It’s crucial to comprehend how much power your garbage disposal uses to avoid breaker trips. To make sure you have the correct outlet circuit on a dedicated circuit breaker for your garbage disposal, you should adhere to the energy rating guides. The typical garbage disposal uses 15 amps, so that’s how many amps it draws. A 20 amp disposal needs a 12/2 wire hookup.
Let’s examine what it entails to comprehend a garbage disposal’s amp usage.
The type of garbage disposal you buy will determine the amount of horsepower required for it to function properly.
When installing a garbage disposal, you should be aware of the size of the breaker you are connecting to. A 20-amp breaker is typically used for garbage disposals to handle 15 amps of electricity. In some circumstances, a 30-amp breaker may be needed for the garbage disposal. Read up on the recommended amps for the breaker’s functionality from the manufacturer before you buy the garbage disposal.
The amount of amps a garbage disposal can handle will also depend on the size of electrical wire required. You will need at least a 14/2 wire if the disposal draws 15 amps. You also need a 12/2 wire if the breaker is a 20-amp breaker. Additionally, the garbage disposal won’t function properly if you don’t have the correct wiring.
The majority of garbage disposals are connected to their circuit. If sharing a circuit with your garbage disposal will result in the circuit breaker tripping, avoid doing so. To find out whether the garbage disposal you bought can be installed on a shared circuit or requires its own circuit, make sure to read the user manual or manufacturer’s instructions. Contact your neighborhood, professionally licensed electrician if you’re unsure.
What kind of garbage disposal you buy will determine how much installation will cost. The average price in the country to install a garbage disposal is between $150 and $950. Fortunately, if you properly care for your garbage disposal, it can last you up to 15 years.
You can still get rid of extra waste even if you don’t want to install a garbage disposal. Utilizing a compost bin or pile in your yard is a smart idea. This option enables you to dispose of your surplus organic waste in an eco-friendly way.
After learning more about garbage disposals, let’s examine some other kitchen maintenance tasks. One of those is the amp required for a microwave. A 20 amp/240 volt circuit breaker is necessary for the microwave above the oven. It is crucial to confirm that this is the appropriate size for your home. Your wall-mounted microwave will operate on a smaller circuit if you have one.
Next, if your refrigerator is making noise, there are a few potential causes. It may be the compressor, defrost timer, or condenser fan. Whatever it may be, take the time to try to fix it yourself or to seek assistance from a professional. If you don’t have to replace the entire unit, you will save money by doing this.
Last but not least, be sure to inspect the sink while you are inspecting the garbage disposal. You can clean the sink with a solution of baking soda, water, vinegar, and soap if it has chemical stains. This is the best approach because these ingredients are more environmentally friendly.
Hiring a local electrician is a smart idea when installing a garbage disposal. Professionally qualified electricians will be familiar with the best ways to wire and connect the garbage disposal you have bought. Contact your neighborhood home inspection team if you’re unsure who to call. They are able to examine your electrical system and provide a recommendation for an experienced, reputable, and licensed electrician.
Always seek the advice of a certified electrician whenever you are working on electrical projects. Contact Boggs Inspection Services if you aren’t sure what you need for the installation of your garbage disposal. For a home inspection of your electrical system in Lacey, Washington, and the nearby areas, contact Boggs Inspection Services.
Do Garbage Disposals Need a Dedicated Circuit?
Have you ever wondered why the garbage disposal switch is different from the kitchen’s outlets and light switches? This is so that they can be on a separate circuit from the other appliances in the kitchen.
The dedicated circuit for garbage disposals must be 15 to 20 amps or more. Your garbage disposal probably won’t require a circuit with more than 20 amps of power.
The circuit where other appliances are connected shouldn’t have garbage disposals on it. It might cause a power shortage if several appliances are connected to the same circuit. You will need to reset the circuit in the event of a power outage by turning the breaker. The appliances might need to be repaired or replaced if there are frequent power outages that cause damage.
The time that garbage disposals run is not continuously; rather, it is in short bursts. But that brief period of use and the initial surge of power are substantial enough to trip the breaker and turn off the electricity to other appliances.
Because garbage disposals vibrate when the blades move, one of the reasons they need to be on their own circuit is that the vibration can cause plugs in outlets to come apart from the outlet. Your food will probably spoil if your refrigerator is plugged into the same outlet as your garbage disposal and the plug comes loose.
Does Garbage Disposal Need its Own Circuit?
A garbage disposal should ideally be on its own circuit rather than a shared one.
Although a dishwasher and garbage disposal can share a circuit, only under specific circumstances and with special care
Given that it saves time, effort, and hassle, some electricians might favor adding the garbage disposal to the same circuit as the dishwasher.
However, this can be a risky move because if the circuit that the garbage disposal and the dishwasher are connected to experiences an excessive load, the circuit breaker may trip.
That means that while you are using your dishwasher and garbage disposal simultaneously, your circuit breaker will automatically cut the power to prevent further accidents in your home’s electrical systems.
You Want to Get Things Right for Safety Purposes
You absolutely want to get things right for safety purposes. Technically, installing a garbage disposal without a dedicated circuit might be acceptable.
However, it might not be the safest course of action to do this. In fact, improperly installed garbage disposals may prevent your house from passing a wiring inspection.
A garbage disposal is typically expected to have its own circuit. Sharing a circuit with a dishwasher might be acceptable, though.
You should be able to find specific details in the garbage disposal’s user manual that was provided to you. This should indicate whether it is acceptable for the garbage disposal and dishwasher to share a circuit.
Making sure that the garbage disposal has a dedicated circuit is frequently the best solution, as you’ll discover. You won’t need to worry if you can install the garbage disposal with a dedicated circuit.
Make every effort to complete the installation properly so that you can avoid issues as well. Keep in mind that the garbage disposal will vibrate while it is in use.
This vibration can sometimes cause electrical connections to separate. It is prudent to inspect any loose connections close to the garbage disposal’s base.
You could periodically check the garbage disposal’s base for issues for added security. You can attempt to tighten things up occasionally if necessary.