Hey everyone, I've been having an ongoing issue with my garbage disposal - the breaker keeps tripping every single day. This started about six months ago, and at that time, I replaced the garbage disposal, which seemed to fix the issue. However, now, just half a year later, it's happening again, even when the disposal isn't in use. I've noticed there's one other outlet on the same breaker, but nothing is plugged into it. How can I figure out what's causing the breaker to trip again? Thanks for any insights you can provide!
6 Answers
It could be a bad breaker or a grounding issue. Check if the breaker is 20 amps and if the wire gauge is correct (12 AWG usually). Look around for any drywall screws that might be piercing the wires behind the wall. If you're not comfortable doing this, it’s a good idea to call an electrician.
It sounds like you might have a bad breaker. If it’s tripping even when the disposal isn’t being used, that’s a strong possibility. My advice would be to switch off the breaker and hold off on using the disposal until it’s looked at. Safety first!
You should definitely try to find out whether it's tripping from overload or if there's a faulty wire involved. Use your multimeter to check the amps on the circuit. It’s also helpful to see if there are any other high-draw appliances on the same circuit that could be causing issues. If your disposal is rated for 15 amps but you're using a 20 amp breaker, this could also help explain the problem.
I did check the images I posted; no other appliances seem to be affected when the breaker trips.
From what I know, garbage disposals can be tricky with AFCIs. If you switch to a GFCI breaker, that might solve the problem without any need for replacing the disposal again. Just my two cents!
It’s worth considering the type of breaker you have. AFCIs sometimes give odd issues with certain appliances like disposals. If it is an AFCI breaker, switching to a GFCI might resolve your problems. Just keep in mind what the codes say about breaker types for small appliances.
Have you checked if anything else is running on that same breaker? If everything else remains fine when the breaker trips, you're likely dealing with an issue specifically related to the garbage disposal. You might have a short or a bad outlet somewhere. Definitely worth some testing!
Just the disposal is on that breaker. The outlet for the dishwasher is separate.
Thanks! I decided to call an electrician as advised.