My garbage disposal is not working. It just hums, even after checking the reset button.

Sound familiar, I’m sure most of us have been here at some point, especially if you have young kids. The most common problem is the blades jamming. I’ve removed glass, bottle caps, chicken and steak bones, silver ware and more over the years.

I’m not going to recommend repairing it the way I do because I’m an idiot but so far a lucky one. I just installed a new one in my home so now I do have the proper tool. My kids thought that nifty looking tool taped to the side of the garbage disposal was a toy for them to play with, and loose I might add.

BEFORE you start make sure the power is off AND that there’s no way it could be accidentally turned on!

Garbage disposal come with a L shaped wrench. You insert this tool into the bottom of the garbage disposal and turn it back and forth until you free up the unit. Now if our kids have been sending email back and forth to each other and you no longer have a tool you could try using a wooden spoon or something like that to turn the blades from the top. If you cleared it with the debris going down the waste pipe then your good to go. But, if the debris is up with the blades you will need to remove it. Use two items  like butter knifes and work them like chop sticks, to remove the debris. You could also try putting gum on the end of a stick  or double sided tape and pressing it against the debris. Once you remove all the debris turn on the water and turn on the disposal. If it does not try to come on, hit the reset button under the garbage disposal.