how to repair sink disposal

Question

I remember this happened a lot in my old apartment, the maitenance dudes would come in and fix it in a jiffy. Now that I own a small studio, don't want to spend money - when I flip the switch I hear a "noise" but the disposal doesn't work...as if the motor works but somehow it is stuck or stalled. Any idea on how to repair?

meirman · Accepted Answer

What brand? InSINKerators come with a wrench so you can turn the armature from below, until the thing is unstuck. Do any other brands still depend on a broom stick?

Turn the power off first, and if later, it no longer hums, it may be that you tripped an internal breaker. There may be a red button to reset that. What brand?

And it probably shouldn't have happened a lot before. You can't put just anything down a disposal. Some things will clog it. That's why God gave us garbage cans.

Meirman

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Zwanz of Never · Answer

I remember this happened a lot in my old apartment, the maitenance dudes would come in and fix it in a jiffy. Now that I own a small studio, don't want to spend money - when I flip the switch I hear a "noise" but the disposal doesn't work...as if the motor works but somehow it is stuck or stalled. Any idea on how to repair?

Edwin Pawlowski · Answer

Some have an socket on the bottom for an Allen tool. You just move it back and forth until free. It is also possible to stick a broom handle inside and catch it on the protruding wings on the flywheel and un-jam it.

Vic Dura · Answer

They also make a tool that you can use instead of a broom handle that works well. It's pretty cheap, about $3 when I bought mine 20 years ago. They sell them at HomeDepot & Lowes in the plumbing department.

how to repair sink disposal

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