How To Unjam Insinkerator Garbage Disposal [top] May 2026

Plug the disposal back in or flip the breaker. Run cold water, then turn on the disposal. It should spin freely. Listen for any remaining grinding.

Never pour grease or fibrous foods (celery, corn husks) down the disposal – they cause most jams over time. how to unjam insinkerator garbage disposal

Once the wrench turns freely, use tongs or pliers (not your fingers) to remove the loosened debris. For deep jams, try a wooden spoon handle to rotate the blades from above. Plug the disposal back in or flip the breaker

Locate the small hex hole in the center of the disposal’s bottom (under the sink). Insert the Allen wrench. Work it back and forth like a crank – this manually turns the impeller plate and should free the jam. You’ll feel resistance first, then it loosens. Listen for any remaining grinding

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Shine a flashlight into the disposal. Look for foreign objects: broken glass, small bones, fruit pits, or metal (like a spoon or bottle cap). Do NOT reach in yet.