbage Disposal
These steps would help you to fix the garbage disposal humming but not working. Ensure you follow these steps to fix this issue.
Insert the wrench into the hole at the bottom of the garbage disposal. Work the wrench back and forth in both directions. Continue working with the wrench till you remove the garbage disposal unit.
Then check if the overload protector or reset button has tripped off during this process. You would need to turn on the overload protector from the main electrical switch. The red button functions as an in-built circuit breaker. If the reset button has tripped off, pull it slightly outward. Then press the reset button back in and the disposal should now be reset.
Check inside the garbage disposal grinding chamber and then release the jammed blade. There are two ways you can easily release the jammed blade of your garbage disposal. Here are the two steps.
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Step 1:
- Turn garbage disposal power off from the electrical service panel and circuit breaker .
- Turn off the wall switch controlling the disposal.
- Get ready for an offset wrench, it comes along with the garbage disposal unit. In case you don’t have the wrench ready you can get a wrench from a nearby store. You can also use a big Allen wrench as an alternative.
- Then insert it into the flywheel by turning the hole at the bottom of the unit.
- After inserting the wrench then turn it in a clockwise direction to move the stuck impeller or flywheel.
- The flywheel should turn freely when it is dislodged.
Step 2:
This procedure includes the use of a spoon handle or wooden object. The wooden material should be long enough to reach down into the disposal. Then use it to free the stuck flywheel, until the flywheel starts to move freely.
Look down into the disposal with a flashlight to check for the object that caused the jam. Then use a plier to remove the foreign object. once the flywheel is free turn the power back on at the service panel. Press the red reset button on the bottom of the garbage disposal.
Now run some tap water into the garbage disposal, then flip the switch on and off for a short time. Now the flywheel should spin and any dislodged debris should now be washed down the drain.
Turn on the water and garbage disposal as the issue should now be resolved.
Garbage Disposal Stuck
If your garbage disposal is humming then it has gotten stuck or jammed. You can fix a stuck or jammed garbage disposal by following these steps:
- Insert the wrench into the hole at the bottom of the garbage disposal.
- Work the wrench back and forth in both directions.
- Continue working with the wrench till you remove the garbage disposal unit.
- Check if the overload protector or reset button has tripped off.
- Check inside the garbage disposal grinding chamber and release the jammed blade.
- Turn on the water and garbage disposal as the issue should now be resolved.
How to Remove Garbage Disposal
If you hire a plumber to help you remove garbage disposal would cost you a couple of dollars. We would show you the easy steps you can follow to remove the disposal and save yourself extra money. You are going to need an adjustable wrench and screwdriver for this step.
- Shut power supply off from the switch breaker.
- Unplug the garbage disposal from the power wall outlet.
- If your garbage disposal is connected to a dishwasher, loosen and remove the hose that holds the dishwasher to the side of the garbage disposal.
- Now place a bucket or pan under the waste pipe so that liquid drains the liquid left over in the pipe.
- Use an adjustable wrench to remove the pipes that are fitted to the disposal. The pipe has a u-shape and connects to the garbage disposal to take water away.
- Drain the remaining water in the pipe into the bucket or pan.
Now remove the garbage disposal, depending on the garbage disposal model. Some have a snap ring which you can easily rotate using a screwdriver. While Some models you will have to unscrew the garbage disposal from the sink drain. Ensure you support the garbage disposal from underneath with your hand while removing it. The unit is heavy and you may not hold properly hold it with one hand to avoid falling on your toes.
Garbage Disposal Replacement
Since we already discussed how to remove garbage disposal, we would move on to discuss replacing garbage disposal humming with a newly purchased disposal.
- If you are installing the same brand, you should keep the mounting bracket on the sink drain.
- A rubber seal often comes with new disposal, place the rubber seal under the drain flange. You can also wrap it around the flange, then place the drain flange to fit the drain hole.
- Use a putty sealant if the disposal does not come with a rubber seal.
- Place another rubber seal on the drain flange and fix the metal ring back up.
- Loosely attach the mounting ring with three screws to hold it together. Then secure the mounting ring with the snap ring, then firmly tighten the three screws. Ensure the mounting bracket is firm enough for the disposal to hang.
- Remove the electrical plate and pull the wires away from the disposal. If you want to connect the garbage disposal to a dishwasher, ensure you remove the knock-out plug with a hammer and screwdriver.
- Make sure you connect the electrical wires correctly then replace the cover plate on the disposal.
- Lift the garbage disposal into the mounting bracket then turn the locking ring until all three housing pins are in place. They would hear the pin snap into place. Then finish tightening the locking ring and you can finish it using a slip joint plier.
- Now attach a disposal drainpipe and hose to the garbage disposal. Then connect the dishwasher drain line.
- Run water from the sink and let it run through the pipes for a few minutes to ensure there are no leakages.
- Plug back the power cable to ensure the wire connections are correct. If there is no issue and it works correctly then the installation process is completed.
Garbage Disposal Price
The average cost of garbage disposal ranges between $150 and above. The average price of the installation of garbage disposal would cost you about $30. Although the average price a plumber would charge often varies a plumber would charge around $50 – $100 to install a garbage disposal.
In conclusion:
The issue of garbage disposal humming is a minor issue that should be easily fixed. It requires your attention to prevent further damage to the unit. For people with hearing issues, you need to take note of some things such as circuit breaker tripping off or the device shutting off by itself. These two signs are related to the issue of garbage disposal humming.