11 Best Garbage Disposals

9. Waste King Legend Series 1/3 HP with Power Cord (L-111) – Okay Model

Here is another top-shelf garbage disposal. When it is compared to Badger 5, it is much quieter. You may struggle to even hear it. This thing will grind up virtually any kind of food very quickly since it has a nice amount of horsepower.

Installation might be more complicated than other units. This garbage disposal doesn’t come with a cord. Make sure to buy one with it. The other installation issue is that it is fairly heavy and may be difficult to hold. You can put a car jack or a wood block to hold it for you during the installation. As long as you follow the instructions that come with it, there is no chance to run into other issues. The instructions are pretty easy to follow.

Since it’s a top of the line model, it tends to last much longer for its users. This one will provide the best combination of power, little noise, and simple installation.

There are some issues we have to point out. You may have to push down on the splash guard to help it drain at times. The purpose of the guard is to keep forks and knives from falling in. Some good news is that this part will soften over time. That will help with drainage issues and any issues will go away.

The PRO750 series offers high-end value and performance. It is less expensive than the InSinkErator Evolution Excel and boasts similar grinding ability. Those hunting for a powerful and quiet unit should take a look at this model.

Buyers Guide

Here are the most important factors to keep in mind before buying any waste disposal:

Reliability – Saving From Plumbing Problems

Some garbage disposal models have been around longer than others. This affects their known track record of reliability. This guide will let you know if certain models have a poor build quality to save you a headache.

Experts say not to pour grease or spaghetti down to such units. These things may pass the food waste disposal while still clogging the pipes underneath. It is also best to avoid throwing bones down to such units. Even though it may handle chicken bones, it’s best to be careful.

Garbage Disposal Types

Making your purchase: Now that you know what your priorities are, it’s time to start searching for the garbage disposal that meets your needs. They come in two types, continuous feed and batch feed. It is important to understand the differences between the two types, and the pros and cons associated with each. There are also models designed to be compatible with households on a septic system. They use a combination of grinding waste and employing micro-organisms to break down refuse.

Continuous Feed Garbage Disposals

They are operated by turning on a switch near your sink. This type of disposal allows you to feed food refuse into the disposal while the unit is running.

Pros:

• Convenience: Refuse can be fed down the sink and disposed of quickly, streamlining the process of meal prep and cleanup.
• Cost: Continuous feed units cost less than batch feed models. Their lower cost and ease of operation make continuous-feed the most popular type of disposal. Because of their popularity, there are lots of models to choose from.

Cons:

• Safety: This type carries the risk of someone reaching down the drain while the unit is running, or of non-food items slipping in and getting ground up. Although equipped with a rubber shield at the opening, food particles and water may occasionally spray out while the disposal is running.
• Noise: The continuous feed disposal tends to be louder since the opening to the drain is not completely covered. The rubber shield, mounted into the drain opening offers limited noise reduction. The best way to counter noise is to purchase a high-quality machine.
• Utility Usage: Because continuous feed models use more electricity and water, people who live in drought areas or carefully track their water and electricity usage, may be concerned about the utility usage of the continuous feed machine.

Batch Feed Garbage Disposals

These machines require a rubber stopper to be inserted over the opening of the unit before it can be turned on. The stopper is equipped with a metal handle which you must turn to start the machine.

Pros:

• Safety: The inherent safety feature that requires the insertion of the rubber drain stopper over the disposal before turning the unit on, makes the batch feed model the safest choice in waste disposals. Many families, especially those with young children, will choose this type of disposal. The batch feed model also eliminates the chance that someone could drop a useful or valuable item into the machine while it’s running.
• Noise: Since the rubber stopper does a better job muffling noise than a rubber shield, the batch-feed model tends to be quieter.

Cons:

• Cost: Batch feed units are more expensive than continuous-feed models.
• Convenience: Clearly the added steps required to turn on this type of disposal cuts down on convenience. There are also a few versions of such type to choose from on the market
• Odors and sanitation: There is a tendency for owners of batch feed disposal to leave refuse in the disposal for later elimination. These disposals will sometimes develop an odor while the growth of germs and bacteria can also be a concern.

Comments on type

While batch-feed disposals are more popular, both types can do a great job grinding up and disposing of food waste. If you have small children in the house, you will probably value safety over convenience. More expensive models, whether continuous feed or batch feed will often have noise quieting features built into the machine. Both types of disposals offer a similar range of models in terms of power and quality.

Follow the link to find more information about continuous feed vs batch feed garbage disposals.

Noise Level

Some will be noisier than others. A lot of people look for a quite garbage disposals. Some even come with special sound-absorbing chambers. Bigger units also tend to make less noise since they shake less.

The thickness of a sink will make a big difference too. Stainless steel sinks tend to be thinner than porcelain sinks. If you have a thinner sink, it is recommended to look at units that are quieter. A heavy-duty sink will be able to dampen more of the noise.

What it the Horsepower?

With more horsepower, the motor will spin faster. That means the food will be sliced much more quickly. It will be possible to get rid of tough peels much more easily. For the sake of your eyes, we’ll shorten horsepower to “HP.”

Here is the list of garbage disposals separated by HP:

• Best 1/2 HP Garbage Disposals
• Best 3/4 HP Garbage Disposals

Additional Features

Auto Reverse

A feature known as the “auto-reverse” is great for preventing or handling jams in the system. This feature, which clears jams by reversing the rotation of the grinder, is automatic in some models but, in others, manual control is required.

Stainless Steel Grinding Chamber

Higher-end garbage disposals usually come with a stainless steel grinding chamber, which is superior to other materials, such as aluminum. Stainless steel is less likely to corrode over time.

