A garbage disposal gives early notice before it stops turning. The signs are small and easy to dismiss while the sink still drains. Logging them is worth more than fixing them on the spot.
The hum without the turn
A hum from the unit when the switch is on, with the grinding plate not turning, is the most common early sign that something is caught in the grind chamber or that the motor is under load. Stop the run. Do not reach into the chamber while the unit has power.
Slow drain and a smell
A sink that drains more slowly after the disposal runs, or a smell that returns after cleaning, tells you the chamber or the drain path is holding food. Check the drain line and the trap under the sink for slow flow and for food caught in the fittings.
Leaks at the connections
Look at the mounting ring, the discharge connection, and the dishwasher inlet if one is fitted. Water under the unit, or a damp mark on the cabinet floor, is worth logging with the time you saw it and the run it followed.
What to do at home
Turn the unit off at the switch and at its breaker, and wait for everything to stop. Use the reset on the base of the unit only after the chamber is clear and the power is off, and use tongs or a wrench as the manufacturer's instructions describe. If the hum returns after a clear chamber, or if you see water at a connection, note it in your service log and ask the technician to check the motor and the connections on the next visit.
The disposal's Garbage Disposal: typical service life and when to plan page turns the install year into a planning date. Use your log as input to that conversation, not as a diagnosis.