I recently moved into a new house and installed a reverse osmosis filter, but I'm having trouble with the outlet under the sink. Even though the garbage disposal works perfectly when plugged into this outlet, the filter doesn't get enough power. I have to plug the filter into a different outlet outside the cabinet to make it work. The breaker is on, and the disposal runs fine in that outlet, so I'm wondering if there's something else going on that could be causing this issue. Any tips or solutions that would help me avoid running an extension cord across the countertop? Thanks!
1 Answer
It sounds like your garbage disposal is using a switched outlet. This is pretty common, where the switch controls power to the outlet, and when it's off, the outlet is dead. If your disposal runs only when the switch is on, then your filter won't work when you plug it into that same outlet. You might want to check if there's an under-sink switch for the disposal and see if it powers your filter when you turn it on. If that’s the case, consider getting a dual outlet switch that can keep both devices powered without having to run cords around.
Yeah, that's a solid explanation. Those setups are designed to prevent overloading circuits, especially since disposals can draw a lot of power. Best to have a switch that allows you to use both without any issues!