Commercial Garbage Disposal Is Humming But Not Working: 6 Causes

If your commercial garbage disposal hums but doesn’t spin, it can be due to a jam, a failed motor, or any other reason. An inspection is required to learn the exact cause, for which you may need help from commercial appliances repair services. However, some of the causes of this problem are easy to solve, so read this guide and try the easier methods, while leaving difficult methods to experts.

Causes Of A Commercial Garbage Disposal That Hums But Doesn’t Work

Before starting, you should turn off your commercial garbage disposal if it hums but doesn’t spin the blades. That’s because if the motor is fine and the issue is due to any other reason, such as a jam, leaving the disposal on can damage the motor.

Jammed Garbage Disposal

A common cause of a commercial garbage disposal making a humming noise but not spinning blades is a jam. A jam can be due to the small particles or layers of regular food items slowly building up and ultimately keeping the grinding plate (blades) from moving or any foreign object blocking the rotating plate from working.

Food items that can jam the blades:

There are many regular food items that are allowed to be put into the garbage disposal, but can jam the impellers and the rotating blade. They include: fibrous vegetables, fruit and vegetable peels, eggshells, shellfish shells, small bones, fruit pits and seeds, vegetable trimmings, etc. They are most likely to block the rotating plate if fed in large amounts. Moreover, some garbage disposal models prohibit putting in some of these items. So, do read the user manual before operation.

Foreign items that can jam a garbage disposal:

In addition to that, foreign objects that should not be in the garbage disposal can certainly block the rotating plate and keep the unit from working. These items can fall in the disposal accidentally. They can be small spoons, forks, any small metal or plastic items, glass pieces, paper towels, rubber bands, packaging materials, bottle caps, or others. Moreover, rust, corrosion, and limescale buildup can also jam the rotating plate.

So, when you turn on the garbage disposal, the motor tries to turn the grinding plate, but the plate doesn’t spin because of a jam. That’s why you hear the humming sound. It’s the motor trying to rotate the plate, but it can’t. So, turn off the garbage disposal and look for what’s blocking or jamming the unit.

Removing an item from the garbage disposal:

• Turn off the garbage disposal.
• Never put your hand inside it.
• Use a flashlight to see the item inside the disposal.
• If you see it, use long-nose pliers, tong, or anything similar to pick out the item from the disposal.
• If you can’t see it, use an Allen wrench on the hex socket underneath the disposal and rotate the wrench back and forth.
• After removing the item, rotate the grinding plate multiple times to ensure there is no obstruction.
• Reset the disposal by pressing the button under the unit.

If this method doesn’t work, thoroughly clean the disposal and try again or consult a professional.

Overloading The Garbage Disposal

Feeding a lot of food waste at once or not following the best practices when putting food waste in the disposal can also jam the grinding plate or impellers. Refer to the user manual to confirm how much waste per minute you can put in your commercial garbage disposal. It directly depends on the horsepower rating of the unit.

Moreover, recommended waste per minute means a steady flow of waste into the disposal every minute without putting the entire load at once. For instance, if the recommended load is 15 lbs/min, put 15 pounds of waste in the disposal steadily throughout the minute instead of feeding 15 pounds of waste at once.

Furthermore, keep the disposal running a minute before and after putting in food waste. Plus, let a stream of water run for the entirety of the process, and 30 seconds before and after the process, to avoid jams or drain clogs.

Overloading is a bad practice for any commercial appliance. If you overfill a commercial refrigerator, it may not cool properly due to an improper airflow. However, if it cools poorly even when there are sufficient number of items, consult a commercial refrigerator repair Fairfax Station service.

Faulty Capacitor

The motor of the garbage disposal, which makes the grinding plate rotate, needs a capacitor to turn on and run. If the capacitor fails, the motor won’t get the power boost to work. The motor will still receive power, though, so you will hear a humming noise, but the grinding plate won’t rotate. Sometimes, the motor starts very slowly and then stops working (the plate stops spinning).

Older garbage disposals have individual capacitors, while modern disposals usually have a capacitor built into the motor assembly. The former is more likely to fail.

A garbage disposal capacitor can last from 1 to 15 years, depending on its quality, usage frequency, usage practices (jams frequently or not), and the temperature of the area. However, when it fails, you must have it replaced by an expert who will also inspect the garbage disposal for other issues.

Rust Or Wear And Tear

Over time, there can be wear and tear inside the grinding chamber or rust development. This can get in the way of the grinding plate or impellers, and can keep the plate from spinning. This is common in disposals that are older, so if this is the cause of the problem, it’s better to replace the entire unit. Have an expert inspect the garbage disposal and look for extensive wear and tear or rust and corrosion.

Motor Problems

The motor is the major component of a garbage disposal and it rotates the grinding plate. If it can’t operate properly, you may hear a humming sound, but the grinding plate won’t spin. Few early-stage motor problems are repairable, such as overheating due to a jam, electrical problems causing motor issues, and worn bearings.

However, many motor issues can’t be fixed, such as damaged motor due to overheating, a damaged motor due to electrical issues, burnt motor winding, cracked housing, shaft damage, etc.

So, if the disposal spins slowly or doesn’t spin at all, or if it spins a little while, then trips, and then doesn’t spin after a reset, there can be a motor issue. Only contact a certified professional for motor inspections.

If the motor is faulty and your garbage disposal is new (bought less than 5 years ago), only replace the motor. However, for disposals that are older than 5 years, completely replacing the garbage disposal is a better option.

Low Voltage Supply

If your facility has low voltage supply, the motor may not run properly as motors require more power to start. Due to the low voltage, the motor won’t start and only hums, or it may start but rotate the grinding plate slowly.

Even when the grinding plate rotates with low voltage supply, putting even the recommended load of waste can lead to a jam, which will overheat the motor and cause trips or other issues. So, hire an electrician who can check the electrical supply of your facility.

Conclusion

A commercial garbage disposal humming but not spinning the blades (impellers and the grinding plate) can be due to something stuck inside the grinding chamber or improper usage practices. If not, there may be issues like a failed capacitor, a faulty motor, or electrical problems. So, call in a commercial garbage disposal repair Clifton technician for an inspection.