Garbage disposal makes a loud grinding or rattling noise

Symptoms

• Loud rattling or clanking during operation
• Noise started suddenly after using the sink
• Grinding sounds harsher than normal
• You suspect something was dropped down the drain

Likely causes

• CommonSmall hard object caught between flywheel and grind ringBottle caps, fruit pits, and utensils are the usual suspects.
• PossibleBroken glass or ceramic fragment inside the chamberFragments can rattle loudly without fully jamming the unit.
• Less commonLoose impeller or worn mounting causing vibrationAge-related wear can make the flywheel assembly rattle even when clear.

What to do

1. Stop using the disposal immediately and turn off and unplug it.
2. Shine a flashlight into the chamber to look for the object.
3. Use tongs or needle-nose pliers to carefully remove any visible fragments or objects.
4. Turn the flywheel with a hex wrench in the bottom hole to check for remaining debris and confirm it spins freely.
5. Restore power, reset if needed, and run the disposal briefly with water and no food to listen for remaining noise.
6. If glass was involved, run water and check the drain for shards a few more times over the next day.

Tools and parts

• Flashlight
• Tongs or needle-nose pliers
• 1/4-inch hex wrench

When to call a pro

If noise continues after removing all visible debris, have a plumber inspect the impellers for damage.

Safety