Garbage disposal makes a loud grinding, scraping, or metallic noise during operation.

Safety first: Immediately turn off the disposal and switch off the breaker. Do not reach into the disposal with your hand.

• Visual inspection: Shine a flashlight into the sink opening to look for foreign objects.
• Remove objects with tools: Use long-nose pliers or tongs to carefully remove any metal, glass, or hard items.
• Manual rotation: Use the bottom hex port to rotate the impeller plate and dislodge hidden objects, then remove them from above.
• Test briefly: Restore power and run the unit with water only for a few seconds. If the noise persists, internal components may be damaged.

Continuous grinding noises after clearing all foreign objects may indicate a loose or broken impeller lug; replacement of the grinding assembly or disposal is recommended.