A Maytag disposer that hums but does not spin has something wedged in the grinding area. The motor is trying to turn and cannot. Freeing it is often simple, provided the power is off and nothing goes into the opening by hand.
Make It Safe
- Switch off the wall switch and unplug the disposer or switch off its breaker.
- Never reach into the drain with your fingers.
- Use a flashlight to look in and tongs to remove anything you can see.
Free the Jam
- Find the hex socket in the center of the underside of the unit and turn it back and forth with the matching wrench until it moves freely.
- Or press a wooden spoon handle against a blade through the drain and work it back and forth.
- Press the red reset button on the underside once it is free.
When It Still Does Not Run
If the reset trips again, the motor may be overheating or damaged. A disposer that leaks from underneath may have a cracked housing or a worn seal, and that is usually not repairable.
What Causes Jams
Bones, fruit pits, fibrous scraps and flatware are the usual causes. Grease is another, since it clings and hardens in the drain line and slows the unit down.
Repair or Replace
An older disposer with a leak or a seized motor is better replaced than repaired, and we say so. A jam or a tripped reset is worth fixing.
Run cold water while the disposer runs and for several seconds after, so scraps clear the trap and the drain line. Hot water melts grease and carries it farther down, where it hardens again.
Jams, resets and leaks are covered by Maytag disposer repair. If the reset button will not hold, book a visit.