One of those "nit-picky" (gotta love that word) things Home Inspectors routinely call out, is the electrical connection to the disposal. This connection is "messed-up" more than any other single defect that I can think of in a kitchen. I think it is because so often it is an installation that the average handy-person figures they can handle. The reality is, that the connection is really pretty easy to do if you make the electrical connection before you install the dang thing! (Turn off the electricity first by the way) Most of these compromised connections look as though someone did them while stuffing themselves inside the sink cabinet.
But back to the "nit-picky." The problem is, this can be a fairly serious safety issue. A shorted-out connection might actually energize the metal exterior of the disposal and even possibly the sink. All a person would have to do is touch the disposal while getting a new Brillo pad from under the sink-----while holding onto the metal sink and then.......
.......now wouldn't that be exciting!
On a recent inspection I found this really poor electrical connection to the disposal.
When I put the waste box back under the sink-----I discovered a big part of the "why.".
How many of you have waste baskets under your kitchen sinks?
What kind of damage are they doing?
Charles Buell
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That looks scary! And shocking! LOL I'm glad I don't have a trash can under there. I know many people that do.
wow. I've got a basket under my kitchen sink and I just checked it Charlie. No damage. Thanks for the heads up :)
Thanks for sharing this
Stan
www.realtyone.com/stanley.stepak
stanley.stepak@realliving.com
Avon Lake, Ohio
And some people wonder why they should spend money on a home inspection. Is is so worth it for peace of mind.
Lizette, most people have everything but the kitchen sink under there:)
Kara, did you really go look? Sounds like something Barbara would do----hence the title on the bottom picture:)
Stan, thanks for stopping by
Richard, only one of a gazillion reasons me thinks.
Charles we have the waste bucket on a track but it is on the other side. Damaging the garbage disposal makes no sense.
Gary, sounds like a good plan. Personally I don't have one at all (a disposal that is), so I can throw old transmissions and anything else I want under there safely:) Even have a couple of Steve's racoons living under there----kind of hope they do get electrocuted.
That's a great tip. I've found a couple loose, but nothing like in your picture! Thanks.
Andrew, this one was one of three similiar installations in a four unit appartment building. The fourth unit was missing its disposal altogether----probably safer that way:)
Charles - I never thought of this before - I don't keep any garbage under thesink,but I know most people do! Interesting.
Courtney, if it is not the garbage its the dog food container, or mini vac, or mop bucket (you know the nice metal ones that whack the electrical connections really good:) (glad to see you stopping by my blog by the way Courtney)
Ooops! We need you guys!
From the picture, it doesn't look like that bx was ever properly clamped in the first place.
Charles, I was going to write on this today but I will have to dig into my inspector bag and pull out another goodie. It is amazing that across the country we see the same things...
Charles, I was going to write on this today but I will have to dig into my inspector bag and pull out another goodie. It is amazing that across the country we see the same things...
I feel as if I should be getting CE credit for reading your blog...always full of useful information. Thank you for taking the time -- the photos make all the difference in the world to those of us who are mechanically challenged. ;-)
Richard, I like to think so:)
Kevin, You are right-----about this connection---another one from the same building.
Michael, go ahead and link them together if you want.
Susan, where shall I send you your CE certificate?
It happen everywhere. The worst one I found is one that was wired up outside of the unit and the wire nut was missing on the black (hot) wire. The house was being flipped.
Phillip, yes, I would be surprized if bad disposal hook-ups wasn't a world wide crisis:)
Yes Charlie - - - I really did go and check! I thank you - and I'm sure my landlord thanks you as well :)
There are many mechancial things like that. Do it out of order and it is hard to do.
Charlie - I haven't had garbage disposal issues here - most of the area is well/septic so only about 40% of my sales involve garbage disposals - but, this is great info.
Steve, another good one is putting faucets on sinks. It is way easier to put them on the sink before you install the sink than after:)
Carol, so how often do you find disposals on septic systems?----happens all the time here----even though not allowed.
Charles, my husband just demanded an answer to why my head was under the sink. I told him some nut in WA said my garbage disposal might be wired wrong. With a blog that was almost dedicated to me! Mine has an ordinary plug that evidently came on it and plugs into the outlet on the wall. My garbage can has its on pullout but there's a lot of other junk under there.
This is really a good blog and gets you off your favorite, waterheaters!
Barbara----sounds like a good installation.