Whirlaway
Miswired Constant Hot / Switch Bypass
Garbage disposal is installed but hums immediately when plugged in, even with switch off
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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
Hot and switched legs reversed at junction box, Disposal wired directly to line without switch, Incorrect connection in multi-gang box, Faulty or bypassed air switch
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Unplug the disposal or turn OFF the breaker immediately. Do not leave a constantly energized humming unit connected.
- Step 1 – Verify wiring diagram: Refer to the Whirlaway installation manual and confirm how the unit should be wired to the switch.
- Step 2 – Inspect junction box: With power off, open the junction box and ensure the line hot is connected to the switch, and the switched hot goes to the disposal.
- Step 3 – Correct miswiring: Swap connections as needed so the disposal only receives power when the switch is ON.
- Step 4 – Test with meter: Use a multimeter to confirm no voltage is present at the disposal leads when the switch is OFF.
- Step 5 – Restore power and test: After correcting wiring, restore power and verify the disposal only runs when commanded by the switch.
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Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
Required Part
Branch Circuit Wiring and Junction Box Connections
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