Garbage Disposal Problems

FROM: Chris [E-Mail]
DATE: Monday September 27, 2004 -- 11:21:24 am

The disposal should have come with an Allen wrench looking thing that fits into the bottom of the disposal to break loose the blades when they get jammed. You can get at it from above with a broom handle too I guess. I'd see if you can find a wrench to fit first though.

FROM: brendan
DATE: Monday September 27, 2004 -- 12:10:36 pm

FROM: Zack
DATE: Saturday October 2, 2004 -- 11:55:28 am

These comments are about Insinkerator, the most popular brand and the one with which I am familiar.

If you hear a click, you still have power; if there were no sound at all, try pressing the reset button on the underside of the unit. If no sound still, check the breaker or fuse. A stalled unit can trip a breaker or blow a fuse.

The Allen wrench comment is correct. There is a double-headed tool that comes with the unit for this purpose. It's a half-assed tool made from cheap steel, so it tends to round over. That's why they have a hex on both ends. It's a standard size though (1/4", I think), so you should find one in a hex key set if it is large enough. Some hardware stores will sell individual sizes in addition to complete sets. I think Sears does.

I never thought much of the broom handle method myself, but you do need to have some leverage. You could try a large scrwedriver, but you risk breaking off a piece that will just cause more problems.

Work the hex tool back and forth in both directions. This may break something like a bone free. I had a small metal tab from a turkey bag lodged in the wheel once, and the only way to extract it was to disconnect the unit and turn it upside down. (I treid a pair of long needle nose pliers first, but n.g.) To do so, first disconnect the solid plastic drain pipe, and turn the large ring on the underside of the sink that holds the unit proper to the sink mount, the one with little pieces of round tubing sticking out, with a screwdriver. The flexible hose to the dishwasher and the electrical cable can probably stay where they are. The unit is fairly heavy and awkward, so stack something like telephone books under it so it doesn't come crashing down. Once you have gravity working for you, it's a lot easier to remove the debris.

One standard DIY hint for reinstalling the unit is to place a small scissors jack under it to raise it up, but the phone books work pretty good. It can be hard on the arms to force the unit all the way up and level, and then tighten the ring again. It may take several tries before you get it to catch. Remember to hook up what you disconnected, or you will have water everywhere when you run the dishwasher or use the sink.

I just replaced my 25 year old Insinkerator a couple of months ago, so I am familiar with it. If your unit is gone, a new one will just swap in. One thing to watch out for is that there is a tab that has to be broken out for the dishwasher connection. Don't be a typical guy and try to install it without reading the directions. The nice thing is that you can leave the old ring and mounting hardware right in place. If you decide to replace the whole unit, make sure you pick up some plumber's caulk to seal the drain above the sink.

I always save the manuals, so the Insinkerator Answer Line is 1 (800) 558-5700. Use it properly, and it should last. I bought my last one in 1978. That's not bad.

FROM: Ryan [E-Mail]
DATE: Saturday October 2, 2004 -- 1:57:16 pm

Thanks for the tips, Zack and Chris. This weekend I'm going to try and tackle it.

Work the hex tool back and forth in both directions. This may break something like a bone free.

Do tofu bones count?

FROM: Ryan [E-Mail]
DATE: Tuesday October 12, 2004 -- 3:25:25 pm

A quick update: the broom handle (well, a "big stick") did the trick. I wasn't able to find where I could use the hex tool, but sticking the stick down the drain and turning the blade manually loosened it up enough to start working again.

Yahoo! No plumber bills!

FROM: Dogmatix
DATE: Monday November 8, 2004 -- 9:16:20 pm

Zack, the tip was excellent - i came home today and realised that the disposal was not working. Found this from google and the reset button did the trick for me . Excellent forum .. thanks a bunch

FROM: marcus
DATE: Thursday November 11, 2004 -- 12:16:13 am

Sweet! she's humming again! thank you reset button. thank you forum. off to buy beer with money I saved. you the man zack.
-marc

FROM: Frank
DATE: Monday November 22, 2004 -- 6:00:28 pm

The broom handle, well I used a rake, but it worked.

Thanks

FROM: diron
DATE: Friday November 26, 2004 -- 5:13:56 pm

Trying to fix my mothers garbage disposal - not certain what model..

She said it was working fine untill she bought a new dishwasher, and she thinks the installers may have messing something up

When I flip the switch, I get no humming, so I don't believe the blades are stuck.

I tried the reset method and still nothing..

Any advise would be appreciated

FROM: Ryan [E-Mail]
DATE: Friday November 26, 2004 -- 10:49:48 pm

The fuse might be blown... try flipping the proper switch and see if that does the trick.

FROM: Rick
DATE: Thursday December 9, 2004 -- 6:19:21 pm

I have the Sears 175-69570 Disposal.
I understand the use of the 'alen wrench' But, the center bottom of this disposal has a hole about 1/2 inch wide.... the alen wrench goes at least 1 inch inside... and I can't see any place to set it. Advice?

FROM: diron
DATE: Thursday December 16, 2004 -- 4:20:28 am

no dice on the fuse..

i'm at a loss

FROM: jnico
DATE: Sunday January 9, 2005 -- 11:15:23 am

FROM: rmarino
DATE: Monday February 14, 2005 -- 8:56:11 am

I have a problem with my Garbage disposal. Yesterday, it seems to have "coughed up" a brownish/black sludge into my sink drain. Is this normal? should I do anything to make sure this doesn't happen again? What could make this happen?

More detail, my wife used the GD in the morning and went back to it in the afternoon to find this sludge in the drain (visible on the rubber ring inside the drain). we don't know what it is, as it doesn't resemble any food we've eaten. and we don't know how it could have gotten there.

Thanks for your time

FROM: Diron
DATE: Monday February 14, 2005 -- 1:26:11 pm

Sounds like you need to check if there is power getting to the unit. Make sure the wiring is hooked up to the disposal propery. If everything looks good, you may need to check the wiring with voltmeter to see if you're getting power.

I you are getting power but the broomstick won't free it up, you may have a bad disposal.

I've never owned a disposal in my life, so I don't even know how to use one. But I have installed a few for others. The wiring is as basic as it gets.

FROM: Joseph
DATE: Monday February 14, 2005 -- 1:27:41 pm

I meant, to: Diron, in the immediately preceding message. Man, am I asleep today, or what?

FROM: Debbie
DATE: Saturday April 23, 2005 -- 10:33:37 am

I have an 18 year old Whirlaway 191 garbage disposal. It isn't running. No hum, not stuck. Clicked the reset and the breaker. Unplugged and plugged the vacuum into the plug under sink. Didn't run. Ran an extension cord from the plug on the wall and plugged in the disposal and still didn't run. Apparantly both the plug under the sink and the disposal aren't working. Do I need to replace disposal or is there an electrical problem that can be fixed. If I need to replace can I easily replace it with any disposal or is it easiest to get the same. I haven't found anyone around here that has the Whirlaway anymore. Don't want to pay builder $200 just to put in. Will be moving next year.

FROM: Neil [E-Mail]
DATE: Saturday May 14, 2005 -- 11:11:42 am

Broomstick saved us $40 (at least). Thanks for the tip, guys.

FROM: sol
DATE: Saturday June 4, 2005 -- 10:41:40 pm

the broom stick did work, but the bad news is a piece of the disposal had broken off causing the jam. My question to you is do I need to replace the whole unit or can you buy the piece? When I run it , it is off balance now. thanx

FROM: Carolyn
DATE: Saturday June 18, 2005 -- 3:57:05 pm

A garbage disposer cleaner messed
up my disposer. Dummy me opened
the packet and dumped it in. The
power works and there doesn't
seem to be anything lodged in it.

FROM: Vance
DATE: Wednesday June 22, 2005 -- 8:28:36 am

Thanks for those comments. I was going to pay to replace it soon, but I went looking for a reset switch on the dinosaur I own, and underneath I found a red button. I pushed it, and ta da. I dont think it was a reset button, because the button never came back out, probably its own little internal breaker.

