How To Wire A Garbage Disposal
You've probably heard of garbage disposal before, but did you know that they come in two types?
The first type is a countertop model, which sits under the sink and has a motorized blade that spins at high speeds to grind food down into smaller pieces.
The other type is called top-mounted disposal, which has no motor and instead uses gravity to move waste through a chute. Which one should you get?
Garbage disposals are often installed in kitchens and bathrooms because they reduce the amount of time spent cleaning out the sink. They also save water since they don't require running water to operate.
Both types of garbage disposals are effective at grinding the food down, but some people prefer the top-mounted models because they are easier to clean. If you want to install a new garbage disposal, consider buying a top-mounted model.
How To Wire A Garbage Disposal With A Plug-in Cord
Garbage disposal is frequently hardwired directly into a circuit. This means that you'll need to contact your electrician to install the connection. You may also want to consider installing a separate switch for disposal.
A sink cabinet is a place where you put your dishes after washing them. You turn on the faucet and wash your dishes. You then dry your dishes using a towel. With this configuration, you can use the plug-in to control the power to the sink.
When you turn off the plug-in, the power goes back to normal. Cords should be bought separately. Kits containing all the necessary components are available.
Make sure to buy a grounded cord with the correct voltage and amperage rating for your garbage disposal. Connecting the cord to the disposal first makes it easier than connecting it afterward.
Garbage disposals work by using high-pressure water to grind up food waste. This process creates a lot of heat and pressure. A leaky or clogged drain could cause a sink overflow, flooding your kitchen.
To avoid this problem, make sure the drain line is clear before installing the disposal. Also, check out our other articles on fixing sinks, toilets, faucets, and drains.
Remove The Wiring Compartment Cover
Screws are used to secure the metal cover on the bottom of the disposal unit. Most garbage disposals have one or two screws securing the cover. You'll remove these screws with a screwdriver. Set them aside.
Install A Cord Clamp
A cord clamp should be installed into the hole near the electrical outlet. The threaded end of the clamp must be inserted into the hole and secured by tightening the nut.
The clamp needs to be tightened until it is tight enough to hold the cord in place.
Strip The Cord Wires
Prepare the appliance cord wires for connections by stripping about 3/8 inch of insulation from the ends of each of the three wires. Use the correct notch on the wire stripper for your cord.
Stranded copper is slightly larger, requiring that you use the "stranded notch". Solid copper is smaller, requiring that you use a "solid notch". Most cords have stripped wires; you can skip this step if so.
Some cords also have an installed ground wire with a pre-attached ring connector; leave this as-is.
Feed the end of the wire that has the stripped ends through the clamp and into the wiring compartment. Secure the wire in the clamp by tightening two screws on the clamp; don't over-tighten. The wire shouldn't be compressed or deformed by the clamp.
Connect The Wires
Grounding works by having an electrical current flow through the earth. This prevents any electricity from flowing back into your house. You need to connect the wires together before you turn on the power source.
What Is The Process For Wiring A Garbage Disposal With An Optional Dishwasher?
This wiring picture shows how the actual wiring works. At the switch box, the power enters and goes into a 3 wire cable, which then runs down to the grounded outlet.
The circuit has been identified, and the power has already been turned off. A note has also been put up to let people know that there is work going on in this particular circuit.
Neutral wire is connected to the silver side of an outlet. Hooks were made on the ends of the ground wire. A white wire was attached to the neutral side of the receptacle.
White wire was attached to the silver side. Neutral wire was hooked up to the tab. The tab was removed by bending it sideways. The outlet was installed correctly.
The wires were attached to the proper sides of the terminal, and the ground wire was not near any screw holes. Use the outlet mounting screws to securely fasten the outlet to the wall.
Adjust the outlet from side to sides as needed. Secure the cover plate into place, covering the opening to the box. The project is now complete!
Disposals come in different sizes, and some are more powerful than others. A 3 hp unit should be sufficient for most people. You may want to check out our other products if you require something bigger.
Things To Try Before Removing The Garbage Disposal
Jammed-up garbage disposals should be turned off, unplugged, and removed. Then, shine a light down into the drain, fish out the object, and remove it from the sink.
Disposals are machines used to get rid of waste. They work by rotating a handle back and forth. A hex wrench is needed to turn them.
Most disposals come with a bent hex wrench already attached. If you don't have one, you can buy one from a hardware store or use an ordinary Allen wrench. Turn the wrench back and forth until the motor rotates a full revolution.
Remove the wrench and switch on your disposal. Push the reset button. If the motor doesn’t start after manually turning it or if it overheats, wait five minutes for the motor to cool down, then press the reset button.
When you plug in the disposal unit, the water level should rise. After a few minutes, the water level should start decreasing as the water gets flushed down the drain.
Final Thoughts
Garbage disposals are great appliances. They make cleaning up food scraps much easier.
However, they do have their drawbacks. For instance, they are noisy, so you will hear them whenever you flush them. Also, they are expensive to replace. When replacing the disposal, consider getting a new one instead of repairing an old one.
