Garbage Disposal Switch - wall outlet or push button ?

14 years ago

Where do you prefer the garbage disposal (in sink) switch ? Pros/Cons of each ? I currently have wall switch but don't really want any switches on my new backsplash so was planning push button on counter. DH thinks that's dangerous in that it could make the garbage disposal turn on unexpectedly.

Featured Answer

alwaysfixin

14 years ago

Ladypie, I think you mean an "air switch", right? Those are preferable to a traditional switch. Your husband is a little misguided. For one thing, they use air, not electricity, so safer. For another, an air switch in your counter won't get confused with a light switch or undercab light switch the way a regular wall switch for your disposal would (I used to have a light switch and disposal switch next to each other on the backsplash, and you really had to think about it before you turned on one of them to make sure it was the right one). Also, aesthetically, an air switch in your counter is less obtrusive than a switch in your backsplash.

I would not put a disposal switch inside a sink cabinet. My sister has that, and detests it. I have also used it at her house, and see what she means. Every time she needs to turn on the disposal, she has to open the cabinet under her sink, which means stepping aside, opening the door, reaching underneath, stepping aside again, closing the door. Since people tend to turn the disposal on and off several times during clean-up, this becomes a PITA.

As to your husband's concerns with safety - the safest choice is the "batch feed disposal", which does not need a switch at all. It is operated with its stopper, and therefore cannot be turned on unless it is covered by the stopper. I know people prefer the "continuous feed" disposal (the kind you are talking about that needs a switch), but for me, with kids, I would not have anything but a batch feed disposal in my house (just MHO). Batch feed disposals take up more room under the sink, so you need to make sure you have enough room for one. Also, some people don't like that you have to dispose of food in batches, instead of having the motor running the way you do with a continuous feed disposal. The batch feed disposals have large chambers and can hold a lot, so I have never minded the batch method, and is IMHO a small sacrifice for the added safety factor.

Here is a link that might be useful: Waste King Batch Feed Disposal

Comments (24)

night_jasmine
14 years ago
I am putting mine inside the sink cabinet.
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Your GC is probably talking about an "air switch". It's a switch that sits on the counter that activates the garbage disposal (GD) by pushing it in once to start, and then again to stop. While it's usually used for GDs, it can be used for anything that is plugged in. The countertop button is connected to a plug under the counter by a tube. When the button is pushed, a puff of air toggles the power on/off. The GD is plugged into the air switch's plug. No, you probably don't need a new GD just to use an air switch, but if your GD is hardwired into your house's electrical system (i.e., it's not plugged into an outlet), then you will need to have it re-wired to add a plug. However, how old is your GD? If it's quite old, you might want to get a new one now. Today's GDs are more powerful, quieter, and can handle more "garbage" than they used to. This is especially true if you have a "Badger" GD...the builder-grade GDs that most builders install (InSinkErator makes them.) InSinkErator makes much better GDs in their Evolution line. Here's a picture of our air switch under the sink: Our GD is plugged into it. You can see the air switch on the counter to the right of our faucet: Here is a link that might be useful: InSinkErator Evolution Series
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Houzz convinced me to get an airswitch and they are apparently pretty uncommon, my electrician and plumber were both surprised to see one, @snappity - actually airswitches are now commonplace. They can be bought anywhere, in quite a lot of finishes, and I rarely see disposal wall switches in any kitchen renovations today. This thread is 12 years old, so even 12 years ago, the airswitch was commonly used. I like a batch feed disposal which has no switch at all. A couple comments on this thread mentioned them, but the batch feed disposal is truly less common.
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The bigger issue here is whether your existing circuit can handle the dishwasher alone, must less the disposer and dishwasher at the same time. And is there anything else (electrical outlets, lights, other appliances) already on the same circuit as well? Check first. What amperage is your circuit rated for? If it runs to a fusebox with Edison-type fuses (same size screw threads as a common light bulb), be sure it's of the original, intended amperage and not a larger one someone installed along the way. Modern electric code, as well as most manufacturers, specify separate circuits for the dishwasher and disposer. I've seen them frequently on the same circuit in older houses, and you may be fine if you only run the disposer when the dishwasher's not running. But dishwashers typically use about 1400 watts or 12 amps (mostly for the heating element, which both heats the water and dries the dishes at the end), and disposers draw about 8 amps. You'll need a 15 amp circuit to run them alone, and a 20 amp circuit for both run together (though since the disposer is run only briefly, it may not trip your 15A circuit breaker or fuse even if run simultaneously with the D/W). Devices permanently attached to electricity are not supposed to draw more than 80% of the circuit's maximum rated power, so a dishwasher that drew 14 amps would specify connection to a 20 amp circuit. Another issue - knob and tube wiring is inherently safe, perhaps more so than modern combined cables since the hot and neutral wires are run apart from each other, but it doesn't include a ground cable which your dishwasher and disposer should have. It seems possible, and easy, to add a ground wire to existing K&T installations but I don't know if this is allowed by code. Installing new knob and tube circuits is no longer allowed, but extending existing knob-and-tube wiring is specifically allowed by the National Electric Code. Many electricians don't seem to know this, and some, especially young ones who haven't worked on older homes, aren't familiar with K&T in general and are freaked out by the thought of electrical junctions made outside a metal box. Insinkerator sells a "cover control" disposer, as well as an inexpensive batch feed adapter that fits any of their Evolution disposers, as well as an air switch. The air switch seems like a good idea, but run this by someone in the Wiring forum here, or an electrician to make sure what you're doing is safe and at least relatively legal. The break-off-the-tabs solution, in and of itself, should work, but there are other issues here that should be considered.
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earthpal
14 years ago
I second alwaysfixin's point about lightswitch next to the GD switch. Was more than happy to see that go and soon to be replaced with a counter air switch. I think you will be much happier having it on the counter.
plllog
14 years ago
I agree with the foregoing and got the two switches anyway. I just prefer it. And didn't have a good place to put an airswitch. And I like flicking a wall switch. So I got a pretty, kitschy switchplate and went old school.
kathy_wa
14 years ago
I'm grappling with that right now, have to decide asap as electrical is being worked on.