Thanks again

FROM: Rob
DATE: Friday July 22, 2005 -- 1:48:14 am

Hey guys, I googled my GD problem and came accross this board. I used the hex wrench and that appeared to un stick it, but i coudnt find what was stuck in the first place. It moves freely now, but all it does is hum when its on. It starts smoking if I have it on for more than 5 seconds or so. Any ideas?

FROM: ml
DATE: Friday August 5, 2005 -- 8:55:48 am

On the insinkerator, are the little teeth/claw things (2 of them, at 12:00 and 6:00) that force waste against the small holes along the circumference -- are those claw things supposed to rotate freely around their mount point, or are they supposed to be firmly perpendicular to their "contact point" on the circumference?

my disposal is new and seems to work ok, but I just noticed that mine are loose. I can't imagine how they'd press food against the holes. unless they stay in place due to centrifugal (centripetal? I never could remember the difference) force...?

FROM: ml
DATE: Friday August 5, 2005 -- 9:06:49 am

or when it turns on, do the blades somehow lock into place? just curious...

FROM:
DATE: Wednesday August 17, 2005 -- 2:05:32 pm

I just used a broomstick and turned the blades. Pushed the reset button. You guys saved my day of worries. I'm saving this page. The
garbage disposal wouldn't turn on.
So, I typed in the address bar, "Garbage disposal reset button won't work". I found this page, in less than 1 minute. The broomstick method
worked within the next 2 minutes.
Thank you, again!

FROM: GC
DATE: Thursday August 18, 2005 -- 8:11:12 pm

Great advice on the broom handle! Worked in less than 10 seconds! I did the same as everyone else by just googling "Garbage Disposal won't work" and found this thread in no time...thanks so much!

FROM: jf
DATE: Monday August 22, 2005 -- 8:30:37 pm

Agreed...the broom handle worked!!! Was cursing considering we had just replaced our garbage disposer. Told the wife to be careful as to what she throws in....!

FROM: Jason P
DATE: Wednesday August 31, 2005 -- 9:32:55 pm

I was at a loss with the same problem till I found this thread in a search. Sure enough, the old broom handle trick worked. I knew exactly when to stop jerking the broom around when I heard the blades break loose! Thanks OP!

FROM: TLB
DATE: Friday September 2, 2005 -- 2:12:50 pm

I have been reading through this forum and it seems everyone is having the same problem. My problem is the GD hums but the blade don't turn. However, we did the rest button, I can move the blades with my hands (had to get food out it stinks) and we did the breaker flip. It's still not working. Does anyone have any other ideas?

Thanks!

FROM: EC
DATE: Monday September 5, 2005 -- 3:52:58 pm

Hey TLB, my garbage disposal has the same symptoms! I hear the hum when I flip the power on, but it doesn't turn. I can turn the blades with the allen wrench or by hand. It seems to spin pretty freely. I also tried something on the more unsafe side of things and turned the power on and tried giving the GD a spin with a broomstick handle.....well that worked....it got the blade spinning, but once I turned off the GD, it wouldn't turn on again when I flipped the switch to try it again.....just the same ol electic hum, but no spinning. ANYBODY OUT THERE WITH A REMEMDY?!

FROM: Dave
DATE: Tuesday September 6, 2005 -- 9:46:09 am

I have the EXACT same problem as EC. I can spin the GD no problem (even used my cordless drill with a hex bit attachment to spin it fast) so I don't think there's anything jammed in it. All it does is hum when I turn it on. The unit is only 5 years old. Does this sound like something that can be repaired? I'm fairly handy.

FROM: DJ
DATE: Tuesday September 20, 2005 -- 7:40:07 pm

I am so pleased! I am a single woman maintaining my own home and got something stuck in the Garbage disposal. I could not pluck it out and the broom handle method did not work . BUT I went to the store and bought the 1/4" hex tool and found a hole in the bottom of the disposal, just turned it a little bit and the stuck item popped out! yahoo I am so relieved to not have to pay for a plumber.
Thanks for the advise - it worked.
D

FROM: PAH
DATE: Sunday October 2, 2005 -- 1:35:01 pm

Thanks! My disposal died last night ... or so I thought. I tried the broom handle trick a few minutes ago and the disposal is now 100% fixed. Thanks!

FROM: Hum, no remedy
DATE: Sunday October 16, 2005 -- 8:32:33 pm

Is there no remedy for the common problem of hum, can manually spin, but doesn't spin and work by it self?

Broomstick and Allen wrench is great for most problems. We know that. But many of us now have this problem? Can no one help us?

FROM: Too Easy!
DATE: Tuesday October 18, 2005 -- 8:50:28 pm

I'd been trying to get this thing to work for weeks. The broomstick didn't work - but the allen wrench did the trick. Thanks for your help! -grateful gal in tx

FROM: paul
DATE: Sunday October 23, 2005 -- 8:26:30 pm

ugh. my garbage disposal has gotten stuck in the past but i've always been able to dislodge whatever was in there with a hex wrench and/or my hands. but this time it's not working.

i flip the switch and hear the hum and i can move the blades either with my hands or with the hex wrench. there is nothing stuck down there but the disposal still hums. what's going on?

FROM: susan
DATE: Saturday October 29, 2005 -- 12:38:41 am

GD working now! My GD was making NO sound, so I tried the circuit breaker. Then I tried the reset button and Allen wrench, which I'd duct-taped to the side of the disposal when it was new. Nothing worked, so I Googled and found Y'ALL. ;o) I tried the reset and wrench again, but left the switch on while heading back to my computer to Google the Model #. Probably one minute later, I heard the disposal. The delayed reaction was a bit spooky. Either I fixed it or the appliance ghost was passing through on the way to a Halloween party...

FROM: Jim Gillen
DATE: Monday October 31, 2005 -- 5:20:42 pm

Have experienced the same problem with myGD where it hums but turns freely by hand. Since it is equipped with starter windings and starter cut out switches and I cleaned the starter contacts, I must assume that the starter winding must have developed some shorted turns thus it won't develop the required starting tourque. Anyone have an idea of what the difference should be between the ohm reading of the start winding versus the run winding?

FROM: Eric
DATE: Tuesday November 1, 2005 -- 12:06:03 am

Couldn't find a place for an allen wrench but the broom handle worked to break loose the jam. Great page, thanks!

FROM: Taryn
DATE: Monday November 7, 2005 -- 11:20:15 am

My GD is doing the same thing it hums when you turn it on. It does not appear to have anything stuck in it. I have the hex wrench. When you try to free it are you suppose to have the GD switch on while turning the hex wrench? Thanks!

FROM: BP
DATE: Friday November 11, 2005 -- 10:28:07 pm

I have a new GD and the blades turn freely. My problem is that the motor makes a constant loud noise. I pressed the reset button, but the problem continues.GD Customer Service people say that something is probaly stuck in the GB. I can't see or feel anything. Do I need a new GD?

FROM: Nick
DATE: Saturday November 12, 2005 -- 3:55:15 pm

I fixed my "whirlaway" GD today ( after several inspired attempts ), The whirlaway model (unlike the sinkiterator) doesnt have the blades that can be turned around with a broom handle or a allen... since this GD has the entire bottom portion turning..
The reset button didnt work either - But i was able to get the bottom portion of my GD turn around, by pushing against the surface counter clockwise with a flat head screwdriver... phew!

FROM: jason
DATE: Sunday November 13, 2005 -- 7:52:11 pm

One of my teeth in the disopal are loose, which causes a loud claging sound when I turn it on. How do you tighten the teeth of the disposal. Right now one is tight and the other loose. Do I need to take the whole thing apart or is there a quick fix?

FROM: Kevin
DATE: Sunday November 13, 2005 -- 11:23:14 pm

The "broom stick" method did the trick for me, if by broom stick you mean long handled wooden spoon. Thanks for the tip guys.

FROM: charles
DATE: Monday November 14, 2005 -- 12:51:42 pm

Where is the reset switch located on an insinkerator? Thanks.

FROM: Carlene
DATE: Monday November 21, 2005 -- 9:23:17 pm

Question: The garbage disposal. which is 1 year old, runs, but seems to be clogged. I see the swirling around, but I don't hear the "suction" sound when the stuff is going down. There is water & debris in the sink, but does not go down. What should I do? I remember one of the things I put down the disposal before having the problem was potato peelings. I am not aware that there is a problem with those, but maybe I did not run enough water down with it.

