Your disposal isn't a trash can.
We get more calls for jammed disposals than almost anything else. Most are preventable. The rule is simple: it's for small bits of soft food scraps left on plates after scraping, not for bulk waste.
The 'Never' List.
Never put these down your disposal: **Grease or cooking oil** (it coats the pipes and hardens), **coffee grounds** (they clump like sand), **eggshells** (the membrane wraps around the blades), **fibrous vegetables** (celery, onion skins, corn husks), **pasta and rice** (they expand with water), or **bones and fruit pits**. These are the top culprits for jams and motor burns.
How to use it correctly.
Always run **cold water** before, during, and for 30 seconds after grinding. Cold water helps solidify any grease so it gets chopped up and flushed away. Feed scraps in slowly. If you hear a change in sound (a humming or struggling), turn it off immediately. Don't use drain cleaner in a disposal—it can damage the seals and motor.
How to fix a simple jam.
First, turn the power OFF at the switch and the circuit breaker. You can often use a hex key (sometimes provided) to manually turn the motor from the bottom of the unit to dislodge the object. Never use your hands. If that doesn't work, it's time to call us. Forcing it can break the blades or burn out the motor, turning a simple unjamming into a full replacement.