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Quick answer
A humming disposal is a stuck disposal, not a broken one. The motor is getting power but can't turn the grinding plate because something hard is wedged between the plate and the grind ring. If you leave the switch on, the motor overheats and the overload protector cuts it off, which is why a humming disposal often goes silent a minute later. Every InSinkErator ships with a small silver wrench for exactly this, and InSinkErator says a standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench works if you lost it.
Lost the wrench? InSinkErator's replacement is the WRN-00 JamBuster wrench, or use any 1/4-inch Allen key.
JamBuster Wrench (WRN-00)How to unjam it in 5 steps
- Turn it off. Switch off the wall switch and turn off the water. Unplug the disposal under the sink if it plugs in.
- Find the center hole on the bottom. Look under the sink at the flat bottom of the disposal. There is a hex-shaped hole dead center.
- Crank it back and forth. Push the wrench into the hole and work it back and forth in both directions. InSinkErator says it is OK to use some force: the wrench is built to bend before the disposal is damaged. Keep going until it turns freely in full circles both ways.
- Pull out what jammed it. With the power still off, use tongs or long pliers and a flashlight to fish out the pit, bone, or cap. Look closely around the outer edge of the grinding plate where the small teeth are.
- Reset and test. Press the red reset button on the bottom (see below), turn on cold water, and switch the disposal on.
The red reset button
| Your model | How it resets | What InSinkErator says |
|---|---|---|
| Most InSinkErator models | Manual red square button on the bottom | A tripped button drops down about a quarter inch (5 mm). Press it gently. If it won't stay, wait ten minutes and try again. |
| EZ Connect models | Automatic overload switch | Turn off the wall switch and let it cool for up to 20 minutes. With a push-button air switch, turn it off and unplug it for up to 20 minutes. |
If it still won't run
- Silent, button already in: check the outlet with a lamp, check the breaker, and if the disposal is wired to a wall switch, make sure the switch's outlet half isn't the one that's dead.
- Trips again right away: something is still caught. Repeat the wrench step and look again around the grind ring.
- Brand-new install that won't drain into a dishwasher line: InSinkErator's troubleshooting notes that the dishwasher inlet plug has to be knocked out before connecting a dishwasher.
- No center hole on the bottom: some non-InSinkErator models don't have one. Check that brand's manual for its unjamming method rather than prying from the sink side.
Disposal working again but splashing or smelly? See which splash guard fits your model.
Never reach into the disposal: even with the power off, use tongs or pliers. The grind ring edges are sharp, and a jammed plate can release suddenly.
How we work: every step and time on this page comes from InSinkErator's jammed-disposal and reset support pages. Sources are listed below.
Questions people ask
What size Allen wrench fits the bottom of an InSinkErator garbage disposal?
InSinkErator says you can use a standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench in the center hole on the bottom if you lost the silver crank-shaped wrench that came with the disposal. The replacement wrench is part WRN-00.
Why won't my garbage disposal reset button stay in?
The motor is still too hot. InSinkErator says to press the red button gently, and if it doesn't stay, wait ten minutes and try again. Keep the wall switch off while you wait.
Is it OK to force the wrench if the disposal won't turn?
InSinkErator says it is OK to use some force: the wrench is designed to bend before the disposal is damaged. Work it back and forth in both directions until it turns freely in full circles, then pull out whatever caused the jam with tongs or pliers, never your hand.
Sources
Last checked Oct 23, 2026. Always turn off the wall switch and unplug the disposal (or shut off the circuit breaker) before reaching under the unit or using tools in the drain.
