One of those “nit-picky” things Home Inspectors routinely call out, is the electrical connection to the disposal. This connection is poorly done more than any other single defect that I can think of in a kitchen. I think that is because so often installed by the homeowner or handy person. The reality is, that the connection is really pretty easy to do if you make the electrical connection before you install the dang thing! (Turn off the electricity first by the way) Most of these compromised connections look as though someone tried to do them after the disposal was installed and they finally “gave up” trying to do it properly.
But back to the “nit-picky.” The problem is, this can be a fairly serious safety issue. A shorted-out connection might actually energize the metal exterior of the disposal and even possibly the sink itself.
On a recent inspection I found this really poor electrical connection to the disposal.
With the cardboard box in place it is pretty obvious why the connection is getting damaged. On top of that is the fact that the wrong connector is being used for the flexible conduit.
How many of you have waste baskets under your kitchen sinks?
What kind of damage are they doing?
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Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector
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