I was going to put a wall switch for the disposal (which I have now) to the right of the sink, and visually balance it with an outlet on the the left.

I've pretty much decided I don't really want an air switch on the counter, because I'm going to have 3 holes at the sink already, and I wouldn't know where to put a 4th hole so it would look right.

I wonder if anyone has mounted an air switch into a backsplash?
brickmanhouse
14 years ago
We have two sinks and two airswitches. The first is on our main clean up sink, and is at the usual place on the counter. It works very well there, at least for us.

But if you don't want it on the counter, and are hesitant to put it on the backsplash, there's a third option: we put our second airswitch to the left of our undermount sink on the cabinet apron:
From New Folder (2)

Don't know what your set up is, but maybe this would work for you?
sofla
14 years ago
We installed an airswitch and I am loving it. I feel its safer with the children and company who could mistake the wall switch for the undercounter or pendant light switch.
Buehl
14 years ago
For optimum of safety & aesthetics: Batch Feed (if you can use one...we couldn't b/c they don't have one approved for septic & that's what's required by Code for us)

If you cannot use a Batch Fee...Air Switch mounted on the counter (not cabinet next to sink). As mentioned previously, it will not be confused with anything else, it's much safer given it's used with water/wet hands, it's not as obvious to kids (who will play with it if it's easily seen/accessed, like on a cabinet), as a hole it doesn't matter where you put it since it's so low-profile it's not even noticed with the faucet and others, and it just looks nicer!
Buehl
14 years ago
Forgot to mention...no wet hands dripping water on wood cabinets as you open a door or tilt-out.
kathy_wa
14 years ago
Well I'm not the original poster, but you guys convinced me :) Air switch it is instead of wall switch.

I'm going to mount it on the countertop a bit to the right of my other 3 items (single hole faucet, side sprayer, & soap dispenser).

Home Depot carries it in-stock for $59 and it comes with the top button in 3 finishes.
sofla
14 years ago
Buehl has good points regarding the placement on the cabinet. I can see a child pushing it to see what it does. Also the wet, drippy hands are a problems as I hate to even get my sponge out!
sabjimata
14 years ago
Wow...I had no idea about the batch feed business. Terrific! I was totally terrified of little hands and the GD...to be honest, was even terrified about my hands!

