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Why Does My Garbage Disposal Hum but Not Grind?

Imagine flipping on the garbage disposal expecting that familiar grinding sound but hearing a low humming noise. The water starts pooling in the sink, food scraps won’t budge, and suddenly your simple cleanup feels like a kitchen disaster.

Many Federal Way homeowners run into this problem. The most common reason? Something has jammed the blades or the motor has shut itself off for safety. While it can feel alarming, the good news is that in many cases it’s fixable. At 2 Sons Plumbing Federal Way, we help families deal with humming disposals all the time—and we know how to get yours running like it should.

Why Garbage Disposals Hum Instead of Grinding

That humming sound is actually your disposal trying to work. Power is reaching the motor, but the blades can’t spin. Here are the most common culprits:

Jammed blades – A bone, fruit pit, or utensil might be stuck, stopping the flywheel from turning.
Tripped reset button – Disposals often shut themselves down when they’re overloaded, and pressing the reset button can bring them back to life.
Motor trouble – If the motor is wearing out, it may hum but never spin properly.

Knowing what’s behind the noise makes it easier to figure out the next step.

DIY Fixes You Can Try Safely

Before calling a plumber, you can try a few simple checks:

Press the reset button on the bottom of the unit—it might be all it needs.
Use a disposal wrench or Allen key to turn the flywheel from underneath and free whatever’s jammed.
Use pliers or tongs to pull out any visible food scraps (never reach in with your hand).

If your disposal comes back to life after these steps, you’re in luck. But if it keeps humming, jamming, or shutting off, it’s a sign something more serious is going on.

When to Call 2 Sons Plumbing Federal Way

Sometimes a humming disposal is more than a simple jam. You should call a plumber if:
You smell burning or notice smoke.
The unit keeps jamming even after being cleared.
The disposal is older and repairs don’t seem to last.

At 2 Sons Plumbing Federal Way, we’ll inspect the disposal, clear any jams safely, and test the motor. If it’s repairable, we’ll fix it. If it’s time for a replacement, we’ll help you choose the right model and install it properly so you won’t have to worry about repeat problems.

Typical Costs in Federal Way

Clearing a jam: $200–$350
Replacing a disposal: $400–$750, depending on the unit

A quick fix today can save you from bigger headaches (and messes) down the road.

Get Your Kitchen Back on Track with 2 Sons Plumbing Federal Way

A garbage disposal that only hums isn’t just noisy—it can stop your kitchen routine in its tracks. Don’t put up with clogs, standing water, or the smell of food scraps stuck in the sink.

At 2 Sons Plumbing Federal Way, our licensed plumbers know disposals inside and out. Call us today at (206) 487-1757. With 2 Sons Plumbing Federal Way, you’ll get expert service, honest solutions, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing your garbage disposal will be working smoothly again.

2 Sons Plumbing, Electrical, Heating & Air

4.9

Based on 3427 reviews

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Marshall Harnish

21:22 05 Dec 25

2 Sons Plumbing did a fantastic job! I had a difficult water line replacement job, and they were friendly, quick and professional. The work turned out great. I had Dave as the project manager and he was honest and great to work with.

Would use them again for sure.

Marshall Harnish

21:22 05 Dec 25

Mark Ondrake

23:58 04 Dec 25

The 2 Sons company was prompt, thorough, clean, and performed precise, high-quality work. The office staff and plumbing technician showed professionalism and a focus on details. The finished repair exceeded our expectations, the price was very reasonable (high value for the quoted price), and the technician left the Job site spotless. See attached photo, they used the Big Bertha Motorized Snake to clear a clogged drain, the obstruction was 25 feet away!!

Mark Ondrake

23:58 04 Dec 25

Laura Mueser

23:11 03 Dec 25

Great service over a holiday weekend. Total failure of our sewer line was fixed with a ten year warranty. Clean, great communication, full fix. It cost a lot -- I mean, it was a major repair in a hundred year old house-- but was reasonable for what we received, and the pricing was very transparent. Seth, Jorge, Shane, Dan, and others were all perfectionists and appreciated.

