May 23, 2017

Garbage Disposer Buying Guide - Read This Tips, Advice First

garbage disposer buying guide
Buying a garbage disposer might seem difficult to you at first. But with the help of a guide, it becomes very easy for you.

That is, when you know what's available. And know what to look for.

You could be getting it for your new home. Or your existing unit needs replacement.

What you want is something that can fulfill your family needs and a functional product.

In this article, we're going to give you 5 factors to consider before making any buying decision.

Along the way, there are options provided for you to choose as per your own requirements.

We also provide you a list of pointers to take note during your selection process.


So, here are the 5 factors you should be aware of or know beforehand:

(1) What Type Of Garbage Disposal Should I Buy?

There are 2 modes of feed type for kitchen garbage disposer. They are continuous-feed and batch-feed.

Continuous-feed:


For this type, there is either an electric wall switch or air disposal switch mounted on top of the sink.

First of all, you turn the tap and allow water to flow down the sink. Then you switch on the power for the disposal. As the name implied, you can continuously put waste food into the chamber when it's in operation.

What we like about this feed is that it's fast and easy to use. You can push down new food waste just as the old one is grounded and flush through the drain. This feed is more common and installed in most homes.

Batch-feed:


This feed type need you to drop waste food into the kitchen disposal in batches. To run this feed, you've to insert a plug into the sink drain and turn it.

The first step is to put your waste food in the chamber. Once it's full, you covered the sink drain with a plug and turn it to operate the unit. Some people might not like this kind of operation since you've to put back the cover to run the unit.

If your family include small and young children, this acts as a safety feature for you. Your children might stick their small hands inside the garbage disposal during operation.

Want to know the pros and cons for both feeds? Then read our article on batch feed vs continuous feed.


(2) What Size Garbage Disposal Do I Need?

A few standard ratings are available for the garbage disposer motor. The ratings are as follows: 1/3 HP, 1/2 HP. 3/4 HP and 1 HP. So, how do you determine your garbage disposal size? To find out which size is suitable for your home, you have to consider two items.

You need to take account the total number of people in your household and how often you have to use it. If you cook regularly and have a large family that means you needs to grind a huge amount of waste food. With this information, you can decide which horsepower is best suited for your kitchen.

A low end disposal is used for 1 or 2 person living together. A disadvantage is that it's not robust and reliable. In the worst case, it might even clog your sewage pipes or systems.

If you already decided on getting a low end disposal, just make sure to choose 1/2 HP over 1/3 HP. You ought to be getting at least a 1/2 HP garbage disposer unit. With a proper usage and maintenance, this HP should work fine for most kitchen tasks.

High end motor such as 3/4 HP and 1 HP can grind a larger volume of waste food. It's more robust and reliable. And hence is more costly. It can do difficult tasks such as grinding chicken bones on a regular basis.

One advantage is that it has a longer lifespan. A more powerful motor have less wear when compare with a low end unit grinding the same volume of waste food. Hence, 3/4 or 1 HP garbage disposer is more suitable for large family. And for those who cook often and need to use the disposal regularly.

In case you're planning to get a high end disposer, it's a good choice to buy one with a 1 horsepower motor. This motor has the best anti-jamming features and provide a much smoother operation.


(3) Long Lasting Performance With Stainless Steel Grinding Components

It's recommended to have a disposer with stainless steel grinding components, including the impellers. The grinding components are a critical part of a kitchen garbage disposal. Impeller and grinding components made of stainless steel are more robust and long-lasting. Furthermore, they are less subjected to corrosion.

They also play an important role in the pulverization operation. The finely grind particles will end your jamming problem. And let you complete your cleaning up faster. Besides, it also prevents any clogging in your sewage pipes.

Some cheap disposals do not use or tend to have lesser stainless steel material. In the long run, it will wear out. You definitely would not want to miss out this pointer when looking for the right one.


(4) Trouble-Free Operation With Anti-Jamming Mechanism

Some of the 1/3 or 1/2 HP garbage disposals have the tendency to jam during pulverization. If that happens, you have to spend time troubleshooting and get it running again. So it's an absolute "must" to look for one that has the anti-jamming mechanism.


(5) The All Important Warranty For Your Garbage Disposal

Manufacturers offer garbage disposer a warranty period from 2 years to a limited lifetime. The standard is 1 to 2 years for low end units. And for high end disposals, it’s 5 years and above.

Each manufacturer may have different warranty specifications. And could have the following: material or mechanical defect and against corrosion. In-home service warranty is great. They come to your home to replace or repair the unit free of charge.

Make sure to check what warranty the manufacturer is offering for your chosen product. No doubt lifetime warranty is the best. But this is usually for the high end garbage disposer. And cost a little more.

Do you intend to get a 1 HP continuous feed garbage disposal? If yes, we recommend Waste King Legend 8000 because it meets the 5 factors discussed above. Click this link to read its review because you're going to benefit a lot from using this top rated model.


Here is a list of 5 pointers for your reference:

1. Have You Done An Installation Before?

Are you're going to engage a plumber to do the installation? If not, check to make sure that the mounting is not difficult. But if you've done it before or have the skills or experience in plumbing, this task should not be a problem for you.

If you're a first timer, you should check the mounting hardware for the model you choose. And read comments given by users on installation. So far, we found many users who commented that Insinkerator and Waste King provide a simple and easy mounting kit.

You've to decide beforehand whether you're using hard-wired/direct wire connection or a power cord. The power is to be plugged into an electric outlet and activated by a wall switch. If you already have an existing garbage disposal, you can use back the same connection. But you must make sure everything is still in a good working condition.


2. Do You Need A Quiet Operation?

Each individual has their own view with regards to the generated noise level. Some people are not bothered by it. Since it only happen from a few seconds to a minute. But to others, they might prefer a less noisy unit. They would like to hold a conversation or for other reason.

The lower grade garbage disposal tends to be a lot nosier as compared to higher grade ones. Those models with sound insulation features or technology will cost much more. Be prepared to pay more if you're looking for an extremely quiet garbage disposal.


3. Check The Space Under The Sink

Make sure you've enough room for your new garbage disposal underneath your kitchen sink. Since you or someone else needs to do the mounting below, add some space for your body/hand movements.

Don’t assume you'll be down there only once. You might need to do maintenance tasks or even remove it in the future. Those bigger units tend to have a higher horsepower plus a larger grinding chamber or body. Hence it's important to check out all those dimensions.


4. What Is Your Length Of Usage?

Are you planning to stay in your house for a longer or shorter period? If you intend to move or sell your house within a short period, get one that comes with 1 to 2 years warranty.

But, if you're going to stay for a longer term, it's a good idea to have a warranty period for at least 6 years to a lifetime.


5. Do You Need A Dishwasher Connection?

Do you've a dishwasher at home? If yes, don’t forget to look for one with an option for dishwasher connection. You can avoid doing those extensive plumbing works and saving costs at the same time.


How Much Is A Garbage Disposal?

The standard prices for garbage disposal are in the range of 100 plus to few hundred dollars. Most household owners buy kitchen disposals around the region of 1 to 2 hundred dollars plus. The garbage disposers for this range of pricing is enough to meet the needs of most households.

And there you have it. A guide you can use when buying a garbage disposer. To help you further, we've done extensive research for a number of garbage disposal models.

Below is a list of option you can take (to read our reviews) based on our recommendation, comparison, brand and pricing.


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