Garbage disposal button?

[definitelyO]

we're nearing completion of our kitchen remodel and the electrician is recommending a garbage disposal button in the countertop vs. a switch on the wall.   

the wall is wired for a switch - but there's a long story behind why he is now recommending the button.  My gut reaction was NO - do not cut my countertops    but DH likes the idea.

Do you have one? does it really make a difference in anything?

[Susie]

I have a wall switch, in the middle of a plate of three switches, and I am constantly hitting the disposal switch when I mean to hit one of the light switches. It should be so easy, and yet...

So anyway, I would be interested in disparately located alternative.

[deadwing]

Would you have to hold the button down while the disposal runs? Or is it click on/click off? Having to hold sounds annoying and potentially easy to engage by accident.

Would a button or switch in the cabinet under the sink be an option? My first house had that configuration because the sink was on a peninsula and there wasn't vertical space for a switch.

[definitelyO]

Aug 26, 2022 11:32:46 GMT -5 deadwing said:

Would you have to hold the button down while the disposal runs? Or is it click on/click off? Having to hold sounds annoying and potentially easy to engage by accident.

Would a button or switch in the cabinet under the sink be an option? My first house had that configuration because the sink was on a peninsula and there wasn't vertical space for a switch.

My understanding is that it's an on/off vs. hold to operate.

My other option was under the sink cupboard and DH nixed that.

[atlas]

We don't have a disposal anymore. But our last house was a button on the countertop (island sink, so nowhere to put a wall switch.)

Didn't really think one way or another about it. Definitely can't accidentally hit it like some people do with switches next to a light switch.

[kitty]

We have the kind that is activated by the magnetic cover.

We liked this option because we don’t need access to a switch or a button and thought it was safer for the kids because you can’t accidentally turn it on with fingers down there. There is a switch to turn it off in case of emergency which is under the sink but that is not used for daily operation.

[audry80]

I would do the button in the counter. I have a friend who has it and it's great. Ours is on the wall and I hate it. It's about 2 feet to the right of my sink and I hate reaching over with wet hands to turn it on.

[bhnumbers]

With our new kitchen the disposal has a button. I like it fine, but I'd say it's the least exciting of the upgrades for this kitchen. 

With ours, you just press it to turn it on, then press it again to turn it off. Definitely don't have to hold it down the whole time. It only bothers me when I accidentally press the button thinking I'm turning the water off and I feel like a dummy, but I have to hope that most people's brains are wired a little better 

[dutchgirl678]

We have one in the cupboard under the sink. I would not want one in my countertop.

[Pibs]

Ours is on a switch under the sink, and it annoys the heck out of me. I also didn't really like having it on a switch on the wall in our previous home because it was kinda far away and the whole wet hands thing. I'd probably try out the button.

[fn2187]

Ours is a button on counter. In my area, it seems to be the only way to go. I love it. I did ask why they do it this way now and I didn’t fully understand the explanation but basically it was safety and something about if you have wet hands and water drips in the button it’s not affected because it’s vertical? I didn’t ask for further explanation 😂

ETA: this seems to explain it much better!!

presair.com/disposal-air-switch/

[sandandsea]

We have a button In The countertop. It’s nice and discrete and we have had no issues with it.

[dr.girlfriend]

Yes, it's called an air switch, and it's safer because something something less electricity exposed to water. :-) I think it's definitely the norm now, if not actually required by code.

The only problem was our countertop was one of the more fragile granites and so they were only comfortable drilling a certain number of holes, and we have an instant hot water dispenser so we had to do the air switch instead of a soap dispenser.  But, in the end I am much happier with it and from what I hear the in-counter soap dispensers are kind of a pain anyway.

It's not in a spot where we would hit it accidentally or anything:


I don't know much about electricity but if you can put a plug where the switch used to be I would highly recommend it!  More plugs are always welcome in the kitchen area, even just to charge your phone or something.

[k3am]

Our contractors put in the air switch without asking when we renovated. It seemed stupid. We've since moved, and have gone back to a switch and.. I miss my button.

[definitelyO]

thank you everyone! i googled images, and looked up links as well - I appreciate it. I've just never seen/heard of it before. We are going with the air switch button.

we're so so close yet so far away on finishing this project. and the contractor's crew that is putting everything back together is different from the one that did the demo - so that's a bit challenging for them trying to figure it all out. and frustrating for us all....

dr.girlfriend, we had an in counter soap dispenser and I hated it. never worked, always clogged, we used the brush with the soap in it anyway..