Another dead garbage disposal

Factual Questions
1

So my garbage disposal is a real clunker, this must be the 4 th time it has stopped
working since it was installed last year. I have American Home Shield, they probably gave me the cheapest model anyway. Last time he came out, all he did was take a piece of metal (allan wrench?) and hook it into the middle of the bottom and turn. Problem is, I don’t remember which way he turned. The reset button is just limp and won’t reactivate, so I imagine I need to do this turning maneuver. Does anyone know what I’m talking about, and which way should I turn the wrench?

It’s about 84 degrees in my condo and things are starting to stink in the sink.
Help!

2

Are you hearing any noise at all when you flip the switch? Sometimes the blades will jam, and you can pop them loose quite easily using a broom handle as leverage. If that (a jam) is the case, you will hear a noticeable humming noise when you attempt to turn on the disposer.

3

Chances are it will only turn one way. Have you tried it? Have you tried looking under the bottom of the disposal to see if there’s an arrow indicating which way to turn?

4

No, it should turn freely either way. You need a 1/4" Allen wrench, and do the procedure found here (video plus detailed steps.)

5

I stand corrected.

6

Thank you thank you thank you!

I did it! Even with 2 hip replacements, I got down low enough to unplug the disposal, fit the allen wrench into the groove, wiggle it back and forth and voila,
the reset button worked like a charm and I can now dispose of that manky solid milk at the bottom of the well.

Thanks for the link to that site, it’s way cool.

7

You might want to watch what you’re putting into the disposal if it keeps jamming up.

Runing stuff in small batches with the water running full-force should be enough to keep it happy, unless the thing always jams on say, celery, in which case you probably shouldn’t give it any celery (or whatever else it habitually jams on.)

8

To second gotpasswords, always always ALWAYS run the water when the garbage disposal is going, and run it for a while after you turn it off as well.

I put everything down my disposal, and have had maybe one jam in about 15 years. And that’s over several houses with several different brands and quality levels of disposals. Celery, half-lemons & limes, any kind of food at all, you name it, a decent quality disposal will not jam, as long as there’s water going through.

This was pounded through my head as a kid, from my father who went through 5 kids who threw everything down the drain. Water water water is the key.

9

And every so often, put some ice cubes down it (I’m told).