plumbing and electrical advice home of great advice

Most garbage disposer complaints on the plumbing forum have to do with a unit that won’t run. My General Electric Super Grind Disposall, a golden oldie that has worked just fine since I bought my 1941-built house a year ago, has the opposite problem. It won’t shut off.

My instincts tell me the cause is likely a worn-out on/off switch rather than a malfunction of the disposer itself. The switch is a push-button type mounted under the front part of the (vintage) sink cabinet. It may sound like it would be easy for a DIYer to remove/replace, but trust me, it isn’t, at least not for this arthritic homeowner, whose DIY jobs are limited by what my orthopedist, a man with a gift for colorful language, refers to as “the Chernobyl of spines”–the switch assembly is essentially hidden in the wood structure of the cabinet, with a hole drilled to allow only the push button to protrude.

The plumber I phoned said, “Ah, just put in a new unit. I got a nice super-quiet 3/4 HP Badger you’ll love.” Easy for him to say–he’s not a retiree living on a fixed income!

Am I right to think a bum switch is the likely reason a disposer won’t shut off?

i would have told you the same thing–replace it
since we are plumbers –not electricians,i would suggest calling in a licensed electrician and letting him fix the switch—–the only bad thing is with the disposal being that old,it COULD die on ya in a week-an electrician will have the parts neede on his truck,not a plumber
personally, i stick to my trade—plumbing—-if i cant plug it into an existing outlet–i have our electrician do it—-

Posted under Plumbing

I HAVE NOTICED THAT PEX IS BEING INSTALLED IN AREAS THAT I SERVICE(I’M A SERVICE & REPAIR PLUMBER IN CALIF). I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS STUFF BEFORE. I MOSTLY SEE COPPER, GALVANIZE, PVC, AND SOME CPVC, POLYBUTYLENE, FOR WATER SERVICE. I REALLY NEED TO FIND OUT ABOUT PEX REPAIRS, HOW IT IS INSTALLED AND THE TOOLS NEEDED TO INSTALL OR REPAIR IT. IS THIS STUFF RELIABLE,AND WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS? IF ANY. THANKS

I have never had to repair pex pipe in 10 yrs.there are different types of pex fittings. Go to your local supply house and get the brochures on the brand they sell. I use vanguard. It takes a crimp tool to crimp rings onto the fittings. 3/8, 1/2″ and 3/4″. I use it on repairs of old galv,and copper pipe.On new construction we have to use the mano bloc or mini blocks You can’t beat it.

Posted under Plumbing

In my area, indoor breaker panels are always mounted in the wall cavity between the studs. I want to do something different.

Is it okay to put up a piece of plywood over the studs, then “surface mount” the panel on the plywood? The plywood will go all the way to the ceiling joists. The circuit runs will go out the top of the breaker panel into the ceiling. They will be stapled to the plywood and to the ceiling joists above the panel. The ceiling will be open in the small area above the panel where the wires go into the ceiling. All of this is located in a shallow (1′ deep) closet. The wall is an exterior wall.

Not allowed in a closet. Not enough clearance.

Posted under Electrical