I have done posts in the past about improper wiring to disposals. It is a defect that I see so often that repetition is warranted.
Anyone can go to the Big Orange Tool Box or similar types of home maintenance stores and buy a garbage disposal. How difficult can it be to hook up a disposal?
The part of the installation that I find wrong the most is the electrical hook-up. This is especially true when there is no plug-in type cord, and instead the disposal is "hard-wired." All "hard-wired" means is that the unit can't be unplugged----and instead is wired continuously all the way to the breaker panel. When wired this way it is important that the wire that runs from the wall to the disposal be of proper type and be properly protected from mechanical damage. Often this wire is run in flexible conduit from the connection at the wall.
Installers that don't know proper connection methods (aren't electricians) sometimes just hook the wire that comes through the wall directly to the disposal. In this picture we can see where the wires have been run inside flexible conduit but the conduit is badly damaged at the wall in the background and is not connected properly to the disposal in the foreground. Notice also that the ground wire is not connected to the disposal. It is important for disposals to be properly grounded to prevent persons contacting the disposal from being the shortest path to ground in the event of a short in the unit.
In this case it would seem that the installer knew the wiring should be in conduit but they just didn't know how to make the connections at the ends of the conduit----more like "I cantduit."
Charles Buell
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Yipes! Sounds like an accident waiting to happen...gosh golly...The people at the BIG ORANGE TOOL BOX make it seem like "anybody" can install one of these puppies...
Picky! Picky! Picky! The dang ol' thing worked didn't it? So what if there are a few imperfections in the installation. I worked my tail off puttin' that thing in for these folks! Geeze Luise, can't you home inspektors persons cut a fella some slack???
Charlie,
First time you used the term big orange tool box, I thought it was some specific chain near Seattle.
Charles- two things... what is your opinion of disposal with a septic tank? and We have to shop at the Big Blue Tool Box, my hubby is a Jimmie Johnson fan.
I would venture to say that 95% of the disposals which I've looked at were "hard Wired". This includes every home which I've ever purchased and all my apartments that I once had. Each one was hardwired directly to the wire coming out of the wall. I never did understand why they didn't use a plug and outlet to supply electricity to these appliances.
Sean Allen
Rebecca, these types of stores count on people being willing to do things for themselves----a concept I am fully in favor of. With the internet there really is no excuse for not knowing how to do things properly:)
Bubba-----sorry:(
Steve, nope---that is the color of my tool box:)
Tammy, most jurisdictions do not allow disposals on septic systems and I personally don't think they are a good idea. (We should be composting all this stuff anyway:)
You know that it's true, with the right instructions, anyone can install a disposal. That's part of the problem, because just anyone can't install it right.
Jack
shocking, absolutely shocking! I guess there were no instructions in that box....or... the installer was a man and didn't need to see any stupid instructions, LMAO!
Jack, the trick is reading the instructions.
Kara, believe it or not there will not be any wiring instructions with the disposal because the wiring doesn't come with it because of the different ways to connect it. The instructions will tell the installer to have the licensed electrical contractor hook up the cord:)
I find these type of installation quite common here also.
~ Life is Good
Charles, I already looked. My garbage disposal is okay. Is this a reblog??
My most common defect with disposals is the knockout that's not knocked out.
Charlie, When I find this kind of thing the saying is; you can do it, no you can't! Hire a professional.
Roy---very common
Barbara, not sure what you mean by a re-blog----all disposals look the same though:)
Russel, sure wouldn't work very well with the knock-out still in place:)
James, theys certainly couldn't do it themselves in this case:)
Mr Charles,
One day, while doing my part-time chef duties, I almost got my tail stuck down a disposal. Very scary.
Your friend Nutsy
Certifried Home Inspection Assistant
A bob-tail squirrel---now that would be a sight!
I have seen quite a few bob tailed squirrels around here. It is my understanding that when they battle chewing off some tail from their opponent is acceptable fight strategy.
I have several of those bob-tailed squirrels around here as well. I did not know that they actually "chewed off" each others tails. Is that so Nutsy?
James----sounds about right to me.
Kevin, I don't know about squirrels, but I remember finding a rats tails frozen in the ice where it had chewed it off.