E16
AmazonCommercial Stuck Wall Switch Contacts / Miswired Circuit

Disposal turns on by itself or continues to run after the wall switch is turned off (for non-batch-feed models).

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Welded contacts inside wall switch, Shared neutral or hot miswired, Short between hot and switched leg in junction box, Incorrectly wired multi-gang box

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety First: Immediately turn OFF the breaker controlling the disposal. Do not leave a disposal running unattended.

  • Step 1 – Confirm behavior: With the breaker OFF, the unit should stop. If it does not, you may have multiple feeds; stop and call an electrician.
  • Step 2 – Replace wall switch: With power OFF, remove and replace the suspect switch with a new one, ensuring correct wiring of line and load.
  • Step 3 – Inspect junction box: At the disposal, verify that the switched hot and neutral are correctly connected and that no bare wires are touching.
  • Step 4 – Restore power and test: Turn the breaker ON and verify that the disposal only runs when the switch is ON.
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Repair Difficulty

Hard 4/5
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