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[deleted] OP t1_j24k42q wrote

Reply to comment by galloping_skeptic in Help drilling a hole through kitchen countertop & flange of undermount sink for a water filter by [deleted]

[deleted]

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nycola t1_j25eo9m wrote

My uncle was a plumber and installed probably thousands of garbage disposals in his lifetime. He said he always recommended to customers that they install the switch under the cabinet to make it next to impossible to turn on the disposal with your hand in the sink.

It sounds trivial, but when he first started out in the business that wisdom was passed down by his boss who saw the aftermath of a woman who had her hand down the drain trying to pull something out and absentmindedly started the disposal.

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timtucker_com t1_j25r63i wrote

For much the same reason, we put in a momentary contact switch on the wall.

It's close enough that you can reach it while standing at the sink, but far enough that there's little to no chance of bumping it on accident and it would be awkward to reach the switch with one hand while your other hand is in the sink.

To make it easier to distinguish, it's also a different color than the rest of the switches in the kitchen (grey instead of white).

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OutOfStamina t1_j25v8xq wrote

I'm pretty glad you posted this. It meant the amount of time I thought "yeah, i should move the switch to above the counter!!" lasted only about 20 seconds.

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galloping_skeptic t1_j24ncww wrote

Yeah fair enough. I just thought I'd (try to) offer an alternative way to look at the problem. Good luck to you. I'd love to see a follow up post on how you pull it off.

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dmethvin t1_j250byj wrote

If your kitchen was remodeled in the past, there's a good chance that the disposal switch was on the wall. Those buttons in the sink are pressure activated but depend on an always-live outlet under the sink. So if there is a nearby electrical box on the backsplash it probably has the power feed for the disposal that has been wire-nutted together to remove the switch, and you could put the switch back there.

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Abrham_Smith t1_j25vf22 wrote

Recently bought a wireless button for my garbage disposal. Best thing I ever did. Might be an option for you. Then you won't have to drill.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PQQ1DDG/

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bl0rq t1_j26a1mi wrote

I have a plug similar to this but on a light. It comes on randomly. Not often but a few times a year. Hopefully this one doesn't have that "feature"!

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AlternativePool5618 t1_j27ob9z wrote

Sweet! The kids can steal the remote and turn on the disposal at any random time.

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OutOfStamina t1_j25vr33 wrote

>I suppose I could move the garbage disposal button to under the cabinet but honestly I'd rather keep it where it is and drill a new hole.

I know someone else replied this, but it's safer for that switch to live below the cabinet. Mine's easy to get to, you gotta open the door, and it's a standard room style switch.

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No_Pomegranate2580 t1_j259eqx wrote

Is there any way to install a disposal switch above the sink and fish some wire though the wall behind the sink? That might be easier than drill the hole.

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lemonylol t1_j2513we wrote

You should be able to cut a hole through the flange with the right hole saw as well no?

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