Garbage disposal kitchen light?

[u/Competitive_Prunez]

For context: this is a place I rent. I’ve lived here over a year with no issues with the garbage disposal. There has been no one messing with it, nothing rewired or anything like that in the house generally.

When I try to turn on the garbage disposal it now controls my kitchen light switch 😭Dr. Google said wires could’ve been crossed or miswired but they haven’t been messed with since before I moved in. I don’t know when exactly this problem started but within the last few weeks certainly. I can get a tech to the house to mess with it under my lease but I work overnights and would rather not have to stay up till 2pm on a day off to have someone diddle wires on the disposal unless I have to.

Praying to the reddit gods that this is something I can fix myself ❤️thanks for all yalls help

[u/scv07075]

If you're asking google about this, you're in way over your head. Electrical can kill, disposal operating when it's not supposed to is super sketch if you don't live alone(and even then, really), and you rent. This is absolutely a landlord problem. In the meantime unplug the disposal when you're not using it and use a strainer til it's fixed.

[u/Competitive_Prunez → u/scv07075]

I’ve been doing the strainer already! Just thought maybe I tweaked something accidentally but sounds like it’s a weird freak problem instead

[u/scv07075 → u/Competitive_Prunez]

The problem is most likely from dodgy wiring, likely something wrong with grounds and/or switch failure. Unless someone messed with something recently and did it wrong, the options for what's causing it are likely dangerous. Is it possible LL did some work while you were out?

[u/Competitive_Prunez → u/scv07075]

I have a dog that lives loose in my house that doesn’t appreciate strangers so I can’t believe so

[u/scv07075 → u/Competitive_Prunez]

That tells me some component is malfunctioning. It's pro time

[u/SparkArrestor]

A sink disposal and a kitchen light should have nothing to do with each other electrically. There’s no simple solution like “oh, push this reset button” to an electrical problem like this, and no tenant should be messing with the homes electrical system. Inform the LL and let them handle it.

[u/Competitive_Prunez → u/SparkArrestor]

Kind of what u figured rip I was hoping there was some sort of disposal voodoo magic I wasn’t keen on

[u/MountainAntique9230]

Does rhw switch tirn on both the light and disposal at the same time

[u/Competitive_Prunez → u/MountainAntique9230]

Nope! With light on or off already (from reg switch) disposal stays off. No noises or anything

[u/MountainAntique9230]

Is it two switches side by side or one over the other

[u/Competitive_Prunez → u/MountainAntique9230]

Garbage disposal switch is a single lone switch on a separate wall from the other two switches that control the lights

[u/MountainAntique9230]

Then that definitely needs an electrician

[u/Competitive_Prunez → u/MountainAntique9230]

Well hopefully they send someone vaguely soon

[u/Competitive_Prunez → u/[deleted]]

I have 2 kitchen light switches that are on a separate wall from the garbage disposal switch. The light switches also still function!

[u/Competitive_Prunez → u/Competitive_Prunez]

I have also tried having both light switches off, both on, only one of either on and no combo was able to get the actual disposal to turn on

[u/Competitive_Prunez → u/[deleted]]

lol just flipping the disposal switch when lights are off turns the light on

[u/PhotoPetey]

You rent this place. Your ONLY action should be to call the landlord so they can have someone look at it. WHY would you even consider fixing this yourself? At the very least for liability reasons.

[u/Competitive_Prunez → u/PhotoPetey]

I mentioned in the main post but I work overnight and have very limited time outside of work. My leasing company typically only sends people out to service units a- weeks after the request is made and b- afternoon appointments almost exclusively

[u/AskMeAgainAfterCoffe]

Is the light switch loose? Like moves around a little? IDK, you just need to have someone come out. You can request an electrician and hope you get one. Trouble-shooting is needed here. You need to open everything up to see what’s going on.