InSinkErator Jammed (Simple Fixes)

Insinkerators are great way to dispose of food scraps.

Don’t be alarmed if your Insinkerator garbage disposal becomes clogged.

It’s a common issue that can be easily resolved.

InSinkErator Jammed (Simple Fixes)

In most cases, cause of Insinkerator being jammed is a piece of bone, a fruit pit, or something similar becoming stuck between an impeller blade and the drain hole.

Before we dive into troubleshooting, let’s quickly review what a garbage disposal is and how it works.

A garbage disposal is a device that’s installed under your kitchen sink and is designed to shred food waste into small pieces that can be easily flushed down the drain.

It’s a convenient and eco-friendly way to dispose of food scraps, but sometimes things can go wrong.

If you turn on your InSinkErator garbage disposal and hear a humming sound, but the blades aren’t spinning, it’s likely that the disposal is jammed.

So, what can you do to fix it?

First things first, turn off the power to the disposal by unplugging it or turning off the circuit breaker that controls it. This is an important safety step that you should never skip.

Now, take a look down the drain and see if you can spot any visible obstructions.

If you can see something that’s causing the jam, use a pair of tongs or pliers to carefully remove it.

Be sure to never put your hands or any tools down the drain while the disposal is on, as this can be extremely dangerous.

If you can’t see anything obvious causing the jam, it’s time to get a little more hands-on.

Look for the hex-shaped hole at the bottom of the disposal unit and insert an Allen wrench into it.

You should be able to turn the wrench back and forth to free up any obstructions that may be causing the jam.

If the wrench isn’t turning, try inserting it into the hole from another angle or use a larger wrench for more leverage.

If these steps don’t solve the problem, it may be time to call in a professional plumber or electrician to take a closer look.

They’ll have the expertise and specialized tools needed to diagnose and fix more complex issues.

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Final Thoughts

In summary, a jammed InSinkErator garbage disposal can be frustrating, but it’s usually an easy problem to troubleshoot.

Take a look down the drain for any visible obstructions, use an Allen wrench to free up any stuck blades, and never put your hands or any tools down the drain while the disposal is on.

With a little patience and some basic know-how, you’ll have your disposal up and running again in no time.

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References

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