<p>I turned on my garbage disposal and it made a humming noise, but nothing else. I looked online and tried the recommended fix. I went to plug it back in, and sparks came from the plug and even though the disposal switch is off, I heard the humming noise too. Is this an issue with the disposal or with the outlet?</p>
<p>Unplug the disposal and plug a lamp into the plug. Flip the switch and see if the lamp comes on - and if the hum occurs. If the lamp is fine, then the problem is with the disposal. </p>
<p>Odds are that it is a jammed disposal. There should be a little tool that came with the disposal that allows you to manually crank the disposal - see if you can spin it.</p>
<p>Oh that’s a good idea about the lamp, I just tried it and the lamp works fine. And I did the tool thing first, and it was when I tried plugging the disposal back in that it sparked at me. But I don’t know why it would make the humming noise, since the switch is off. Any idea why this happened? Either way, I guess I need a new disposal?</p>
<p>spin the disposal with the unit unplugged. Never assume that the unit is in the Off position.</p>
<p>Don’t worry LongPrime, I did unplug it first. I’m skerd of electricity. And garbage disposals.</p>
<p>Does the unit hum when it is unplugged? </p>
<p>If not, then electricity is reaching the unit to cause the hum (e.g. the switch must be in the on position)… </p>
<p>As long prime says, unplug it again. Then use the tool and spin the heck out of it - assuming the tool allows you to spin it freely. If the tool won’t spin, then it is jammed.</p>
<p>Plug it back in. If it doesn’t work, time for a new disposal. They are not hard to install:</p>
<p>[Install</a> a Garbage Disposer](<a href=“http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Improve/garbdispo.html]Install”>http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Improve/garbdispo.html)</p>
<p>Amazon has some good reviews on their site</p>
<p>Ours has a reset button on the bottom that resets it sometimes when it is not working. We also had one that jammed up and rattling around the blades with a steel pole thingy helped.</p>
<p>But the sparking when you plug it in sounds a bit iffy. Could there be a wiring problem in that plug maybe?</p>
<p>Ok, I am stupid. I just realized that I was plugging it into the wrong outlet (thank you lamp suggestion). So I plugged it into the proper outlet, hit the reset and it still just hums. </p>
<p>So scualum, with the tool I can turn it, but it doesn’t spin. Should it spin?</p>
<p>It should turn with the tool- make sure it is unplugged and make sure you are turning the right way… if it doesn’t turn, then you are probably jammed. </p>
<p>Warning - next step is potentially dangerous - and I decline all liability :)</p>
<p>DOUBLE CHECK to make sure it is unplugged - and then shine a flashlight down into the disposal - see if you can see what is causing the jam. If you can, use a screwdriver to try to move the jamming object (bone?). If you can pop it loose, try the tool to make it spin again. Once you get it to spin, then plug it back in and try the switch again.</p>
<p>Oh thank you, scualum, that worked! </p>
<p>I finally resorted to sticking my hand into the disposal (yes it was unplugged) and scooping out all the crud. Then I used the screwdriver and forced the thing to turn. That seems to have done the trick. I’m not sure what the offending object was, because there were just so many to choose from :). I kind of suspect unpopped popcorn kernels, for which my husband will be held responsible. I think a new pair of shoes would make up for it though.</p>
<p>I wasn’t going to tell you to stick your hand in there - but have been known to do that myself. Another option, if you have a shop wet/dry vac, is to stick the nozzle down in there, suck out all the goo.</p>
<p>Unpopped popcorn will definitely do it - I would think that a nice pair of shoes would help you to recover from the trauma - and you did save $200 on a new garbage disposal.</p>
<p>Hurray! Now hurry off to Zappos for that $200 pair of shoes :)</p>
<p>You know Bunsen, I think these would do nicely to heal the trauma:</p>
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<p>and 30% off on the Nine West site. Who knew fixing a garbage disposal could be so satisfying?</p>
<p>BTW - now that it is all nice and working, run it with a double handful of ice cubes and the cold water running. That will clean it up nicely inside…</p>