Inside a Garbage Disposal - Fix a Jammed or Clogged Disposer

What's better than fixing your disposal? A spare car key without leaving home! I started Tom's Key Company (tomskey.com/?u...) so you can get quick and affordable DIY spare car keys and fobs shipped to your front door.
It's easy to fix a garbage disposal when it gets stuck. Learn how with this video. Also, see what happens when something gets ground up.
Replacing a disposal is easy with the help of Dr. Disposal. Get one at:
Lowe's: bit.ly/DrDisposal
Home Depot: bit.ly/HomeDepo...
Amazon USA: amzn.to/2PXCIMx
Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3612VPN
(affiliate links)
Thanks to Dr Disposal for the opportunity to work with them! DisposalPhD.com
How to remove and replace a garbage disposal. Easy to repair and clean out a garbage disposal. Broken disposal - how to fix.
Music by Dídac Corbí ( / didaccorbi )
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[@beatnik401]

Thank you for this video! I was able to repair my disposal after dropping a glass dish in. One thing that helped me after disassembly was using an Allen-wrench for the bottom of the motor to manually loosen some of the grit that was stuck in the 'grinding' teeth. Great instructions in your video, thanks again!

[@BeckieFarrant]

Thank you so much Tomahawk. You were right, less than 30 minutes and saved me a $90 service call!

[@TomahawkDIY]

+Beckie Farrant So glad to hear it helped you! No pressure, but donations are always appreciated. www.paypal.me/TomahawkDIY or Venmo @TomahawkDIY if you want to send one. 50% of donations are sent to help people Build Better Lives in some of earths most dire circumstances (TomahawkDIY.com/about).

[@enlightenedhummingbird4764]

Wow. $90 5 years ago. I was quoted $150 yesterday to get a dish rag out. Decided to research how to do it myself.

[@smithdrainsolutions7328]

From a professional drain cleaner, I must say that this is a great DIY video!

[@aliyyahtiffany7251]

This video was very helpful I follow the step-by-step instructions and was able to fix my sink in under 30 minutes. Thank you I have been dealing with this problem for over six months and didn’t know that I was able to fix it in 30 minutes is a relief

[@rootvalue]

Hey, this is very helpful! You showed a lot of steps I needed that others didn’t include. I hate to be the typical KZbin commentor, but the audio balance is a bit off-the ambient vocal mic is fairly quiet in relation to the loud backing track. No biggy. Thanks again for the help.

[@jeanr4641]

Thank you so much!!! My disposal was humming (it was jammed by some small rock hard object that fell in there). After cleaning it out and messing with it I was able to free the top spinning mechanism and it worked like a charm! Many thanks!

[@sweetpea8107]

Thank you I didn't have to do all of that the pipe was clogged up I cleaned the piper real good and put it back together garbage disposal back in business thank you very much

[@mlpman246]

Thanks for the free lesson. I had a shot glass go down my sink by accident and had to get every little shard out of the disposal. Yeesh!

[@codyhobbs4766]

I really appreciate this video! I fixed my disposal easily!

[@TomahawkDIY]

Thank you for watching and sharing your positive experience with us! 😊

[@tracymiller2586]

Thanks for your help, it's all unclogged, yesss there is nothing like a clean sink😌 trouble shooting now ; so I am watching the video and it was hard holding my flashlight/phone. I am going to buy a Big Larry, my husband will be so proud of me.

[@TheWmalernee]

I had broken glass in mine. This helped a lot and was super easy

[@deathbydanish]

Thank you for the step by the step guide, I ended up finding a broken off chunk of plastic that got into it and was causing my disposal to jam up.

[@kimballbrooks3894]

This helped me fix mine thanks!!!

[@TDK2K]

very helpful video to inspect my insinkerator. thanks a bunch.

