How to fix a garbage disposal and dishwasher backup without a plumber
Dry lentils or other expanding food scraps can jam the impeller and clog the drain path, causing dirty water to back up into the dishwasher and the sink to leak. Fixing it yourself prevents the high costs of calling a professional or the risk of involving a hostile landlord for repairs.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 14.5× more often in r/HomeImprovement than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Replacing the entire garbage disposal unit2 people mentionedDid this help you?
- 2Manually turning the disposal using a hex wrench under the unitDid this help you?
- 3Pressing the red reset button on the bottom of the disposalDid this help you?
- 4Removing connecting pipes to check for clogs with a wireDid this help you?
- 5Attempting DIY fixes to avoid contacting landlords or hiring plumbersDid this help you?
- 6Using an Allen wrench in the center bottom holeDid this help you?
- 7Using a screwdriver or an upside-down broom handle to unstick the mechanismDid this help you?
- 8installing an Air Admittance Valve under the sinkDid this help you?
- 9coordinating with a plumber where you swap in the disposal before they arrive and have them connect everything and update the drain configurationDid this help you?
- 10Read the appliance manuals to find instructions for resetting the breaker and clearing jams.Did this help you?
- 11Hire a technician for a service plan or pay for professional repairs.Did this help you?
- 12Checking for higher leaks that drip down and tightening connectionsDid this help you?
- 13Eliminating the garbage disposal and replumbing the sinkDid this help you?
- 14Contacting the landlord for a fixDid this help you?
- 15Twisting the metal ring around the collarDid this help you?
- 16Using a screwdriver in the hole for leverage to tighten it furtherDid this help you?
- 17Using an Allen wrench from the bottom of the unit to manually free up jamsDid this help you?
- 18Using a broom handle to spin the base with a long leverDid this help you?
- 19Feeding ice cubes into the disposal to scour the grinder cleanDid this help you?
- 20Replacing the unit entirelyDid this help you?
- 21Check the dishwasher air gap and ensure a high loop for the dishwasher hoseDid this help you?
- 22Install a mechanical vent under the sink on the drainDid this help you?
- 23Unplugging the disposal to test if the sound persists and checking independent plumbing issuesDid this help you?
- 24searching for tutorial videos onlineDid this help you?
- 25hiring a plumber willing to attempt the removalDid this help you?
- 26Reaching inside the unit to check for stuck objectsDid this help you?
- 27Inserting a disposal wrench into the bottom socketDid this help you?
- 28Pressing the red restart/reset buttonDid this help you?
- 29Replacing the entire unit with the exact same model to reuse the existing sink flangeDid this help you?
- 30Removing the garbage disposal completelyDid this help you?
- 31Upgrading from entry-level Badger models to higher-end series like the InSinkErator Evolution lineDid this help you?
- 32Buying alternative brands like Moen, Waste King, or American Standard from wholesale clubs like CostcoDid this help you?
- 33Using mesh sink strainer inserts to catch food particles and prevent heavy disposal useDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Our 2nd InSinkErator Badger has died in a period of 16 years. Is InSinkErator still a good leading brand, or has it gone south in recent years? Is there another brand who is doing better right now?”source ↗
“Both my badgers start leaking a couple years after the warranty ends. Apparently it’s common for the badger line to rust out.”source ↗
“so my garbage disposal did the thing where it hummed for a while, until it just silently does nothing when i press the switch.”source ↗
“when i tried inserting my insinkarator disposal wrench into the bottom, i cannot move the wrench at all in either direction, and the red restart button doesnt do anything.”source ↗
“There's a sound coming from my garbage disposal constantly, it sounds like running water going through it. This sound occurs whether it's on or off.”source ↗
“I picked up an American Standard slim line from Costco after my Badger bit the dust.”source ↗
“Recently replaced mine with a Moen and I like the flange better on it, has a different sound but seems stronger than our old craftsman.”source ↗
“It hasn’t worked in months and I’m wondering if the tech will be able to tell”source ↗
“We moved in a year ago and I’ve pretty consistently (every few weeks at least if not more frequently) had to use the Allen wrench to get the motor unbound.”source ↗
“Now, the unit is firing up with a hum but not spinning (same as the past), but the flywheel (i think its the flywheel?) is not bound - the allen wrench turns it freely.”source ↗
“We have a broken garbage disposal that is attached to a Corian sink. We need to remove it and replace it. The last plumber didn’t want to do the job because he didn’t want to break the sink. Any ideas on how to remove it without breaking the sink?”source ↗
“it’s like have a booby trap in your drain.”source ↗
“I had a garbage disposal that stopped working. It made a humming sound when I turned it on then it just stopped working at all.”source ↗
“The blades are spinning freely, but the Allen wrench will not budge in either direction. Just getting the low hum.”source ↗
“garbage disposal started leaking after I used an Allen wrench to dislodge and unstick the disposal. Am I cooked or can it be saved?”source ↗
“Hi all, so a couple months ago I made the mistake of putting dry lentils down my garbage disposal and it stopped working after that.”source ↗
“As a result of this, my dishwasher now drains all of the dirty water at the end of the cycle into the sink on the side with the broken garbage disposal.”source ↗
“As well, my sink itself has started to leak water.”source ↗
“I’m really trying to avoid having to talk to my landlord about this because they have a really hostile and threatening policy about putting any kind of maintenance request in at all, and I don’t have thousands of dollars to blow on a plumber that charges that amount.”source ↗
“Whoever did the plumbing in this house didn’t put enough vents in and it has cost me a ton of money to basically redo all of the plumbing to prevent issues.”source ↗
“We’re renters and just noticed our garbage disposal is leaking to the sink cabinet.”source ↗
“I reinstalled my disposal after getting new countertops. My sink is deeper, so I lowered the inlet on the p-trap slightly. Everything worked fine for a few days, and the dishwasher drained normally today.”source ↗
“Later, after running the disposal to do dishes, it spat water back up and wouldn't drain at all.”source ↗
“Kitchen sink. Drip/drips started a few days ago from these two screw locations, when water is draining on that side. Is this unit dead? Or did something fail inside that is replaceable?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 7How to clean mold and swampy smells off a garbage disposal rubber flap
- 4How to get a stuck broken plumbing drain piece out
- 34How to unclog a drain blocked by hardened materials
- 4How to tell if a new apartment washing machine is broken
- 30Why does my sink drain keep clogging up?
- 6How to identify unknown loose parts found in the washing machine