Garbage disposal makes a grinding noise even when empty and with no food present.

Safety first: Turn off power at the breaker.

• Inspect chamber thoroughly: Use a strong flashlight and mirror if needed to look for hidden objects lodged at the outer edge of the shredder ring.
• Rotate shaft manually: Use the bottom hex socket to turn the shaft and listen/feel for scraping at specific positions.
• Check mounting alignment: Ensure the Reginox unit is not twisted or hanging unevenly from the sink flange.
• Assess damage: If scraping persists with no foreign object found, internal components may be bent or misaligned. Replacement of the disposal is typically required.