[@charleswhite6442]

Thank YOU!!! Was perfect!! Hallelujah!! Really impressed my husband by fixing what he couldn't!! Ha ha :} Daisy White

[@TomahawkDIY]

+Charles White So glad to hear it helped you! No pressure, but donations are always appreciated. www.paypal.me/TomahawkDIY or Venmo @TomahawkDIY if you want to send one. 50% of donations are sent to help people Build Better Lives in some of earths most dire circumstances (TomahawkDIY.com/about).

[@caragreenberg7246]

Thank you!

[@chefbambu9382]

Thanks. Would think some engineer would design a disposal you could screw off the top that's in the sink to see what's clogging/jamming the disposal. Having to take out the disposal itself is a pain in Le Butt especially with knees that don't bend....grrrr!. Apparently, my jam is due to a piece of metal from a small knife, looking for it now... However, your video was helpful...ya done good.

[@jakephillips2164]

Thank you very much! I was able to fix this no problem with help.

[@PuzzleTommy]

If you have an old heavy model like me, you’re going to want to use a car Jack to help guide it back on. Trust me, the connector ring is a pain to get locked when you’re trying to hold a heavy disposal mid air.

[@headonswivel]

Thank you!! This 62 year old single lady, took the disposal apart and was able to locate and pull out a small screw that fell in the disposal! No fuss no muss. Feeling pretty confident now!

[@wallys11000]

That's encouraging! I may have to tackle it by myself one day too. I'm 66 yrs. old. :)

[@plunket78]

Victory! I feel like I can conquer the world now after fixing my disposal.

[@grannyohmy9584]

76 yo and going to try to get a wedged screw out tomorrow. thanks!

[@headonswivel]

@@grannyohmy9584 good luck. Just take your time..you can do it.

[@irvinfernandez8504]

I have a old friend too and her name is Anne

[@onelliadurbin1654]

No music please, I cannot hear your voice.

[@justinbingham3133]

Thanks. Great video.

[@Agamimg360]

Okay boss so happy new year as I write this I just spent my newyears morning doing this exact thing to no avail. I even took it at my own risk and bench tested it by plugging it into a counter top out let, to be sure I had the blockage out and that it spend freely . Only to find after reinstalling it it still wouldn't spin ounce back in my sink. Any thoughts on this one. It hums as if trying to run but it is still not chewing up debris. I have done this before and it always worked but not this time. I reset button on bottom of unit and like I said it worked fine when on the counter top. Any help will be appreciated.

[@JaneDoe-jv3cc]

Great video. Love it.

[@TobyTampa]

helpful video tnx

[@9Rayita]

mmm... I haven't tried yet, but I wonder how the food goes away? It seems it is through that pipe but it is higher than the bottom of the disposal and right now what I feel is that the disposal is keeping some of the food there and causing some odor. I would like to know the operation of the food going out.

[@Srhodes0519]

Thanks very helpful video. Music was distracting and competes with your voice. Maybe start with music and have it phase out once you start talking then phase it back in as you’re wrapping up. Thanks again! 🎶

[@TomahawkDIY]

Sorry about that but thanks for watching.

[@HouseOfHacks]

Nice slow motion shots! Was it just the remaining plastic bits that were making the noise?

[@TomahawkDIY]

Yep - Just the plastic crunching around.

[@paulschumacher1263]

Great video! Hard to hear your voice when you are not facing the mike. Get a headset mike???

[@sueallen3737]

What size wrench is that?

[@bdwatts269]

what if the disposal leaking for inside?

[@matthewdavies2057]

My disposal only passes water when it's running. When running it works fine. No backup. Waste goes down fast. It just won't drain when off. I tried Drano. Nope. Let it sit for 2 days. Nope. I'm out of ideas.

[@ginagray603]

Is this a music video or a disposal video?

[@horgecondaliza6644]

Hard to hear yah over the music and the audio being low

[@lush4real]

The disposal is so heavy! I have no idea how I can reattach it

[@TomahawkDIY]

Try putting a small bucket under it or you may have to ask a friend for a hand

[@ScantPear]

Just use the wrench and unjam it

[@geraldwellborn5047]

I appreciate the video; However, the audio of your voice explaining what you are doing was weak and inconsistent in volume, the background music made it even more difficult to hear what you were saying.

