A good share of these call-outs turn out to be a two-minute fix, so it is worth trying before you ring anyone.
Start here
If it hums but will not turn, the motor is fine and something is jammed. Switch off the power at the wall, use the small hex key that came with the unit to free the flywheel underneath, then press the reset button on the bottom. If it is silent, the reset alone often does it.
Rentals see things owners never would
Guests put shells, corn husks and all sorts down a disposal without thinking. A short note in the house information genuinely reduces call-outs, and it is easier than explaining it afterwards.
In a villa it matters more
A disposal fault that causes a backup in a stacked building can affect the unit below, which turns a small kitchen problem into someone else’s ceiling. Worth dealing with promptly rather than living with a unit that jams regularly.
What it does not handle
Cooking oil and fat. They set further along the pipe and combine with sand already in the line, which is the usual reason a beach kitchen drain starts blocking.