Disposers

Disposers are another kitchen toy few of us live without in newer homes. They’re now installed in houses of all price levels. Oddly, they were not legal in New York City until August 1997, when concerns that zillions of pounds of ground-up orange peels, unfinished blintzes, and coffee grounds would clog the city’s plumbing gave way to consumer demand, a desire to decrease waste in landfills, and health hazards associated with uncollected trash bags full of food waste. Local laws in New York say that disposers can be installed only by licensed plumbers and electricians, who need permits to do the work. New Yorkers can contact the Department of Buildings at 60 Hudson Street to get the application for permits.
Disposers either are hard wired or are plugged into a receptacle under the sink with an appliance cord and plug. Some local codes require that a disposer be plug connected. A plug-in model is easier to work on because you can disconnect it from its power source quickly for servicing or replacement. This receptacle cannot be used for any other load, nor can it be part of a small-appliance circuit.
A disposer can have one of the following three types of “On/Off” switches:

• A standard single-pole switch located above the counter or under the sink.
• An integral switch built into the drain lid that, when twisted, activates the unit.
• A flow switch installed in the cold-water line and activated when the drain lid is twisted.

With this type of switch, the disposer will not run until cold water is flowing into it. (This helps prevent grease buildup.) Disposers are even available for septic systems. In-Sinkerator makes a complete line of disposers. You can see the company’s products at www.insinkerator.com.