[@jeancoffin121]

DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT stick your hand in the disposal before turning the power off or unplugging!!!!

[@SM-bo3pc]

Couldn’t finish this because of the music overlapping him

[@untitleduntitled5913]

WHAT'S THAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THIS SUPER LOUD MUSIC

[@iriswilliams7614]

Music is distracting

[@cananemc8352]

loud music

[@Death_User666]

the music is too loud

[@antonyrivera8318]

Please turn off your music. Play it for the first 10 sec of the video and THATS IT. You want your viewers to hear you as clear as possible.

[@justinajackson8640]

Thank you for making this video,I am a single woman trying to save money and I am not handy at all when it comes to fixing things.The video showed me step by step what to do and I was able to follow along and repair my disposal.

[@Carlsings]

Thanks for this informational video. I won't complain only a tiny positive critique. Please lower the backing music quite a bit. Listening for sounds and all I hear is jamming. Trying to hear you speak over the rock jam is not that easy. Maybe sometime a way to clean out unseen buildup in a disposal.

[@jpgullick]

Good info. The next video please make the music softer. I could barely hear your instructions over the music.

[@lauragrandestaff]

Cleaned out my aquarium last night and even with a strainer some gravel made it through. With the help of your video, I was able to fix it myself and now it's up and running like a champ again. Super wife, super life!

[@lush4real]

Me too! 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️hopefully I don’t get too grossed out n actually do this 😢

[@justlin2933]

Thank you for your video!!! I just unclogged my garbage disposal for the first time and it WORKS AGAIN!!!!!

[@theamazinggoldfish8713]

The only thing I would add would be to "also" NOT run the dishwasher, as it drains out to the same line as the garage disposal drain. 🏹🤠👍

[@KatelynFoutch]

Thank you! I got all the glass cleaned out bs put everything back together! 🙏

[@alexissweet5890]

I did it! I did it all by myself without having to call Dad. I turned the thing and pressed the button and it unclogged! I am like so amazing you guys...

[@krisram9285]

This is very helpful..in my case,it was big nail that was stuck flat and jammed hard between the blade and base..started with simple troubleshooting steps but couldn't move the screw underneath to unjam(as the nail is sandwiched so hard) and also tried from top etc.....finally I had to remove the whole unit which gave me flexibility to exert needed pressure and remove the sucked up nail.This video helped me to uninstall and install the disposer unit...

[@winchestermodel7044]

I just removed a small pebble from my son’s fish tank that had gotten lodged in mine and had it locked up, for 6 months! Thanks so much for the well done, informative video.

[@markeyhaynes6141]

That’s my issue!!! I’m going to fix it when everyone goes to bed!

[@markeyhaynes6141]

Reality was, I got done watching the part I needed went to the kitchen, and was done in 5 minutes. Wife was watching a TikTok video in the front room with All I Do Is Win playing. Yeah, I celebrated to the song. Thanks Mega Shake!

[@Premierehiphop]

Great video! I have something stuck in my disposal and I'm about to find out what! LOL Thanks!

[@Lindahuskey48]

Thank you, my husband was ready to call the plumber and I showed him your video, so he got a Allen wrench and worked it back and fourth and un jammed it.

[@rousefire]

I had a penny stuck to the side . I tried to pry it out and it went on through . What happens now? Its working and not making any unusual noises .

[@MichelleGoebelInspired_Intent]

Thank you! I was able to do it without removing the disposal. I have small hands.1) Unplugged power. Did not disconnect the water. 2) I used a flashlight to see what was in there. 3) Removed the jammed pieces of plastic that were easy to remove by hand. 3) Took a very small pair or jewelers plyers to pry the stuck piece out. 4) Plugged in and hit reset.If someone has large hands this would not work. You would need bent needle nose angled plyers.

