Look at the bottom of your InSinkErator unit (under the sink). You will see a small, red button. This is the .
Almost every InSinkErator comes with a small, L-shaped hex key (Allen wrench) specifically for this moment. If you threw yours away years ago, don't worry—standard 1/4-inch Allen wrenches usually fit perfectly.
If your disposal is plugged into an outlet under the sink, pull the plug. how to unjam insinkerator garbage disposal
There you are, cleaning up after dinner, scraping plates into the sink, and suddenly— silence . You flip the switch, and instead of the satisfying hum of the grinder, you hear a low buzz or nothing at all.
You should hear the familiar grinding sound. Let the water run for another 30 seconds to flush any remaining debris down the drain. Congratulations—you just saved yourself a service call! Look at the bottom of your InSinkErator unit
Once the wrench turns freely, use tongs or pliers (not your fingers) to remove the loosened debris. For deep jams, try a wooden spoon handle to rotate the blades from above.
Never pour grease or fibrous foods (celery, corn husks) down the disposal – they cause most jams over time. Almost every InSinkErator comes with a small, L-shaped
Even if the unit is turned off, the blades are sharp, and accidental activation can cause severe injury. We will be using tools to fix this, not fingers.
: Rotate the wrench firmly in both directions. It may require significant force initially; the wrench is designed to handle this resistance. Continue until the wrench can spin freely in complete circles.
Before we touch anything, we need to cover the most important step:
Note: If the disposal was jammed, this button likely won't stay reset until you physically unstick the blades. Proceed to Step 4.