Removing objects stuck in a disposal will need to be done even after you get it freed up. Disposals will not grind up certain things, so removing them is the best course.

Coins and rings are a couple of things that can jam a garbage disposal. They get wedged between the turntable and the side of the housing and can be difficult to dislodge. Try to locate the object if you can.

I know, you were probably trying to use it when the jam occurred. Try to remove the water and food and see if you can identify the object. Use pliers, a screwdriver or tongs to get it free. No fingers, please.

Once the object is free, use the tongs to extract it. Go back to the allen wrench and make sure the jammed garbage disposal is moving freely now.

When it is moving freely, you can remove the wrench and turn the power back on. Check to see that the disposal is working correctly. It's grinding and the water is going down? Wonderful this jammed garbage disposal will soon be a forgotten memory.

Prying the Disposal

Prying a jammed disposal with a broom handle or another similar object is not a good idea. See the article 'Using a Garbage Disposal Wrench' for the best method on freeing up a jam.

I'm not sure whether using a broom handle to free a jammed garbage disposal is a last resort or creative thinking. If you don't have an allen wrench and it is too late to go out, it is creative thinking. If all else has failed then it is a last resort. I do not believe that a broom handle will generate much more force than the allen wrench and a pair of pliers would. If it makes you feel better, try it.

At this point, you may be faced with a tough decision. Assuming you cant' free up the motor and you cannot find an object that can be removed, you may be faced with replacing your disposal.

Try one more time with the allen wrench to worry it loose. Still stuck? I feel your pain. A new disposal will run between $75 and $200. The difference is for power, features and whatever else they use to get you to spend more. It will take an hour or so to replace.

Using a garbage disposal allen wrench when you have a stuck garbage disposal is the best course of action.This method applies positive force at the right location to free up the impeller. Better yet, you don't have to take anything apart and most of the time it will take less than five minutes to get it working.

Most garbage disposals use a standard 1/4" allen wrench. The wrench that came with your disposal is probably shaped like a lazy 'Z'. If you can find that wrench, so much the better. The angle helps you keep your hand down where you won't hurt yourself if the wrench slips.

Not sure if this is your problem? See the article 'How To Fix Your Garbage Disposal' for all of the garbage disposal repair topics.

Purchasing a Garbage Disposal Allen Wrench

It would not be a suprise nor is there any shame in the fact that your garbage disposal allen wrench is lost. There are numerous reasons why you might not have it. It didn't come with the house, its in the basement somewhere or when my toolbox came back from by brother in law, it was missing.

No matter, you can purchase a complete set of allen wrenches for less than ten dollars. It will likely be a quarter inch allen wrench and you may have one of those. Worst case you have to go to the hardware store and buy a new set of allen wrenches.

Locating the Garbage Disposal Flywheel Lug

To you your garbage disposal wrench you need to locate the drive shaft lug that it fits into. You will have to clear out the cabinet below your sink for this operation. You are going to need to see the underside of your disposal.

On the bottom of your garbage disposal you will find a hex shaped opening in the center of the housing. this hex opening is attached to the drive shaft. Before you start working on the disposal you want to turn off the power. Unplug the disposal or shut the breaker off to make sure that no one inadvertently turns the switch on.

Loosening a Stuck Garbage Disposal

Put the garbage disposal allen wrench into the socket and try to free up the unit. You may need to worry it back and forth several times to free up the jam. Use the pliers on the allen wrench if you need a little more torque. Keep working with it until the spindle turns freely.

If possible you want to remove the object from the disposal before you turn it on. Get a flash light and see if you can figure out where it is. Use tongs, pliers or a magnet to remove the object. No fingers or hands in the disposal, please.

With the object removed you can turn the power back on. Try the disposal and make sure it is running freely. Working? Great you have successfully dealt with a jammed garbage disposal. If you keep a journal you may want to make an entry.

A stuck garbage disposal is evident by the loud electrical sound that it makes when you try to turn it on. With the motor unable to turn the disposal it strains to get it moving. Turn it off quickly, you do not want to burn up the motor. Even with the safety switch, this is not good for the motor.

Solving this problem should not be too difficult and will not take too long. Unless you have one of those rare situations where a metal item is lodged securely and cannot be removed. This is the exception, not the rule.

Usually, it is a couple of minutes with an allen wrench. Take a look at the information below and see if you feel confident trying to perform this repair. Most to the time this is something a homeowner can take care of.

Fixing a Stuck Garbage Disposal - Information

Hopefully you have been able to unstick your stuck disposal. Most of the time you can use the special wrench that came with the disposal or use an allen key of the same size. Working the disposal back and forth with the wrench will fix the problem most of the time.

Ninety percent of the time the allen wrench will take care of the jammed garbage disposal in less than ten minutes. You may have been unfortunate enough to have a more serious problem. Just remember, if it was hard for you it would have been hard for a repairman. Worst case you had to purchase a new garbage disposal.

Hopefully, one way or another you were successful. Now that you are done with your jammed garbage disposal you can consider your next course of action. Climbing the worlds seven tallest peaks is worth a look.

Can you make your own garbage disposal repairs? Without the disposal you wind up throwing food waste in the trash. This often results in some foul smells. The odors can have far reaching impact on your ability to enjoy life. How much nicer it is when we can grind it up and have the run down the drain.

A garbage disposal is both a mechanical and an electrical device. Therefore, you can have problems with both aspects. With garbage disposals, power and quality are issues. Poor quality units may not grind things up fine enough and can get clogged up easier.

Don't despair, garbage disposal repairs are within your grasp. You won't even have to sign up for night classes. In fact you will find some the repairs pretty easy to do.

Garbage Disposal Repair - Information

Assuming that the garbage disposal is not broken you will be faced with a service call, $50 to $75. If the serviceman tells you that your unit is at death's door and just happens to have a new one in his truck, you could be looking at a couple of hundred dollars.

Replacing the disposal with a new unit would be the hardest job. Most other garbage disposal repairs are possible for the average home owner.

The garbage disposal is plugged in. Check the GFCI and the breaker first. Make sure it has power. There is also a reset button on the bottom. It will kick off when the unit jams. Wait a half an hour and try the reset, assuming you have the jam freed up (see below).

A thoroughly clogged garbage disposal can mean a sink full of dirty water. Take precautions for dealing with the water. Rags and pails are a must. Never stick your hand in the unit. Make sure the power is off before working on it. You can get hurt from this device. Getting the unit or drain dismantled and not getting it together will render the sink unusable. Not a great way to please the family.

Electrical Problems

Dealing with garbage disposal electrical problems are usually related to a jammed garbage disposal. There is generally a loud electrical noise, like a motor binding when this is the case.

Did the garbage disposal jam? Now it won't do anything? It is likely that the safety feature on the motor tripped the reset. There is a button on the unit, usually on the bottomed that will need to be pushed. You will usually have to wait several minutes to a half an hour before the button will hold.

You need to free up the jam before you try to run the unit again, see the link below for instructions. After freeing up the jam, you can push the reset button. Let the unit cool off first.

Garbage disposal electrical problems may also include tripped breakers and GFCI protection.

If you have lost power for no apparent reason you will want to check the GFCI at the plug for the unit or one nearby (plugs that follow a GFCI receptacle are also protected). Has it tripped? Reset it and try the garbage disposal again. Still no power, check the breaker, reset it as needed.

Still won't work? Try plugging something else into the receptacle or checking it with a tester. With the unit cool and power to the receptacle it should run. If not it may need replacing, see the article below on replacing a garbage disposal for more information. Hopefully your garbage disposal repairs were fairly simple and you can move on to more fulfilling pursuits.