FROM: Marja
DATE: Saturday November 26, 2005 -- 11:09:52 pm

Carlene, the same thing happened to my garbage disposal, I put apple peelings in mine before it broke. Now, I have water and debris not draining from my sink as well. I tried all the above remedies and nothing seems to help. Any help will be much appreciated, thanks.

FROM: Billy
DATE: Sunday November 27, 2005 -- 5:00:45 pm

Thank you SO much! I pressed the reset button and it started to spin again.

I'm pretty inept when it comes to mechanical issues. My disposal hadn't been working for along time and I didn't have the cash to fork over for someone to work.

I'd have really hate to pay someone $100 to come press a little red button. What a relife.

FROM: Ilaria
DATE: Monday November 28, 2005 -- 10:30:26 pm

Thanks so much! I could hear the hum but no spinning, the stick trick worked!!

FROM: Sara
DATE: Monday November 28, 2005 -- 11:34:19 pm

Thank you for the stick trick! My GD is a whirlaway model and like Nick's the whole bottom portion turns. So while my blades were turning freely, I still had to use a stick to turn the bottom of the disposal. Thank you! I was soooo frustrated!

FROM: Pat
DATE: Friday December 9, 2005 -- 2:17:55 pm

Found this site so quickly !!! I was looking for the reset button as the GD has no power...I thought it was on the bottom, but couldn't see it.....now if I can find batteries for my dead flashlight , I hope I'll be back in business. BTW. I put it in 2 years ago ...taped the wrench to the unit. Until then I had used the broom handle for years !! Female, alone and 72. Cross your fingers for me !!

FROM: ryan
DATE: Saturday December 10, 2005 -- 6:16:31 am

My disposal seems to be spinning the wrong way but anyway the stuff is coming up and my sink is 1/4 full of brown sludge please help.

FROM: jl
DATE: Tuesday December 13, 2005 -- 5:19:09 pm

A good ol' strong plunging will unclog a disposer...but you need to plug the opposite side otherwise your just pushing the goo back and forth.

FROM: fred martin
DATE: Tuesday December 20, 2005 -- 10:00:46 am

i took my grabage disposal a sears kenmore out and it seems to be fixed now i cant get it back working in a small space and its heav but the ring that goes into those slots how do i reattach that to the disposal. do i put that to the top first or to the disposal it doesnt look like it will mhold the weight either way have lost instructions help if you can

FROM: jay
DATE: Wednesday December 21, 2005 -- 3:03:13 pm

I've got the problem where it sounds like the motor is spinning, but it doesn't drive the choppers. I can see in the drain that it looks like the chopper head shakes... but doesn't spin.

I've given a couple of turns with the hex wrench... but I don't think that's the problem.

It seems more like the drive from motor to head is busted.

I'm wondering if that's what the rest of you decided who had the same issue.

FROM: Steve
DATE: Thursday December 22, 2005 -- 1:52:02 pm

I see the swirling around, but I don't hear the "suction" sound when the stuff is going down. There is water & debris in the sink, but does not go down. What should I do? One of the things I put down the disposal before having the problem was potato peelings. BTW, the allen wrench moves freely but clog remains.

Carlene, Marja - did you get a solution...

FROM: cher
DATE: Friday December 23, 2005 -- 9:47:40 pm

tried the wrench didn't work when I put power on water comes up other side of sink that has water in it because it won't drain. Both side of the sink has water in it ,any advice? having christmas in 2 days need help

FROM: SB
DATE: Saturday December 24, 2005 -- 1:46:38 am

My husband and I have a whirlaway GD and it wouldn't spin. I got both blades to move and checked both the fuse and circut breaker. The reset button never tripped so it couldn't be pushed back in. Finally, while using a pick from the knife collection I realized that the floor of the GD spins while the blades go. So even though the blades worked it meant there was something stuck between the wall od the GD and the spinning floor. I picked all around the floor of the GD to clear some of the debris. Finally, when it was all cleared and it STILL would only hum when we turned it on, I took a screwdrive and shoved it in a hole we found in the middle of the GD spinning floor and forced the floor to rotate counter clockwise. Once the initial spin was forced the rest came naturally! I hope this helps!!!!! Thanks for all of you help!

FROM: SB
DATE: Saturday December 24, 2005 -- 1:48:22 am

My husband and I have a whirlaway GD and it wouldn't spin. I got both blades to move and checked both the fuse and circut breaker. The reset button never tripped so it couldn't be pushed back in. Finally, while using a pick from the knife collection I realized that the floor of the GD spins while the blades go. So even though the blades worked it meant there was something stuck between the wall od the GD and the spinning floor. I picked all around the floor of the GD to clear some of the debris. Finally, when it was all cleared and it STILL would only hum when we turned it on, I took a screwdrive and shoved it in a hole we found in the middle of the GD spinning floor and forced the floor to rotate counter clockwise. Once the initial spin was forced the rest came naturally! I hope this helps!!!!! Thanks for all of you help!

FROM: Rick
DATE: Tuesday December 27, 2005 -- 5:06:04 pm

Garbage Disposal shut down, it tripped the breaker. Reset the breaker and as sson as I apply power it trips the breaker again. It is not jammed as it moves freeley. Reset buuton has been tried. What next ?

FROM: SB
DATE: Wednesday December 28, 2005 -- 11:31:03 am

My Disposal doesn't work! It's only 2 years old. There is a humming sound, but no movement. I tried moving it by hand, still no good. Please help me.

FROM: MA
DATE: Saturday December 31, 2005 -- 5:47:53 pm

I have a Badger 1/3 hp. How visible are the blades. I can't even see them??

FROM: HG
DATE: Monday January 9, 2006 -- 11:31:48 am

Any suggestions on getting a dish rag out of the disposal? It ripped and Ican't get the rest out.

FROM: LP
DATE: Friday January 13, 2006 -- 5:14:59 pm

problem. My GD does not run - no hum - nothing. I tried the breaker and tested the outlet and no problem. Also tried the reset button - nothing. It is a Whirlaway 291 (no blades). Any suggestions?

FROM: BBJ
DATE: Wednesday January 18, 2006 -- 1:44:49 am

Way grateful for this string of genius solution on the garbage disposal....mine just didnt react - no sound, nothing...took a plunger to it then the amazing reset button mentioned here - voila! solved - thank u

FROM: Annamaria
DATE: Monday January 23, 2006 -- 1:40:50 am

Our GD "coughed up" some two mystery metal parts the other day. One looks like an "L" shaped bracket, 1/2 " by 1" with an oval hole, and a pin that sort of fits the hole on the bracket (has no threading).

We have no idea what caused these parts to come loose, and aren't sure if it's safe to even operate the GD without these two parts. I was too curious not to see what happens when it's turned on, so I tried it. It makes the usual healthy sounds of an operational GD, but I didn't have anything in the disposal that needed grinding. In other words, I am not sure if it still grinds, or if just makes the same sound as it did before.

Does anyone know the importance of these two metal parts, and if it's something I can and should put back? Any help would be appreciated! (Otherwise, this puppy's gotta come out, and a new one has to go in.)

FROM: Dan
DATE: Monday January 23, 2006 -- 7:50:24 pm

Just did the broom trick, and I'm golden.

thanks for the tip.

FROM: Rob [E-Mail]
DATE: Wednesday January 25, 2006 -- 1:41:10 am

My Whirlaway 191 was humming and then shut off. Thanks to this forum I found the reset button and pressed it...once again a humm and then it shut off again. I snapped a wooden spoon in half before resorting to a flat-blade screw driver and managed to free it! Works like a charm now.
This posting saved me a bunch of money...thank you!

Another minor problem I'm having is that my sink fills up when I run my dishwasher :S

Do i need to take apart any plumbing and clean it? Has anyone else ever had this problem?

FROM: Debbie
DATE: Sunday January 29, 2006 -- 9:28:49 pm

My Insinkerator Badger-1 runs, sounds like blades moving, but garbage does not get ground and sucked out. Wrench in bottom moves freely. Any ideas anyone?