[@OG_Beckie_Leigh]

Michelle Goebel Thank you for sharing your experience. I was wondering if it was absolutely necessary to remove the whole disposal. I can clearly see into the disposal when I remove the rubber thing from the sink drain. Washing dishes is my teenage son’s chore, and he apparently didn’t understand that plenty of water needs to be running to flush out the debris when he uses the disposal. 🤦🏼‍♀️ 🤢🤮 Oh! And, it also helps to make sure utensils haven’t fallen into the disposal before it’s turned on. This is how we learn. 😂🤣

[@tinabear503]

Thank you! I just fixed my disposal it had a broken shot glass in it 🙁 your video was easy to follow. 😊

[@ConfiscatedZyra]

im very tempted to throw random things into my garbage disposal the next time i have to remove it :)

[@Kritiker313]

As with other videos, the background music is distracting. At the very least turn it down.

[@TomahawkDIY]

Hi, thank you for your feedback. We will do better next time.

[@austinzane2893]

I know this was six years ago but thanks for the video! It fixed mine perfectly

[@TomahawkDIY]

Glad it helped!

[@pointdot094]

Can you truth the stupid music off. Can barely hear you.

[@evandurkovic7931]

Thank you so much for this video! I'd never messed with a disposal before, but 10 minutes after watching this it was working again! Had a measuring spoon stuck in it

[@ChipChapinSJ]

Good how-to; especially worthwhile for the slow-mo grinding shots (5:40).

[@pekkaT13]

Took my noisy g-disposal out, scrapped the greasy, semisolid matter, hosed as clean as possible. It works fine now. Not sure what caused the rumbling noise. Best evidence was a piece of string. Glad for saving $250 - $300 for a replacement. BTW, this unit is a Whirlpool & is 8 years old.

[@TomahawkDIY]

So glad to hear it helped you!. Donations are always appreciated. www.paypal.me/TomahawkDIY or Venmo @TomahawkDIY if you want to send one. 50% of donations are sent to help people Build Better Lives in some of earths most dire circumstances (TomahawkDIY.com/about).

[@MrWillaqui]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! You saved me at least $100 dollars plus. My disposal is working better than before. YOU ROCK!!!

[@lukeroque1]

Thanks so much for this tutorial… I used it once several months ago and then had to use it again tonight (worked like a charm!)…it’s the best one on KZbin -thanks so much!

[@ankurdhikoli2]

Thanks to your video i fixed my garbage disposal, the screw from cookware was in side of rotating plates and was jamming it.

[@georgerothweiler690]

Please no music very very distracting... No need for it !!!

[@TomahawkDIY]

Hi George, sorry that we cannot edit the video after they go live but will take note of that, Thanks for the visit.

[@robertbyrd2944]

Thank you for the info my other half can start at the slow mo clips instead of breaking the sink

[@CVespa38]

Thank you for sharing this fix it trick, I have recently clogged mine with beans... So I will be trying the reset tips, hoping that I do not have to take the disposal off.

[@businessandpleasurereport8478]

VERY helpful. I especially (and honestly) appreciate that you can hear kids yelling in the background. It adds an authenticity level to this work that will no doubt be replicated when I attempt this operation 5 minutes from now.

[@anthonyprieto3240]

Hell no kids are annoying 😂

[@enlightenedhummingbird4764]

I no longer have little ones around, but if I did, I think I would opt for NO garbage disposal. Too much nonsense potential when combining the two...😕

[@bpage2222]

🤣

[@joeybuck2495]

Thank you!!! I just fixed mine. First time ever trying to do something like this. I am proud. No need for an expensive handyman!!!

[@marvinmycat5839]

"Hey hunny, hit the light switch while I clean out the garbage disposal," said many a 7-fingered husbands to their wives. UNLPLUG THE DISPOSAL BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING WITH IT!!!

