My garbage disposal is rusted and stuck. How can I fix it?

When your garbage disposal is rusted and stuck, it usually means it has not been used for a while, water has sat in the grinding chamber, and corrosion has locked the impellers to the grinding ring. You can often free it without replacing it. First, turn off power to the disposal at the circuit breaker and ensure the wall switch is off for safety. Do not put your hand inside the chamber. Look under the disposal for a hex socket in the center on the bottom. Insert the InSinkErator jam-buster wrench or a 1/4 inch Allen wrench and work it back and forth vigorously. This manually rotates the grinding plate and can break rust bonds. If that does not free it, shine a flashlight inside the sink opening and look for rust buildup and debris. Use tongs or pliers to remove any hard objects. Pour a generous amount of penetrating oil like WD-40 or a mixture of vinegar and baking soda into the chamber and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes to loosen rust. Then try the wrench again. Once it moves freely, turn on cold water, restore power, and turn it on. Let it run with cold water and grind a handful of ice cubes to clean off rust and debris. If the chamber is heavily rusted through, leaking from the bottom, or the motor hums but will not turn after freeing, the disposal has reached the end of its life and should be replaced.