We are re-modeling the kitchen. It’s still in the planning stages. We never liked the way the disposal switch is first and then the light switch is distance to the right of the sink. I have seen people at our house accidentally turn on the garbage disposal switch when they intended to put the light on. This scares the hell out of us. So in the process of re-modeling the kitchen and the electrical work is needed anyway, we felt now was a time to address the problem.
Anyone know what is the best/safety ergonomic intuitive light/disposal switch to use in the kitchen? Of course, it should look nice, but want something which is very obvious what to use without confusion.
If you could provide links to such a thing, that would be very helpful. Thanks!
First, the switch is far enough from the disposal that there is no way to have your hand in the thing and hit the switch at the same time with your other hand.
Second, THAT switch does NOT share a “panel” with any other switches. Its all by its lonesome.
Third, it has a beeping timer of a few seconds before the circuit closes. Not sure if something like this is easily available.
No one wants to walk across the room to turn on the disposal. Besides, the first rule of disposals is you don’t put your hand in the disposal. That’s why God invented chop sticks.
Just what we need in our lives… more things that beep at us.
Seriously, everyone does air switches these days. You mount it on the countertop, back behind the sink. Problem solved.
So far, there is no way to keep a fools hand out of the disposal. Even a switch across the room, the fool will get someone else to hit the switch for them.
And we want these fools to survive and breed? ::: eek ::::
:::: down with all warning signs :::::: Grump :::::
I’ve never heard of such a device, but it sounds like an invitation to ground up fingers.
Naïve user flips switch on. Nothing happens. They think “Hmm, must be something stuck in there.” Sticks hand or some tool in disposer. Timer expires and disposal starts. AIIIEEE!!! :eek::eek::smack:
I’ve mostly had disposal switches installed on the back splash close to the sink in new homes and renos we have done, but there have been a few air switched too. Switches for valence lighting will usually be at the end of the counter or work space so are unlikely to be confused with the disposal. If on a wall switch just put it close to the sink where one would expect it to be.
In my current home it is in inside the sink cabinet which works well because as part of clean up I open that up to access the garbage anyway. Works well, one less thing to clutter the kitchen too. Will probably simply do this in our new home I am currently renovating.
Obviously you should not put your hand down the disposal but I want to point out the work is done by a small blunt metal paddle at the bottom of the disposal well. It will break and mash your fingers but it is not a chainsaw. If someone is really worried about safety don’t install one or unplug it. They are nearly pointless appliances anyway, the drain is not meant for disposal of solids.
I’d probably just install something like a red switch. It stands out in such a way that people would be much less likely to use it unless they knew exactly what it was for.
I read just fine. Naïve or distracted user was what I was positing. A person in their own kitchen, familiar with all its quirks and foibles was not the target I was addressing. As for me, a switch which beeps when I press it would mean nothing but confusion. At least the first time I encountered it.
IMO, if we want 99.9% fail safe, the answer is for the disposer switch to be momentary on, so you have to hold it in the on position while the disposer runs. And we place it at least 8 feet from the disposer, so not even the tallest NBA player could possible have a hand in the disposer and a hand on the switch simultaneously.
And even that won’t help when Bob pushes the switch while Bill has his hand in there.
But IMO the whole discussion is silly. AFAIK, inadvertant hand-grinding in home garbage disposers just isn’t a big threat requiring new safety gizmos to be invented and installed.
Check your local codes. They aren’t always heavily enforced as a lot of disposals are added after the initial house construction but there may be a requirement to locate some minimum distance from the disposal. Air switches are very popular now and make sense, if you’re going through the effort to change things you may as well use one.
Deaf people that are stupid enough to put their hands in the disposal when they flip the switch (and don’t turn the switch back OFF first) and nothing happens for a second or two?
And even then thats only a realistic danger to somebody who is brand new to the house
Put a blinking light there too if that makes you happy.
Unless its the first time or two both dumb and dumber have been in the kitchen together trying to use the disposal.
Yeah, disposal deaths are not some major problem though.
PS. If you have a disposal, even if you don’t use it, cycle it every now and then. I had one freeze up and I suspect it was because I never used it (didn’t need it and hated the noise it made).
