The sound of garbage disposal humming is a ticking time bomb for homeowners. You almost hear it in your home. It happens when you flip the garbage disposal switch, and then you hear the grinding sound of food and waste in your sink being processed.
It can be a little annoying.. What's worse though, is when you flip the switch and you hear the humming sound without the grinding.
This can be the kiss of death for homeowners because it typically means one of two things. Either your garbage disposal motor is fried, or you have something stuck in your garbage disposal and you are going to have to roll up your sleeves and unclog it yourself. (just remember to flip that switch off first!)
In this article, we will go over everything you need to know about this annoying sound so that you can fix the problem once and for all.
Let's get right into why this happens and what you need to do to solve this problem.
Why garbage disposal hums happen
Most of the time, the hum sound issues are caused by improper installation or incorrect wiring.
Garbage removal vibrates and causes sound vibrations that can only be heard from close range if nothing is covering up the unit like a cabinet door or wall paneling.
One potential reason for audible humming garbage disposal is because something may have been put down the device while it was running.
Another potential reason for humming could be because of a faulty machine motor or impeller blades, which will need to be replaced as soon as possible to stop the noise.
By taking care of your humming sound from the start, you will also avoid problems such as leaking that might arise down the line.
If you're hearing this kind of noise coming from your garbage disposal while running then here are the steps to follow to get rid of this problem once and for all.
1. Make sure that the disposal power is turned off
The first thing you need to do before attempting any of these tips is to make sure that the disposal switch is in the off position. The last thing you want to happen is for your hand or your arm to get stuck in the impeller blade while trying to clear a clog.
When the device and impeller blades are turned on they create a vacuum that can be powerful enough to suck your hand if it becomes stuck.
You should always make sure the disposal switch is not running before you try and clear any clogs or jams from inside of the unit.
At this point, you can also try to press the reset button on your disposal unit. The good news is that this sometimes helps with the humming sound without having to repair or replace the garbage disposal unit, the blades, or possibly get a professional plumber to look at it – but let's try a few other things before we get to that.
Once this is done and if the garbage disposal hums haven't stopped, you can then move on to the next step.
2. Check for a foreign object in the disposal
To ensure that your disposal is working properly, check the unit for any items that could have caused it to malfunction. If you find something, remove it and try running water through the drainpipe while turning on the disposal.
There are also specialized products on the market designed specifically for cleaning humming garbage disposals – these usually work by liquefying grease and grime, so they stay contained within the container instead of clogging up pipes outside of it.
3. If you find anything stuck in garbage disposals, try using a plunger
There is nothing more frustrating than when you find something stuck in your disposal. It can be especially difficult to get it unstuck if the object is large or has a lot of liquid on it, and sometimes there are even things like string or hair that you just don't know how to remove. Disposals can't handle these items and they will clog the drain.
So if you find something jammed in your disposal that's not designed to go into it, try using a plunger before reaching for chemical cleaners or tools.
The plunger creates a tight seal with the sink and is designed to trap air underwater. This will push the object up, out of your disposal and into the sink, or down into the pipes leading away from it. It might take some time for this to work but usually, just one try should do it. An allen wrench can also work in this situation. By using an allen wrench, you can force items down the pipe and cause the jammed unit to clear.
4. Try to clear out the drain again
Clear out the drainpipe by running water while using an ice cream scoop or another object to push objects through and down the drainpipe . This should clear out any remaining items and help with removing the humming noise that the disposal is making.
If the problem persists, there may be a jam in your pipes or the garbage disposal unit itself which will require professional attention. In that case, it might be a good idea to call a garbage disposal repair person or a professional plumber as soon as possible.
This will help the disposal work more efficiently and reduce the humming noise.
Other Possibilities
Sometimes, the only solution might be to replace a jammed or bad motor and then put the power back on after this has been done. Other potential solutions could be to have a look at the electrical circuit of the unit and ensure that this is working correctly. Also, the breaker socket does sometimes cause problems with this sink device. Cutting the power, using an allen wrench, and trying different possibilities might help reduce the humming noise.
It might also be a good idea to put the hex hole head allen wrench in the breaker socket found at the bottom section of the garbage disposal.
Since we're speaking about the kitchen sink area and you're deep in the process of trying to solve the issues with the disposal motor, it might be a good idea to tighten the kitchen faucet while you're at it.
Conclusion
A hum in the garbage disposal unit is a common problem that might cause a jam in your sink and frustration in your life, but fortunately, there are many ways to fix it.
The truth is that disposals are one of those appliances people don't think about too often because they're usually just working away quietly under the radar while we put food down them, but really – there are many things you should be doing to keep yours running smoothly – which means the chances of needing to repair or replace this device down the line goes down significantly.