[@tracymiller2586]

Thank you very much for including the pictures of the parts and prices . While watching another tutorial, I was thinking to myself how much would a motor cost if that's the issue. And whalaah magic! your video! How awesome are you.😙

[@catherinehutton7175]

A measuring spoon was chopped up in our insinkerator. Very helpful video that saved us lots! 😄

[@alloverdaplace2043]

Hey I have a question maybe you can help me with. My garbage disposal seems to be so dirty and filled with gunk that it why turn with the tool in the bottom. So it's most likely jammed but it's so dirty I can't even see the jam. What do you recommend to get it cleaned?

[@carlgruber4569]

Ok I have to say I started of wrong... boy I didn’t see that coming ... so I watched it gain and bam I see I forgot to unplug it the first time. Second try I was able to retrieve the stuck penny and my 3 fingers. Thanks !!!

[@intsoccersuperstar1]

Argh…so after putting it back on, now I just hear a low pitched whine from it, it and it doesn’t spin at all. Is this a sign the motor is dead? Or is it possible I didn’t put it back together correctly?

[@coolnima]

Thank you for this, really helped me out.

[@x3xGR33Dx]

You know. To make easy viral videos, just rent a slow-mo camera for a day, and before doing that, think of things you could put in a grinder to record

[@theprophetez1357]

I am not sure that the disposal was on securely, it should give a "click" when it is secure.

[@dgweaver91]

Thanks a lot, You saved me some money. I was able to remove my garbage disposal to find a metal icing tip that was jammed into the blade. Thanks to my cupcake baking girlfriend. Lol

[@raghdasofiya7766]

Thank you so much for this helpful video

[@sterneis1]

as a european. l dont understand why you would have something dangerous like that in the sink

[@thoseaglestone9372]

Thank you. My son and I learned something new today.

[@mitchrosario1529]

My mom has a whole rag stuck in there I have to get in the morning 😒😩🤦🏽‍♂️

[@tripoliumim486]

thanks for the help just put the drill in the bottom and little screw screw and it works again

[@TheRjmsca]

Wife here thank you for the video!

[@JSRGotJokes]

Omg THANK YOU!!!!👍🏾💪🏾🙌🏾👐🏾👐🏾 I clogged the garbage disposal at 11 at night.😰😰 I knew if I woke my dad up he'd kill me(be mad)😡😡😡. I fixed it all by myself!!! 👍🏾😱😁🌟🤪🤪

[@SeanForeman]

Thanks for this video. Many other videos stop short of removing the garbage disposal or showing an example of a clog that can't be removed via plunger.

[@patrickkehoe1284]

This totally helped me, thanks for the video 🤙

[@lukesmith2725]

Get rid of the background music. It’s distracting and I can’t hear you.

[@charlenendiaye]

Thank you! Who fixed my clogged drain? ------------> THIS GIRL!!! (With your help! ) I learned how to take my pipes and insinkerator apart by watching this. It turns out that my pipes were clogged with potato peels. Easy fix. Good bless!

[@maddytcb6072]

Mines not making any noise at all completely not working and water is stuck. Thanks

[@ST-xg3gy]

My disposal is making a loud grinding sound and there is nothing in it. Very confused.

[@eyeonart6865]

All mine does is hum and stop I push red button hums and stops. I can move blades.

[@arleenbbloss621]

Awesome. So helpful... would it be possible to not have the music, it's kind of hard to hear your brilliance.

[@TomahawkDIY]

Hi, glad you find it helpful. Thank you for your feedback, we will do better next time

[@daz4312]

There is actually a little zig zag shaped or double ended Allen type wrench made specifically for garbage disposals... Sometimes included with a new disposal unit. We keep ours right under the sink so if there is a problem or it’s time for a new unit we don't have to tear up the house looking for it. Or a 1/4in Allen wrench will give you the leverage u need to turn the collar. Great vid!

[@tracymiller2586]

Yayyyy, it was hard to turn and still humming so I boiled hot water don't know why but it gave me a lil slack so by the third hot water cleansing it moved! I turned it own walahh magic😊. It was rattling really loud there was a screw and something else metal thanks. Now the dishwasher is acting up.