My garbage disposal just hums when I turn it on but the blades do not spin. I can hear the motor running. Is it broken?
A humming disposal means the motor is getting power but the impeller plate (the spinning disc with the blades) is jammed. This is very common and usually not a sign that the disposal is broken. First, turn the disposal OFF and never put your hand inside it. Look underneath the disposal for a small hex socket hole in the center bottom. Insert a quarter-inch Allen wrench (most disposals come with one) and turn it back and forth to manually free the stuck impeller. If you do not have an Allen wrench, you can use a wooden broom handle from the top to push against the impeller and rock it free. Once it moves freely, run cold water and turn the disposal back on. The jam is usually caused by a small bone, fruit pit, or piece of glass that wedged between the impeller and the grinding ring. If the motor still just hums after freeing the impeller, the motor capacitor may have failed, and at that point replacing the disposal ($80-150 installed) is more cost-effective than repairing it.
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