Garbage Disposals Required?

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jeff43222

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Minneapolis, Minnesota
A plumber told me a couple months ago that garbage disposals are required in residential kitchens, but I couldn't find anything in the NEC that requires disposals. Perhaps it's in the building code or the plumbing code.

I'm wondering because I'm currently roughing a full-gut kitchen remodel, and the HO has no interest in having a garbage disposal installed. I usually put in a switched receptacle for one, but the HO would prefer not having the added expense in this case (there's already considerable added expense from my having to deal with all the buried j-boxes we found when we opened up the ceiling). I'm just as happy either way, but I'd hate for this to become an issue if a building or plumbing inspector fails a final because there's no disposal, and it would be much harder to put in wiring at that point since the cabinets will be installed already.
 
Re: Garbage Disposals Required?

This certainly is not an NEC requirement. In fact some place do not allow them at all. Seems that places that have very high sewer fees don't want extra water and essentially garbage added to the amount of sewage that requires treatment.
 
Re: Garbage Disposals Required?

All you can do is suggest they wire for one.How much could it cost to run a 12-2 home run and just terminate it in a 4 square ? No breaker or anything.Every thing depends on the contract you agreed to or T&M.If they reject it then it's there problem not yours.Could very well be a local building code.
 
Re: Garbage Disposals Required?

As Jim stated dould be a local thing,if that is the case.It is easier to run a 12.2 now for pennies rather than try to retro a disposal later
A combo sw/recep. has pulled mo out of a few jobs.Like where the granite guy only cut one opening in the backsplash rather that 2 holes :D
 
Re: Garbage Disposals Required?

It is easier to run a 12.2 now for pennies rather than try to retro a disposal later
Click to expand...
Even easier is to run a 14/3 or a 12/3 to the dishwasher receptacle. Then the extra circuit is already there if you need it later.
 
Re: Garbage Disposals Required?

In this case, I'm doing the job strictly T&M, which is a nice change of pace for me. I'm particularly glad because of all the buried j-boxes I found.

What I usually do is run 14/3 from the panel, leave a tail hanging out for rough-in, and install a 4x4 metal box inside the cabinet after the cabinets go in. I then put in a split-wired receptacle and run a switch loop in a fixture whip to a handy box inside the cabinet.

But it would be easier to just mount a plastic box to the stud for the dishwasher and cut a hole in the back of the cabinet. If I use a stud-mounted box, I pretty much have to go with a stud-mounted box for the switch, too.

I suppose a good compromise would be to run 14/3 to a surface-mounted box inside the cabinet, but not use the disposal leg of the multiwire circuit. I'll just wire up the dishwasher like the HO wants, but if someone wants a disposal in the future, at least the wiring will already be in place.

[ November 24, 2005, 04:58 PM: Message edited by: jeff43222 ]
 
Re: Garbage Disposals Required?

A phone call to the building dept. should answer the question as to whether there's a requirement. I've never heard of one.
 
Re: Garbage Disposals Required?

It's still a little bit more work.But they should be willing to spend that extra $20.If all they want is a dish washer then why not run a 12-2 and if disposal wanted later they could use that circuit and just add a j box.Everyone thinks they will never sell so they never think of future needs.
 
Re: Garbage Disposals Required?

In this case, the dishwasher/disposal recp is almost right above the panel in the basement. Total amount of cable is about 10', so the difference between 12-2 and 12-3 isn't going to cost very much.

It would cost more than $20 in labor to mount a surface box in the cabinet, then run MC from it to a handy box, wire that with a switch, and wire the split receptacle. It would be a lot easier for me to just mount a single-gang box on the stud and plug the dishwasher into it.

I'll present the options to the HO when I go back on Monday and let him decide how he wants me to proceed. My goal is a happy HO when all is said and done, and I want to make sure he isn't upset because I neglected to mention that it would be a good idea to wire for a disposal in case he wants to sell the place someday.
 
Re: Garbage Disposals Required?

Jeff the resale option usually sells them unless they are a tight as a k 9`s in feb.Kind of like a pool prewire they don`t want one but everyone else around does and has a pool.Spend $195.00 or tell the retro is $495.00
Kind of like a l/s/l prewire with a switch $195 on rough ,495.00 TO RETRO.
Stupid is as stupid does
We use 195 and 495 as a flat rate cut a slab 595.00,add a recep after drywal 95.00 a recessesed can 95.00 a sw for it 95.00 flat rating seems to work for us,No estimater just do it95,195,295,495.Oh and a light lift as mentioned in other thread 1195.
;)
 
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