So...let me get this straight. With the batch feed...you still need a switch?
ladypie
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you ALL for your opinions, ideas and recommendations. I think I finally convinced DH to go with the air switch on the countertop. Now just have to go shop for it. How does the granite fabricator know where to drill hole for it or does that get installed after the granite ??? So confusing...
Buehl
14 years ago
Sabjimata...No, a batch feed GD does not need a switch. The GD is turned on/off with the cover. When the cover is in place and pushed in, the GD will operate. Pull out/take off the cover and it stops. It's probably the safest GD available (other than a dog, that is!)
sabjimata
14 years ago
This is the best news I've heard all day!!!! (granted...it is only 4:48 am, but I am excited nevertheless!). Thanks, Buehl!
alwaysfixin
14 years ago
Sabjimata - see my post earlier on this thread above. I describe a batch feed disposal (no switch needed), and also give a link to a good model that has a 10 year in-home warranty.
Circus Peanut
14 years ago
Sabjimata -- we got one disposal with an air switch, and one batch feed disposal. I adore the batch feed, and if I ever get any extra $$ I'm considering replacing the air switched one for another batch feeder. (Not that I don't love the air switch, it was a perfect solution for an under-window sink where I have little open wall for miles.)

We have the 1hp Insinkerator, and it's a marvel. You insert the cover and twist it a bit and it turns on. Twist again and it turns off. It has little openings in it so you can keep the water flowing from the faucet during operation, like any disposal, or even just leave the cover on in the 'off' position while doing your work. I suppose the only drawback might be losing the cover somehow (kids use it as a hockey puck? dog takes it outside to bury?), but they're easily replaced. Warmly recommend!
Circus Peanut
14 years ago
Oh! I guess mine's a 3/4hp, actually. But very powerful. And I forgot to mention, my COVER CONTROL Insinkerator Evolution is the quietest disposal I've ever heard in my life. :-)

(I know this sounds like a total shill, but I'm a regular gardenwebber, I promise.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Insinkerator Evolution Cover Control
KAREN
14 years ago
Circuspeanut, with the batch feed GD are you able to keep the sink full of water? My current GD is in the side that I wash dishes. You mentioned that there are little holes for the water to flow. If it is in the off position will that close the drain?
alwaysfixin
14 years ago
Parts - in answer to your questionm, both the Waste King batch feed I linked to above, and the Insinkerator batch feed that Circuspeanut linked to, allow you to stop the drain to fill it with water. The stopper that functions to turn the batch feed disposal on and off also functions as a regular stopper - meaning it can either allow water to flow down while straining out the bigger particles the way Circuspeanut described, or you can turn the stopper so that it stops the drainage entirely so you can fill up your sink with water.
Circus Peanut
14 years ago
What s/he said. ^

Also, you can just remove the special stopper entirely (it's loose, not fixed in the sink) and use a regular disposal stopper -- seem to remember my batch feed even came with an extra regular stopper, but I may be mistaken. They are all the same size. In either case, no problem. We fill ours up with hot soapy water all the time.
Britt
13 years ago
We bought a child safety switch for our disposal and I love it. It means you can't mistake it for the light and accidentally turn it on. And my kids can't operate it. I'd worry about an air switch being accidentally turned on in my house.

Not sure how I feel about batch feed. I have to buy a new disposal and haven't decided yet. I often leave the thing running with a sink full of stuff that I was down into the disposal. But then I hardly ever use the disposal anyway.
missmeliss15318
2 years ago
Has anyone discussed the con of the airswitch in terms of cleaning? We just moved into a house with an airswitch and I feel like it just is ANOTHER thing that collects gunk and has to be wiped around often. This house also has an airgap and between the two of these things on the counter I feel like it is always feeling so much more grimy and harder to easily wipe up than our old house that had a single hole faucet and drinking water dispenser. Is it just me??
sushipup2
2 years ago
It's just you. Most people do not consider it a problem.

Garbage Disposal Switch - wall outlet or push button ?

alwaysfixin

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Garbage Disposal Switch - wall outlet or push button ?

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