FROM: larry
DATE: Monday January 30, 2006 -- 6:43:50 pm

I've seen a few comments from owners of Badgers,
and now mine is out. There's definitely power, but
nothing spins.

Can anyone tell me where the reset button is -- if indeed
it has one??

FROM: Sarah
DATE: Saturday February 4, 2006 -- 2:35:55 pm

My disposal was humming but blades were not turning. I felt inside the disposal and both blades were able to be rotated by hand, suggesting that nothing was lodged. I took a hexagon bike tool to rotate the blades from the motor, and after 2 or 3 forceful rotations in each direction, there was still just humming. I then used the tool to rotate about 10 full rotations in each direction, and turned the unit on and it sounded great for a few seconds after which it resorted to just humming. Some more rotations in both dirctions using the hexagon tool solved it. So my suggestion for those with similar problems is to really be sure to crank and crank in both directions for many rotations before giving up.

FROM: Marcia
DATE: Tuesday February 7, 2006 -- 10:40:25 am

My GD is backing up into my other sink! HELP

FROM: debbie
DATE: Thursday February 9, 2006 -- 8:36:53 pm

thanks guys this was just what i needed to "fix" my disposal. i just needed to push the reset button on the bottom, but who knew it had a reset button! now i know.
thanks again,
debbie

FROM: James Rideout
DATE: Saturday February 11, 2006 -- 10:28:20 am

Thanks, the bypass button on the bottom and broom worked

FROM: Steve
DATE: Tuesday February 14, 2006 -- 2:44:01 am

When using the broom handle, and the hex wrench should the switch be ON! ( the power)

FROM: Kelly
DATE: Wednesday February 15, 2006 -- 12:40:42 pm

Thanks so much guys! By hitting the reset button and using the "broom Method" I was able to save my husband a houshold fix job!

FROM: geoff
DATE: Friday February 17, 2006 -- 9:30:28 pm

last night I was doing dishes and a garlic press went down the disposal. The disposal snapped off the metal handle of the press, but did't appear to have injested anything, but would not restart.


When you hit the switch to turn it on do you hear a hum? Watch carefully and see if your kitchen lights dim while at the same time. If so, the garbage disposal is *trying* to turn, but jammed. The reason the lights dim is because the motor is pulling a lot of current. Unfortunately the current is not turning the motor, just heating it up, so it's important not to keep it "humming" to long or you risk burning the motor, though the cutoff should prevent it.


So after observing the hum and dimmed lights, and after trying the reset switch I resorted to draino and a teapot of builing water. I didn't think it would work because there wsa no apparent "clog" (this has worked for me in the past when an abvious "backup"/clog caused the infamous "hum" and light dimming). And it didn't work.

I tried the broom handle, gingerly. But frankly this just seemes like a bad idea that was going to cause damage and make the problem worse. I'm an engineer, so to me that's like slapping the TV when there is static.

I went to Home Depot (avoid if possible, such an aweful store) because it was all that was open ay 8pm. I called first to make sure they carried what I needed (though they are usually just wrong about their stock anyway). I got the "Jam Buster Wrench" which has "IN SINK ERATOR" printed on the packaging. It cost 7 bucks. It is NOT found in the plumbing department, but is found right next to the IN SINK ERATOR units in themselves. In my homedepot this was actually in the sink "showroom"-type area.

The wrench is basicall an allen key.

When I got home I gave the hex nut 10 turns (on the underside of the insinkerator). I ran the water and it started immediately. However, the next day it again hummed and I had to crank it again. this time I tossed a bone into it just to give it a workout. Now it seems to be working fine.

FROM: charles
DATE: Sunday February 19, 2006 -- 7:46:33 pm

Great site everyone. The broom handle trick saved me a couple of bills in my previous place.

My GD was not turning a month ago and after turning it with the allen wrench, it started to move again. The problem I have now is it seems slightly loose and no longer does a good job of disposing of food. I put a cut up an orange in it to help with the smell and chunks of the orange were still there even after running it for half a minute.

Suggestions?

Thanks!

FROM: Tom
DATE: Monday February 20, 2006 -- 8:27:43 am

I have never owned a GD until i moved into my apartment, there is a brown/blackish liquid coming up through it, dont know what to do, poured 2 bottles of gd safe draino down it and it the water is still there. please help? would appreciate any help

FROM: Matt
DATE: Friday February 24, 2006 -- 8:22:47 pm

I have a Whirlaway 291 and there is no wrench place (as far as I can find). I knew my little bladey's spun freely so I doubted the broom handle would work. But then reading that the base spun (and not just the little bladey's) I gave the broom stick a try. Et voila. It's burning that little piece of plastic that had it jammed into a fine smelly paste.

Matt

FROM: jim
DATE: Friday February 24, 2006 -- 9:05:56 pm

Hey, thanks for the comment about plunging the opposite side of the sink for a clogged disposal... it worked for us.

FROM: Christina
DATE: Sunday February 26, 2006 -- 8:16:00 pm

My disposal was humming and tried flipping the switch....still no good until I came to this site and read about the broom stick thing. Used the end of my old high school lacrosse stick from 15 years ago!! LOL. Didn't have a broom stick, as I broke it in the winter storm we just got. I was going to get rid of the lax stick, but never, not now!! lol Thanks for the tip, disposal is working like brand new now!!

FROM: Christina
DATE: Sunday February 26, 2006 -- 8:19:54 pm

By the way, I asked my boyfriend two or three times to come over to try to fix the disposal...of course that was wasted breath. I knew if I called a plumber, he'd take me for probably $150-$300. Who says us women need a man!!! Well, thanks to the men on this site who blessed me with their knowledge!! lol

FROM: Kumar
DATE: Sunday February 26, 2006 -- 10:04:08 pm

Well, my inSinkerator started humming but no movement.
Not sure what got into it (thx to my wife), it got stuck.
I used my hands to pull stuff out but did not find anything.
The next thing I did was put in the "Liquid Plumr - Foaming pipe snake", a clog remover and let it do it's thing for 30 minutes.
I got lucky and found the "wrenchette" from my basement (thx to my wife) and inserted it into the bottom hole and twisted few time. I did not hear anything breaking or sweaking. I was expecting some bone or metal stuff, but found nothing. After turning with the wrenchette few time, I hit the switch and Viola, it worked.
Am following Marcus (Nov 11, 2004 thread) and am off to the beer store to spend the money I saved today.

FROM: David
DATE: Tuesday February 28, 2006 -- 8:10:38 pm

Wow. I tried the broom stick method with no luck & I must say was very disheartened. My GD didn't seem to be anything like people have written about, except in symptoms, which was a humming sound that indicated that it was getting power, but no action. I decided to keep looking through people's comments though & eventually found a comment by someone with a Whirlaway (which I have) that mentioned that they were different. I did as it said & got a large flat head screwdriver & ran it around the edge of the inside of the sink/disposal, where there is a small crevace, forcing the screwdriver counterclockwise. It didn't feel like it did anything, however the thing fired right back up as if nothing was wrong after running the srewdriver around only one time, which took all of maybe 5 seconds. Thanks a bunch. This web sight rocks!

FROM: Shawn
DATE: Monday March 6, 2006 -- 10:39:47 pm

Badger ISE hummed but didn't turn. Found this page. Found a plunger handle (somewhat handier than a broom stick). Worked like a charm! Thanks guys!

FROM: Mimi
DATE: Friday March 10, 2006 -- 3:15:34 pm

I am still in shock.....but the broom handle stick worked! Actually, I used a big wooden spoon. My disposal was humming, blades seemed to move manually(checked before turning on) but nothing was happening. I unclogged the drains, poured boiling water down both drains....nothing. I was skeptical but I thought I'd better try everything before calling a plumber. Worked like a charm the 2nd try(didn't push/turn hard enough the first time) and I'm a believer. Thanks a lot.

FROM: Patricia
DATE: Wednesday March 15, 2006 -- 2:51:12 pm

I have a 3yr old Whirlaway 191 that is humming but not otherwise working. I have tried using the butt end of a toilet bowl plunger as my broom handle and have run it around the bottom and sides of the disposer. Nothing is happening. I put my hand in the disposer and can move what feel like two blades in half-circles. I'll try the flathead screwdriver method mentioned on March 10, but does anyone else have other advice? I've used the broom handle method before on this disposer and have had success...but it's not working this time.

