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My Garbage Disposal Hums but Won’t Spin—What Now?

At 2 Sons Plumbing Seattle, we know how stressful it is when your garbage disposal suddenly stops working. You flip the switch, hear that low humming noise, but nothing happens. No grinding, no spinning—just a frustrating hum while the sink fills up with water and food scraps. Don’t worry, this is one of the most common disposal problems we see, and in many cases, the fix is easier than you might think.

Why Your Disposal Hums Without Spinning

That humming sound usually means the motor is still working, but something’s keeping the blades from turning. The most common reasons include:

A jammed flywheel – Bones, utensils, or hard food scraps often get stuck inside.
The reset button tripped – A built-in safety shuts the motor down to prevent overheating.
A stuck impeller – Grease or debris buildup can lock up the blades over time.

Sometimes it’s a simple jam. Other times, the issue is more serious—like a failing motor. If you notice a burnt smell, smoke, or if the reset trips every time you try again, that’s a clear sign it’s time to call in a pro.

Quick Fixes to Try Before You Call

Here are a few safe steps Seattle homeowners can try on their own:

Press the reset button – Underneath the disposal, you’ll see a small red button. If it’s popped out, press it back in and test the unit.
Turn the impeller with an Allen wrench – There’s a small hex-shaped slot on the bottom. Insert the wrench and rotate it back and forth to free a jam.
Check for debris – Use pliers or tongs (never your hands) to remove anything that might be stuck.
If your disposal starts spinning again, great—you’re in the clear. If not, forcing it could cause more damage, so it’s best to call a licensed plumber.

When Professional Help Makes Sense

Garbage disposals don’t last forever, and sometimes a repair just isn’t worth it. Here’s when it’s time to bring in help:

Smoke or a burnt smell comes from the unit
The reset button trips over and over
Loud grinding or rattling sounds won’t stop

A plumber can quickly figure out if the disposal can be fixed or if replacing it is the smarter move.

What It Usually Costs in Seattle

Here’s what you can expect:

Professional jam clearing – Around $200–$350
Replacing the disposal – Typically $350–$700, depending on the model

If your disposal is more than 8–10 years old, replacement often makes the most sense. A new unit will run more quietly, work better, and save you from repeat breakdowns.

Get Back to a Quiet, Working Kitchen

A humming garbage disposal isn’t something you have to put up with. Instead of stressing over it, give 2 Sons Plumbing Seattle a call at (206) 487-1757. When you call, we’ll send a plumber who shows up ready to help, not to push or guess. They’ll clear out the jam safely, get the blades turning again if it can be fixed, or walk you through a replacement if your old unit has called it quits.

2 Sons Plumbing, Electrical, Heating & Air

4.9

Based on 3327 reviews

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Victor Garcia

20:12 23 Oct 25

Dave and David came and cleared out a huge clog in my kitchen sink (both sides) that has been plaguing us for a while as well a ton of glass shards that got into the drain when our glass fridge shelf broke. Dave walked us through each step of the process and explained everything which was excellent. He also gave us advice about galvanized piping replacement. They even gave us a few free parts for the sink drain that had eroded away and didn’t charge extra for it!! All around 5 star service!!!

Victor Garcia

20:12 23 Oct 25

Steve P

20:40 21 Oct 25

Fantastic service and communication. Local company. Solved my clogged basement laundry utility sink. Dave and David were courteous, informative, professional and easy to engage with. Scheduling was easy (they came the next day) and they arrived within the expected time window. Transparent pricing and i could also apply a coupon. I will use them again.

Steve P

20:40 21 Oct 25

Ashton Wylde

05:46 21 Oct 25

Great service and Dave their plumber is the best. We have an odd house with even odder plumbing. The pipes are a mess of grandfathered-in open air nonsense, when our pump started making some noises (and a little leaking) after some DIY heat tape adventures (getting ready for colder weather), we were worried that we would need a massive repair but Dave came and looked at it and immediately realized we had unplugged the float plug from the pump plug which was 90% of the problem and the leak just need a little tightening of a flex joint. The company was quick and didn't charge for an estimate or in this case a quick "thats not plugged in right". The experience and the overall professionalism has convinced me that when I do finally need that big repair job, I'll call these guys.

Ashton Wylde

05:46 21 Oct 25

Spencer Charles

05:07 20 Oct 25

Booking an appointment was extremely easy, and we were able to get one just the next day. Communication was excellent with timely reminders and a call before our appointment. Kerry did a fantastic job both advising us and effectively resolving our issue.

Spencer Charles

05:07 20 Oct 25

LuAnn Mitchell

02:38 14 Oct 25

I have all good things to say about 2 Sons Plumbing. My first experience was a few years ago and the whole process went very smoothly. Making the appointment was easy and quick, the repair was done with no problem and I thought the price was fair. Recently, Dave from 2 Sons came out to look at several plumbing problems I was having and, within a matter of minutes, all of the problems were diagnosed. Dave gave me options and estimates all before he left my house. I haven’t had the work done yet but appreciate the information and the prices seemed fair to me. Dave was on time, professional and very knowledgeable. 2 Sons are my go to Plumbers.

LuAnn Mitchell

02:38 14 Oct 25

Kayla Huitt

16:58 13 Oct 25

Bob at 2 Sons Plumbing was amazing! We had a horribly backed up kitchen sink drain and he was able to fix it, and save us some money in the process! He heard what we had to say about our issue and double checked everything. Super friendly and very helpful. Thank you for the amazing work Bob!

Kayla Huitt

16:58 13 Oct 25

Mingmin Zhu

00:31 11 Oct 25

I had great experience with Chase, Riley, Seth, Manu, Nolan with a recent fix. They showed up promptly, transparent about the price upfront, set the expectations right, very professional, got things done perfectly, great communication and very honest and patient to answer all my questions, I will definitely use 2 sons again and will recommend it to my friends and neighbors.

Mingmin Zhu

00:31 11 Oct 25

Arul Menezes

00:41 10 Oct 25

Stellar job by Carey and his team at 2sons today. I had a complex job -- installing a yard hydrant/faucet for a garden across the (private) street. They had to go into the floor of the garage, run piping under the floor, out of the house, across the road. Had to cut into the asphalt, trench down a couple feet, then patch it all up again, including fixing the garage concrete floor. Super job. Looks really clean. Got it all done in a day.

Arul Menezes

00:41 10 Oct 25

First Name

00:04 10 Oct 25

A wonderful experience every time with 2 Sons plumbing. Jake and Angelo helped us with our plumbing issue. They showed up on time and gave a very reasonable estimate for the repair. We ended up replacing a couple of toilets and a part of a sink drain. They came back the next day to complete the work due to our schedule. Excellent communication, prompt, and hard working! Thank you so much Jake and Angelo!! We are very happy with 2 Sons and have used them multiple times.

First Name

00:04 10 Oct 25

Erica G.

00:11 09 Oct 25

Brandon and Ethan were awesome. I had a basic plumbing issue that I was too scared to address myself. They were very non judgmental and provided excellent customer service. I totally recommend 2 Sons Plumbing.

Erica G.

00:11 09 Oct 25