Laura Mueser

23:11 03 Dec 25

Beth

00:02 27 Nov 25

2 Sons Plumbing is a top notch company. Recently I had a water line hooked up for a new refrigerator and Justin and Bryce were my technicians. They were so competent, careful, and efficient and I really appreciated their professionalism. Justin even showed me how to use the displays on the new fridge. They made sure every thing was clean, the lines flushed and working before they left the house. Their pricing is extremely reasonable also, I got two quotes for installing the waterline and 2 Sons was the most reasonable. Last year I had a clogged kitchen drain during the Christmas holiday's and 2 Sons Plumbing was the only company that would come out right away and not charge a high holiday rate. I highly recommend 2 Sons Plumbing for any plumbing needs.

Beth

00:02 27 Nov 25

Russell Callender

18:28 23 Nov 25

This is the second time I used 2 Sons Plumbing. This project was to install a toilet. Like the first time, the toilet installation went flawlessly. The support from Autumn and the other folks in the front office made scheduling easy and they were able to reschedule it to meet some changing circumstances on my end. I requested Brandon to do the work as he performed my previous job. He also recommended a high quality toilet that worked in my situation. I was called and texted to let me know he was coming. He was fantastic and explained how he was going to do the work and showed me the conditions of my existing connections. He got it done very quickly and efficiently and did not leave any mess. I’m super impressed with how this company operates.

Russell Callender

18:28 23 Nov 25

Maria Kute

23:01 18 Nov 25

Thank you, Bob, for your professional, courteous, and kind service! My downstairs tub was running with high pressure due to some worn out stems. Bob was thorough—but unfortunately our fixtures are quite old, and he didn’t have appropriate replacements available the first day. However, they were able to find the appropriate stems for our tub and fixed the leak right away day 2. I cannot speak highly enough about how grateful I am for the way 2 Sons accommodated my schedule when they needed to return with the appropriate fixtures. The technician was a genuine joy to work with—and I appreciate the quick follow up and turn around. I also appreciate the way Bob walked me through the process and double checked for leaks.

Maria Kute

23:01 18 Nov 25

Evan Rose

16:17 18 Nov 25

We had a great experience. Brandon and Chris were very polite and professional. We had a massive leak under a toilet and they came and fixed it on a Saturday. They were very timely and hardworking. Ethan was another who was also very polite and professional. Pricing was also very manageable for the extent of the problem we had. I would highly recommend.

Evan Rose

16:17 18 Nov 25

YuliyaG

22:06 14 Nov 25

I had a great experience with 2Sons Plumbing. Communication was on point from start to finish. Dave arrived on time, was very friendly, and knowledgeable. He also gave me a helpful heads-up about our heater and offered great advice. I really appreciate the professionalism and will definitely use them again!

YuliyaG

22:06 14 Nov 25

Brandy Przybylak

19:28 05 Nov 25

We really enjoyed our experience with 2 Sons. We had an emergency that had water all over our kitchen and basement. They were able to send someone out later in the evening for us after several other companies either cancelled on us or said they couldn't come until the next day. Our technician/plumber Riley was great to work with - friendly, quick, and effective! They even gave us a call back a few days later to check in on our experience and to answer some extra questions we had. Highly recommend!

Brandy Przybylak

19:28 05 Nov 25

Carol Wong

19:21 04 Nov 25

I have not decided to go with 2 Sons for the plumbing issues I have yet. However, I am very impressed by the technician, Guy, who came for the appointment. He was professional, friendly, knowledgeable, courteous, and thorough. I told him that I was just getting a quote and not ready to commit to do the repair right away. He was very understanding. I have a clogged kitchen sink, disconnected washer hose causing water damage, and likely a disconnected pipe behind the wall. He explained the steps I need to take before he can help for all three issues. Like I should hire the restoration company to repair the water damage before reconnecting the pipes. He also helped to take pictures and referred me to a restoration company for the jobs outside of his scope. Before he left, he measured the water pressure to make sure the pressure is within a normal range. Just to make sure the water is not putting too much pressure on the fixtures resulting leaks. It was definitely a surprisingly pleasant and thorough experience with Guy.

Carol Wong

19:21 04 Nov 25