FROM: Sara
DATE: Friday March 17, 2006 -- 8:55:24 am

I have the problem that is mentioned only rarely here. My GD appears to be clogged, although water isn't backing up into my other kitchen sinks (which usually happens with a clog). This time, we can see all the water chruning around--it just isn't being sucked down into the disposal. When we put out hands down into the unit, we feel that all these tiny holes down at the bottom are totally clogged. We've tried a plumbers friend to dislodge them, but even with my husband's brute strength ;-) we're getting nowhere. Any ideas? I noticed ac ouple of other questions on the board like this but no answers. Thoughts??

FROM: JOE FREGOSO
DATE: Saturday March 18, 2006 -- 2:24:51 pm

Thank you very much. I was having problems with my garbage disposal. It would hum and the blades wouldn't turn and water was backing up.

I used the plunger, used the broomstick and used my allen wrench and it works now. I couldn't believe! Thank you for saving me $95.00, thats how much my plumber was going to charge to come to my house on a saturday.
My wife is happy again.

I owe you a BBQ! ha ha ha ha


Thanks again!!!

FROM: Troy
DATE: Saturday March 18, 2006 -- 5:03:17 pm

Sara, I had the same problem ... used the toilet plunger and it worked after a few attempts. Need to plug the ajacent sink drain when plunging.

Troy

FROM: Sean
DATE: Monday March 20, 2006 -- 1:00:32 pm

Hi guys, this is great info, but I tried all of the suggested fixes on my In Sink Erator Badger 5 Plus and it still didn't work! I went to this website and looked at the instal pdf:

http://www.insinkerator.com/pdfs/US_ICU1.pdf

On page four there is a diagram of the wires that connect the power to the garbage disposal. **REMEMBER** always turn off the power/fuse before opening the electrical plate and checking on the wires.

When I checked on the two power wires, I discovered that one had vibrated loose. I got new (tighter) wire nuts for both connections and it fired right up!

Hope this helps,

Sean

FROM: Dale Eisman
DATE: Monday March 20, 2006 -- 11:15:18 pm

I own a 10-year-old Kenmore disposer. It works fine but I'm about to have some kitchen remodeling done and am wondering if it would make sense to get a new one. I'm having a new sink installed, so the existing disposer will have to be disconnected anyway. Would hate to have to pay for another installation six months or a year from now if I'm near the end of the present unit's lifespan. Anyone know how long these things typically last?

FROM: Nicole
DATE: Tuesday March 21, 2006 -- 9:32:14 pm

My GD didn't do anything when I flipped the switch, so I pressed the reset button and got it up and running again. The only problem now is that it won't turn off! I had to flip the circuit breaker switch to get it to stop. Whenever I flip it back, the GD turns on. The normal wall switch won't turn it off. How do I get it to stop?!

FROM: jk
DATE: Tuesday March 21, 2006 -- 10:45:15 pm

I absolutely love the fact that this Ping will not die and that it has proven to be handy for so many people. What a great way to attract new pingers!

FROM: Paul, Va
DATE: Wednesday March 22, 2006 -- 8:27:17 pm

Cheers guys and gals,

tips on unblocking the Insinkerator were fantastic. Saved me calling out a plumber. Long may this site run.

Paul

FROM: Kevin
DATE: Friday March 24, 2006 -- 10:15:33 pm

I have a brand new 4mth old Badger 5 Insinkerator, and today it decided to hum at me when I turned it on. Inspected dillegently around edges inside, and even removed drain pipe and inspected there. No blockage.

Broomstick method worked for me to get it going. (aka... turn system on, hear hum, give it a quick spin with the stick).

Here's the kicker.... when I turn it off, and the wheels stop spinning completely it goes back to the hum again, and takes another whirl of the stick to get it going again. If I switch it back on like just before it stops spinning it works fine, but soon as it comes to a complete stop will not start again.

Was hoping to fix it without having to hassle the builder about it. Any thoughts?

FROM: ian
DATE: Wednesday March 29, 2006 -- 11:52:46 pm

Many thanks to you folks out there,yet another happy and relieved punter here.Insinkerator hummed then clicked then nothing.Click was cutout switch which I was unaware of till reading here.Removed chicken bones with tongs,reset red button under unit - no joy.Inserted stick thru top,applied moderate force and turned - coupla secs and plate spun freely.Happy happy - no $60 call out fee for plumber to do same.
Had to pay a washing machine repairman $100 to put a screw in back of lid cos lid had warped ever so slightly and wouldn't hit the button when it closed.Have saved other friends from same money parting by doing same to theirs.Perhaps there's a washing machine forum to put this - sorry haven't time to look.

FROM: Dwayne
DATE: Friday March 31, 2006 -- 1:48:42 pm

Problem: GD moves freely manually, no debris, just a hum.

Solution: Turned on switch, used long flat-head to turn counter-clockwise. Took 3 attempts, but works great thanks to this site.

This is a great site and I will be checking in more often.

Thanks again!!!

FROM: Bill DeCoster
DATE: Friday March 31, 2006 -- 8:46:30 pm

I don't know how I came across this thread, but I have been doing the garbage disposal clog/jam routine for a couple of years. Here's my 2-cents: forget the hex wrench, it probably works, but a toilet plunger and hammer will free just about any jam.

If it hums, it's only jammed, so either use the plunger handle or the hammer handle, stick it in at an angle and push usually counter clockwise. If it starts to move, remove the handle, run some water and flip the switch on and right back off. If it is free, remove the rubber guard, it should pull straight up, wash it off, then remove anything that is in the unit. There will usually be some form of rock, metal, bone, plastic, glass. If you find that the plate inside is deteriating, go buy a new disposal and put it in, there is nothing to it and you will be able to get a good look at what's under your k-sink. .

I promise to come back add some more small change or if you have some specific question about disppsals, LMK

FROM: Scott Calder
DATE: Friday March 31, 2006 -- 11:12:23 pm

I tried the broom thing and the allen wrench/screwdriver underneath but to no avail. I still just get a hum. Everything spins freely but no go.

FROM: Shor
DATE: Sunday April 2, 2006 -- 3:43:02 pm

My GD won't cut off, the switch is controlled by turning the stopper in the sink.. To stop it for now I've shut it off at the circuit breaker, unfortunately my dishwasher is on the same circuit. It is not making any unusual noises and I rarely use it to be honest. it came with my house when I bought it a few years ago.

FROM: LMari
DATE: Monday April 3, 2006 -- 5:40:21 pm

My disposal isn't draining. The disposal is working as the water is swirling but it doesn't go down. I wasn't even able to force any water down with the plunger either. The sink on the right is draining. What do I do first? Your help is much appreciated.

FROM: Ankit
DATE: Tuesday April 11, 2006 -- 8:31:25 pm

Zack that was very helpful.

FROM: Peter [E-Mail]
DATE: Sunday April 16, 2006 -- 6:08:24 pm

I dropped a diamond earring down the GD, it fell underneath the chopper blades. do I need a plumber??

FROM: Aditi
DATE: Saturday April 22, 2006 -- 1:00:29 pm

Thankyou Zack.
We were having the garbage disposal problem. I searched on the net and got this wonderful detailed tip from you and it worked.
Hurray!!! No plumber needed:)

FROM: Angela
DATE: Sunday April 23, 2006 -- 11:13:42 am

I have tried everything on here. My boyfriend even did the broom thing too hard and knocked the GD off the ring. We got it back on but it still just hums. Only, once did the reset button pop out so I could do that and it didn't work. Still just hums. After trying everything above, do I need a new GB. It's 9 years old.

FROM: Jesse
DATE: Wednesday April 26, 2006 -- 4:49:06 pm

I read the comments here on the site. I've had to fix my mothers disposal and my girlfriends disposal. On my mothers I had to un-due the pipes under the sink to clear the clog out. The trap was clogged with peels from a vegtable. With my girlfriends GD I just used a plunger and it cleared the clog.

A boyfriend or the man around the house should be the one who fixes the disposal. It makes a guy look manly because he knows about plumbing.

One suggestion for guys when you are fixing a GD or running one for that matter. I've had comments from women who say I look sexy in my jeans when I am fixing or running a garbage disposal espically when I am fixing it from underneath the sink because I am shritless and my abs show nicely. Try it guys? Are any of you wearing your jeans when fixing and running your disposals. Email me and let me know or am I the only one.

FROM: Sheilah Blizzard
DATE: Friday April 28, 2006 -- 9:36:46 am

Is it okay to put egg shells in the garbage disposal? Do they harm the disposal?

FROM: Jesse
DATE: Friday April 28, 2006 -- 9:50:08 pm

Thanks for the tips. Google brought this up as the first hit and it solved my problems.

FROM: Jessica
DATE: Saturday April 29, 2006 -- 9:40:39 am

Hey - What an awesome site! Thanks so much for all the advice. My disposal was spinning fine and the allen wrench and broomstick all were moving freely but it was still cloged. Draino didn't work - so I saw the tip of plugging the sink side and using the Plunger - ALL CLEAR!! Thanks so much!

FROM: Chris
DATE: Sunday April 30, 2006 -- 10:44:17 am

Got a problem with mine. We had a knife get accidentally into the disposal and my wife flipped the switch. Didn't appear to damage the knife too bad, maybe a few small metallic pieces, and the disposal still runs. However, now it's EXTREMELY loud, vibrates much worse than before, and I'm afraid if we continue to use it as is, it may burn up the motor. Not sure how much help you guys can give me on this one. The blades appear to work fine, as I tried a small amount of food and it appeared to take it. Something just seems "not right" with it. Any tips or advice? Thanks in advance.

FROM: wayneh
DATE: Sunday April 30, 2006 -- 4:34:04 pm

I have a Sears 1hp disposal unit (model 17567541) that is about 9 years old. (about 2 yrs past the 7 yr warrantee I believe.) If I flip the switch it hums (but doesn't rotate). (Of course I do not let it stay in this stalled state for more than 1 second otherwise the motor would burn out.) There are no visible items in the grinding chamber and (not that it is relevant to this problem but) the grinding elements move freely.

I then noticed that the plug (part number 2854) at the center of the grinding chamber floor was very wobbly. (This not the case with new units.) In the Sears on-line schematic it looks like it might be part numbers
17, 19, or 20 (i.e., the nut flange, sleeve-seal kit or rubber washer). Because of the 'solid' way it is seized up, I don't think it is the rubber washer.

If I fiddle (rotate/wiggle cw and ccw) with the Allen wrench at the bottom of the unit to try to unjam it, I am sometimes able to free it up for a half a turn or so. But then it goes right back to the jammed state.

Has anyone run into this problem and repaired it?

FROM: Bef
DATE: Saturday May 6, 2006 -- 11:17:50 pm

Ok so I'm the ranking dummy on this board because I actually found the reset button and pushed it too hard that it's no longer sticking out. When I say no longer sticking out, there is now a little hole where the red button used to be and the red button is sitting somewhere inside the disposer. My problem was, I kept resetting it and it brought the humming sound back everytime but it wouldn't start working so I kept pushing more and more and when I finally pushed it with a screw-driver, voila...no more red button.

Since reading this board, I've actually used a screw driver to loosen up something underneath the disposer and at least the sink is no longer clogged up. But I cannot get the humming sound back. Is it time to go buy a new disposer or is there any other way to get the humming sound back?

FROM: preeti
DATE: Friday May 12, 2006 -- 12:33:13 pm

Thanks ..... the broom stick method worked for me :-D

FROM: WD
DATE: Saturday May 13, 2006 -- 1:49:42 pm

Worked the allen wrench thing so hard I pulled the unit off the sink, and I had to put the collar thing back together (much to the amusement of my wife and grandkids). I then used a long needle nosed plier and managed to extract a baby bottle nipple brush from the unit (so I then suspected the problem was some rubber jammed in the teeth of the unit) which was pretty badly chewed up. I ran some water until the unit was full and worked it with a plunger until water was coming out the overflow thing above the sink. The rubber stayed as a suspect as the allen wrench would move a bit, and then it would get really hard to turn. My theory at this point was I needed more torque and was thinking of ways to rig something up to the allen wrench to put a handle on the bottom like an offset screwdriver operates, but I couldn't find anything that worked. I was about to buy a new disposal when I decided to do some googling, and found this board.
When I got to the broom handle suggestions and extra torque from above the unit I thought it made sense. I used the handle of the plunger since it was already in play, and after a couple of tries the teeth began to move. It started and stopped a few times, and I kept working the plunger handle each time and the last time it ran better than it has in years.
Thanks so much everyone who's contributed to the board, you all saved me the $65 I was about to spend on a new unit.
BTW the unit is a 1/3 hp Badger1 by inskinkerator.

FROM: Ace
DATE: Monday May 22, 2006 -- 9:48:38 pm

I have a problem with my disposal, first of all it hum's. It does not seem jammed, I can turn the blades freely with my Allen wrench, so it isn't "locked" up, and suggestions?

FROM: Ash
DATE: Monday May 29, 2006 -- 10:41:05 pm

Problem: Whirlaway 291 jammed after pista shells stuck in it. Humming sound but no movement.

Solution: Cleaned the stuck shells with a knife and manually rotated it counter clockwise using a wooden spoon a couple of times (while the switch is off). Turned on the switch on and it started working.

Thanks a million ($100 for plumber and remaining for the headache ;)
-Ashish

FROM: charles [E-Mail]
DATE: Tuesday May 30, 2006 -- 9:12:37 am

I always try to remove the obstruction before I attempt to use the allen wrench. One thing is always remember to turn the allen wrench the opposite way that the motor turns.

FROM: Eric
DATE: Wednesday May 31, 2006 -- 7:28:31 pm

NAIL!! it was a nail. worked it back n forth with the allen wrench 20 revs before it came out! keep at it!

FROM: Katy
DATE: Friday June 2, 2006 -- 3:01:54 pm

The broomstick/stick method didn't work for me; the blades were rotating freely, but the motor just hummed when I turned it on. However, it was really easy to fix! I have the Insinkerator and all I needed was a 1/4" allen wrench. You insert it at the center of the bottom of the disposal (under your sink), and rotate it until it will rotate freely in either direction. It took about 15 seconds. Once it's spinning easily, just reach into the disposal (turned OFF, of course), and remove whatever caused the jam. A baby spoon had accidentally fallen down the drain in my case. Then hit the reset butom, and you're back in business.

I am the LEAST HANDY person around, and this was stupid simple. Saved me at least $75, too!

FROM: Anna
DATE: Sunday June 4, 2006 -- 12:05:04 pm

Great web site, I was trying to figure out why the disposal wasnt' working, used the wrench and now its working great. Thank you to everyone.

FROM: Georgii Baker
DATE: Tuesday June 6, 2006 -- 10:37:04 am

Where can I get a manual for a Whirlaway 291 1/2 hp 115 V?

Having similar problem: Reset- switch on- Hums- switches off----no movement

FROM: Aanen
DATE: Tuesday June 6, 2006 -- 1:24:39 pm

I've heard that you should put ice in them to help clean them out. Not sure if it's true since we don't have a disposal unit

FROM: Alex Cooper
DATE: Friday June 9, 2006 -- 11:47:44 pm

Bloody marvellous website!!!!

FROM: Karen Crummins
DATE: Sunday June 11, 2006 -- 2:22:44 pm

Thank you to all who contributed to this subject! We had a metal pop top ring stuck in our insinkerator (don't ask...) and I thought it had wrecked the entire disposal. With all the advice on this site I was able to unlock the blades, pull out the pop top ring, reset the power and viola! my disposal works. No plumber bill - hooray. This site is great - I'll be back!

Karen

FROM: Sandy
DATE: Monday June 12, 2006 -- 3:29:40 am

I was tired of using the plunger. I thought a pebble was caught in the disposer. I was trying to use it since January with nothing happening. It was humming and the blades moved freeing but nothing. I even tried the handle thing. I read this page, went downstairs and said "Your gonna work" Well I took the handle of a plunger and moved it around really hard. Then I turned it on nothing. I took the wrench and turned it really really hard. Then I read on this page the disposal should be on while using the wrench. Trying not to think about electric shock I flipped the swith again and it was a miracle it started to turn and I could hear a banging soung inside. I reached my hand in [after it was off] a found a curtain rod holder (metal) No wonder it would'nt work. Then I remembered I was remodeling my kitchen at the time it stopped working. Thanks, if I would not have read this page I would not have got up the strength or courage to fight with it again

FROM: Jennifer
DATE: Wednesday June 14, 2006 -- 10:33:37 pm

Thank you! We were going to go out to find a larger alan wrench, but I read about the broomstick handle, and it worked like a charm! I had a little nail caught in it. ????? I'm happy to have it working again!

FROM: eric
DATE: Wednesday June 14, 2006 -- 11:27:46 pm

i didnt have the tool, but i just stuck a flathead screwdriver in the underside of the disposal and turned. voila.

a very satisfying moment

FROM: Dan
DATE: Sunday June 18, 2006 -- 2:59:03 pm

My GD was stuck, hit the reset, got the hum. Now I have used the wrench to get it unstuck, but I am now getting no hum (no power..). I have flipped the circuit breaker, to no avail. The reset button has not been triggered, so I can't do a reset. Any thoughts???

FROM: Whip Pan
DATE: Sunday June 18, 2006 -- 5:21:38 pm

Excellent site! Thank you so much. I stupidly put a bunch of expired frozen, formerly fresh pasta [cheese at that] down the disposal and was worried I'd have to call the landlord who'd call out the plumber & then raise my rent [lease is up next month, so I've been trying to be on my best behavior].
The Allen wrench I really didn't need to try [tho I did] since the blades were spinning, just nothing went down. All I accomplished by turning on the switch was creating a gigantic foamy mess, which never drained, Then, as I was in dispair of having to call my landlord & do a massive apartment cleanup before anyone came over, I Googled & found this great website -- who'd a thunk?]

Anyway, thanks for the tips here. This is what worked for me:

I've got a dual-sink with a dishwasher attached somewhere in the line. So, I tried with my trysty toilet plunger [the extra-heavy-duty model, recommended, not just the cheap simple bell-shaped type] but all that kept happening was a regurgitation of cheese & pasta chunks up thru the aerator on top of the sink [the dealie that lets air into the system, a little metal/plastic tube thingie that's about 2-3 " high]. So, I tried again after blocking the *other* sink's drain, but still just snot-goo flying out the aerator dealie. Then, [duh] I realized I'd have to plug that too, which I did with duct tape wrapped tightly around all to prevent air leaks. So, you gotta keep all possible outs plugged, I guess.

That did it! After just a couple of big plunges, both pushing down and quick up-releases, by trying to force the goo down the drain and/or sucking it back up, just a couple of strokes did the trick!

Now, it's working perfectiy.

I also checked the pipes afterwards under the sink to be sure I didn't blow any gaskets or anything, which I'd guess is possible what with all that plunger pressure which can really build up.

All seems fine. [Also, I noticed some cheesy pasta dribble stains on the hand spray attachment after I finished, so I guess theoretically I should have wrapped that in duct tape, too.]

So the upshot: my drain's working & now I've got the rest of my Sunday to spend relaxing with the wife & cat [not cleaning!] and not having to worry about yet another rent increase, at least one due to my stupidity.

Who knew? I've been tossing cooked pasta down that hole for years, guess it just wasn't fresh-frozen uncooked pasta. Either that, or the cheese ingredients, or maybe it was that it'd been sitting in my freezer since 2002 [sic! yuck!] and had morphed into something truly lethal.

Anyway, thanks a ton!

Who knew?

FROM: amy
DATE: Monday June 19, 2006 -- 7:33:31 pm

thanks you guys! my reset button didn't seem to be working. i turned the gd on and off and it still didn't work. but--aHA!! the broomstick!! i guess there was some heavy duty crud underneath cos it got dislodged and started working again. i feel so cool about myself fixing it and really REALLY glad i don't have to call the plumber!

FROM: tracey
DATE: Monday June 19, 2006 -- 10:11:31 pm

PINGING PAYS! thanks for all the tips, was near giving up, ya right. knew about the button, tried clearing it and checking for block and i knew by the sound there had to be something in there. finally, there it is, what is that, hey thats not food. it was a quarter perfectly lodged along the wall of the base. tried to no avail to wedge it out moving in a cautious clockwise direction with screwdriver and mop handle. remembered counter clockwise sug and bam there it goes and i made a quarter because my hubby certainly won't be claiming it. thanks for the tips. cool site!

FROM: s
DATE: Saturday June 24, 2006 -- 11:25:36 am

Well, I have tried your "stick," your broom handle, your reset, and I am not about to take this thing apart myself~ I mean, what the heck am I supposed to do with the broom handle again? This stuff is so not made to be fixed by girls! ARGH!

FROM: ranu ron
DATE: Monday June 26, 2006 -- 1:24:16 pm

I didn't understand the broom method. Could someone please help me understand it? I have a brand new (1 month old) GD unit that hums but the blade doesn't seem to be running. I would like to try the broom method to see if it helps. Since, I have a new GD and just paid a plumber to put it in, I am not in the mood to call a plumber again....Thanks, Ron

FROM: ranu ron
DATE: Monday June 26, 2006 -- 2:00:40 pm

For the Allen wrench method, does the unit have to be on or off when using the wrench? Thanks a bunch!

FROM: Rhonda
DATE: Tuesday June 27, 2006 -- 1:55:32 am

OK, I have a whirlaway and can not find the reset button. And there is no hole in the bottom for a wrench like my other gd had. If someone will tell me where the reset might be... I will try that.

My son broke a melamine plate in the sink and told me that he got it all out but apparantly he did not. because the first time I tried to turn on the gd it just hummed. So I am invisioning a 1000 little pieces of glass stuck.

And, I must really be stupid because I keep reading about the broom handle, but what exactly do you do with it? (ugh, I do not want to pay a plumber... help!)

FROM: lin
DATE: Tuesday June 27, 2006 -- 9:33:21 pm

the broomstock worked! wow! this site is fantastic! the disposal has not worked in a while and the drain was very slow. tonight the drain stopped functioning totally so i searched google and found you. you saved me much $$ and aggravation. thank you so much!

FROM: Rhonda
DATE: Wednesday June 28, 2006 -- 2:02:19 pm

OK, I just got brave, held my breathe and stuck the broom handle in and rotated until the blades moved. WORKED! WOW! I was afraid that I would break it more and then have to buy a brand new disposal.

THANKS THANKS THANKS!

I LOVE the internet!

FROM: YLQ
DATE: Wednesday June 28, 2006 -- 7:12:33 pm

The broomstick thing WORKED! And I'm a girl BTW so I guess this stuff IS made to be fixed by girls. LOL

FROM: Chuckles
DATE: Thursday June 29, 2006 -- 12:19:06 am

Hi All,

Cleared mine using the (Sears-supplied) allen wrench.

I think the unit is making a slightly more grindy, louder sound than before. Is it possible the grinders (?) are loose ?

The unit seems OK other than that. I poured boiling water down it, while it was turned on, to flush out any grime.

FROM: Monique
DATE: Saturday July 1, 2006 -- 10:14:36 am

I'm having the same problem as Chuckles. My GD is making a grinding sound. I think the blades may be loose, but I'm not sure how to fix that. I've got an insinkerator badger 1 and i hope there is an easy fix. It seems to be working fine, other than that awful sound. Pls help!

FROM: mookie
DATE: Monday July 3, 2006 -- 9:11:58 pm

OK folks... once again... the broom stick is used to move the spinning plate that is inside the GD. That plate often has two metal pieces that spin around with the plate and spin freely around themselves...the force of spinning sends them out to chop up food or forks or whatever drops in the drain. They spin freely to allow any impact with something solid to be less violent.
The broom handle, wooden spoon, hockey stick or plunger handle solution means that you us the wooden end to hook one of those blades and spin the whole bottom plate a couple of time to free any jammed materials. Most folks say counterclockwise. Most new units have an allen wrench tool that works from under the unit. DO NOT TURN THE UNIT ON when the allen wrench is inserted. That could hurt you.
Have fun.

FROM: Trev
DATE: Monday July 3, 2006 -- 9:13:50 pm

Someone answer this!!!!
PLEASE
my unit spins with the broom or allen wrench, but only hums when the unit is turned on... No need to reset, no power problems to the unit. HELP>

FROM: Liz
DATE: Tuesday July 4, 2006 -- 7:48:07 pm

Thanks so much for disclosing the right size allen wrench (1/4"). I had been using ones that were too small and couldn't get them to catch, and the broom stick didn't work. Had been living without disposal for a month, but friend didn't know and filled sink yesterday. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

FROM: Catherine
DATE: Friday July 7, 2006 -- 9:19:02 am

Twice now, in the last couple of months, this website has saved me so I figured I should write. The first time my GD stopped working was when a dish cloth got jammed in it and started ripping when I tried to yank it out. The allen wrench trick worked -- took a bit of working it back and forth while pulling on the cloth (with the disposal OFF) but what a whoop of joy when the thing came free in my hand. Boy, did I feel proud for not having to call my landlord. Am hoping my kids grow up GD literate so they don't have to be struck with fear like I was when it first stopped working! Second time was just last night -- too many carrot peels and not enough running water, I think. I had absentmindedly pushed them down the drain while I was on the phone. (The same thing happened with sweet potato peelings a couple years ago, but back then my landlord came and took apart the plumbing to get at them. I felt pretty darn stupid! Didn't want THAT to happen again.) The water just all of sudden started to back up in the sink while I was washing dishes after making lentil soup. I ran the disposal and brown water shot up like a geyser! It was too late to run out and get a plunger, and I doubted that it could be that easy to fix anyway. But after reading the posts on this site from all the successful plunger(er)s, I decided to give it a go. A few plunges later, and I'm a hero! No landlord, no frantic apartment cleanup, and now I can take my kids to the beach! Thank you everyone, and thank you for all the laughs -- these posts are hilarious!

FROM: Sam Gunn
DATE: Saturday July 8, 2006 -- 11:14:57 am

I have used many of the solutions memtoned on this site. They all work. One that I have found that works for me is to use the plumbers helper to suck rather than push out the stoppage. Push the plumger slowly until a vacuum forms and then pull the plunger rather than pushing it. The stoppage will generally come out easier. Thanks for a great website.

FROM: LaZea
DATE: Saturday July 8, 2006 -- 3:45:43 pm

Hurray!

I found this website for my whirlaway 191 that was put in with my house. It was only 3 years old! I read Sandy's phrase: Your gonna work" and thought I would have the same attitude. I used the end of a hammer like Bill DeCoster said and thought I was gonna break it too (like Rhonda said) and kept pushing away until it started moving. My gabarge disposal does not have the allen wrench on the bottom (that's suppose to be under the sick), so I used the hammer's end. Thanks everyone for putting in responses. I love the internet!!!

FROM: Suzanne
DATE: Saturday July 8, 2006 -- 9:08:47 pm

Dishwasher hooked up to garbage disposal and its all backed up. Can anyone help?

I read through all the posts and had the same problem with my GD not working and the broom handle did the trick.

I still have the problem though that my dishwasher, which is hooked up to the GD, is not draining water. The whole bottom of the dishwasher around the drain is blocked. I cleaned away all the debris that was there, but its still clogged.

Any suggestions?

FROM: Taylor
DATE: Sunday July 9, 2006 -- 3:32:07 pm

+1 on the "pull" rather than "plunge" approach to GD clogs. Found this site yesterday after our GD stopped working while my wife and I were preparing for a dinner party. Out of the many useful solutions discussed here I was able to diagnose my problem (clog) and find the appropriate solution in time to save my wife's sanity.

Great site. Thanks.

FROM: D. Wallace
DATE: Sunday July 9, 2006 -- 7:01:10 pm

In all cases, run PLENTY of cold water before and AFTER grinding to flush sludge build-up.
High speed disposals are less prone to jamming than typical Hardware store models.

FROM: Dee
DATE: Thursday July 13, 2006 -- 3:27:11 am

I just got my GD to work after over 1 year at least! Thanks to this site! I tried the "broom thing" all I had was a real hard stick I found around the house. I kept trying the reset button and only got a hum, my "broom stick" wasn't working. There was thick, rusty crud down there. I took some baking soda and ran warm water to hopefully loosen things up, this only made the once slow drain get really clogged up. This was some nasty gooey, rusty stuff though. I gloved my right hand stuck it down there and pulled out one of the blades, took a flashlight and saw the screw wedged against the other blade. Well anyway, I needed a break after this discovery so I kept reading the different comments on this site hoping someone had did what I just did, one person said it broke on them too. Then finally I read through all the comments and said "okay, that's it! I am going to get mine to going too, right now! Then I went and ran the "broom stick" around again, it moved! Hooray! I was getting soooo exited (over a GD, go figure) then I hit the reset, but lightly, because I didn't want to break it like one of the people did I read about. My switch was on off mode because I am very scary when it comes to electrical things and can't help thinking about that GD episode in the show "Supernatural". Then music to my ears when I flicked than off switch on! That now off balance sound was music and water was flowing down the draing so beautifully! Wow, I was amazed at my ability as a woman! I am woman, hear my GD roar baby! I don't care that it is off balance as long as the water goes down. I will invest in another one later. Thanks again. Good night!

FROM: Michelle
DATE: Saturday July 15, 2006 -- 7:50:42 pm

Ok so heres my problem guys... my garbage disposal wasnt working.. so natually i pressed the little red button located on the bottom of my In Sink Erator... and woohoo its back up and running.. you would think this would be a good thing right... NO... the problem is that the darn thing wont shut off now.. the switch that controlls it is in the "OFF" postion.. I tried to press the little red reset button again.. nothing.. flip the switch.. nothing... please.. what do I do... the only thing I have found that works is shutting off the main fuse to it.. but then it shuts off all the other kitchen appliances.. HELP!

FROM: JoAnn McCoy
DATE: Saturday July 15, 2006 -- 10:52:17 pm

I have a whirlaway 291 that stopped working tonite. It hums, I pushed the red reset button, it hums a few seconds then the reset button pops out. I turned off the circuit breaker and that didn't work. I used a broom handle, that didn't work. What else can I do?

FROM: D. Wallace
DATE: Sunday July 16, 2006 -- 1:42:47 pm

I have replaced two disposals now, my own and my mothers. Both are InSinkErators under 3/4 hp which (all models) run at low (1726) RPM and does not allow for fast liquifiying of waste.
In deference to this, I found it necessary to anchor both disposals around the mid-part of the motor using a 7" hose clamp and 1 1/2" iron strap shaped in a 'U' from the clamp and bolted to the cabinet through rubber pads on motor and cabinet.
This prevents any temporary off-balance from shaking the sink and allows better grinding.
This only is necessary with sheet steel sinks; cast iron and China sinks are heavy enough as-is.
This is advanced GD work as there are no pre-made anchor kits so you must be very adept and patient.

FROM: V. Bolen
DATE: Tuesday July 18, 2006 -- 12:28:21 pm

Yea! Thank you for this site. I have a 17 year old Whirlaway and it stopped working and was just barely humming. I tried a screwdriver, but that didn't help. I wrote down the disposal info and was about to leave for Home Depot to buy a new one, but decided to try the web. This was the first site I tried. I used the broomstick and had to jiggle it quite a bit, but it worked! Thank you so much! You helped a mom prove that she can do anything!

FROM: Sean
DATE: Wednesday July 19, 2006 -- 5:37:42 pm

Tried the hex tool and broomstick got nothing. Before I quit, I tried it some more. I also used my hand and voila it worked. Thanks.

FROM: Scarlett
DATE: Friday July 21, 2006 -- 12:00:51 pm

My sink (with a garbage disposal) seems to be clogged. The disposal itself seems to be working fine, it sucks down the water but after I turn it off the water is bubbling back up into the sink. The water will eventually run out but nothing seems to be unclogging the drain. I tried drain cleaner, a plunger, hot water, cold water. Any other suggestions?

FROM: Nick [E-Mail]
DATE: Saturday July 22, 2006 -- 6:44:04 pm