Grind Stages

Disposals come with 1, 2, or 3 grinding stages. The more stages your disposal employs, the more finely ground waste will be when it reaches the sewer treatment plant or your septic system.

Ease of Installation

Disposals that come equipped with an electric cord will be less complicated to install, especially if you are taking on the project yourself, and want to avoid the task of hand wiring. Models that come with a quick-mount neck will be much easier for someone working alone to install.

Dishwasher Connection

Some garbage disposals offer a dishwasher connection that sends food particles collected in the dishwasher through your sink disposal. Many dishwashers, however, are already equipped with a small disposal system, which eliminates the need for this feature.

Installation of Garbage disposal

Can I Install a Waste Disposal Myself? As mentioned above, different models have different installation requirements. If you are handy, with the ability to do electrical and plumbing work, you may be able to install the unit yourself. Installing a food waste disposing machine in a single sink is easier than in a double sink, where you have to contend with an extra pipe connection. If you are not handy, it would be best to get professional help with installation.

There are a lot of questions about the installation of garbage disposals. We’ve made a complete guide for you with examples and step-by-step instruction about how to install a garbage disposal. Please, check it out.

Care and Maintenance of Your New Machine

How does a Disposal Work?

Your garbage disposal is a pretty simple machine, consisting of a metal or plastic canister, or housing, which holds a motor that connects to metal grinding plates, or impellers, which use a set of blades to begin the process of cutting down food waste. As the food is broken up, the spinning action of the grinder, and the water flushing through the system, send the refuse to the edges of the plate. There it is further mashed by passing through a textured grinding ring. Finally, the ground-up refuse is washed into the drainpipe through holes in the ring. Understanding the basics will help you anticipate problems and avoid them.

Performance

In order to get the best performance out of your new garbage disposal, and avoid jams in the unit or clogs in the drainpipe, it’s important to consult the manufacturer’s instructions. Models differ in their capacity to handle certain foods, such as fruit and olive pits. If you have purchased a powerful disposal, you should have no trouble grinding up most foods. More caution is needed with lower horsepower models that may balk at attempts to grind up chicken bones, pits, and fibrous vegetables, like celery. There is a long list of foods that were once considered inappropriate for any garbage disposal, including eggshells, pasta, bones, mashed potatoes, and fibrous vegetables. Today’s disposals can handle most of these foods, so you can feel safe following the instructions that come with your model.

How to Clean and Maintain Garbage Disposals?

If some bad smell appeared in the kitchen, you should check the waste disposal first of all. It is probably not clean enough. We’ve created an interesting guide for you about how to clean a garbage disposal. Please, check it out, you may find a lot of useful information which can be used to clean the model.

Tips to Keep Your Garbage Disposal Running Well.

• Follow manufacturer’s advice about what foods your model can handle. Do not put grease and fats, like hot bacon grease, down your disposing machine. Once grease cools and solidifies, it may clog your drain.
• Don’t stress the unit by tossing large pieces of food down the drain.
• Always run cold water while the unit is on. Cold water is recommended because it hardens food and makes it easier for the disposal to grind it up.
• Run the unit frequently, especially if you have a batch-feed model. This helps keep the disposal clean and avoids odour and bacteria buildup.
• To freshen the drain and the disposal unit, periodically grind up a lemon rind. You can also use a combination of vinegar and baking soda.
• It is generally advisable to run the garbage disposal before you start your dishwasher. In most kitchens, the dishwasher and sink share the same drainage system. Clearing out the machine first will prevent water and food from backing up into the sink during the dishwashing cycle.

Troubleshooting Problems

Leaking Garbage Disposal

If your garbage disposal begins to leak, the location of the leak will determine how difficult the repair will be and whether you can do it yourself. A leak in the sink flange, for example, usually comes from a damaged gasket and is an easy replacement. Leaks can also come from seals or pipes under the sink, cracks in the body, or problems where the disposal and dishwasher connect to the drainpipe. Once you determine the source of the leak, you will know what kind of help you need.

Disposal is Not Turning on

If the disposal won’t turn on at all, it may have gotten unplugged or you may need to reset the unit. Your instruction manual will direct you to the reset button. If you have checked those two possibilities and the unit still won’t turn on, you need to seek professional assistance.

If the disposal makes a humming noise, but won’t grind up refuse, there is probably something, like a piece of bone, or a pit, probably jammed in the grinding plates.

Drainage Problems

Problems with drainage are usually caused by a clog in the drainage pipe itself. A drain cleaning product may clear the clog. Be sure to use a drainer cleaner that is safe to use with disposals. If that doesn’t work, the clog will need to be cleared by opening up the drain pipe. If you are handy, you can probably take care of this repair yourself.

Additional troubleshooting information should be included in your owner’s manual.

Summary – What to Keep in Mind?

Each item we have listed has many different features.

1. The most important factor is horsepower. You don’t want the frustration of having to wait forever for something like a lemon peel to be shredded.
2. After that, keep reliability in mind. Some models are cheaper, but they come with the catch of lasting a shorter amount of time.
3. Warranties are also important since you want to be protected in case there is a factory defect with this unit.
4. Don’t forget to keep in mind how much noise a unit makes. Some units are specifically designed to be nearly silent for those who like to hear themselves think.
5. Others skimp on including important things such as power cords. This adds the hassle of having to order it separately or learning how to direct wire your disposal.

Final Words – Conclusion

If you are looking for the best blend of features, you may consider the Waste King Legend Series 1 HP (L-8000). It comes at a deal for being so long lasting, easy to install and powerful. A lifelong warranty can’t hurt either.

We hope this article has provided you with all the information you need to move forward with your food waste disposer purchase. Many people consider their disposal to be one of their most useful kitchen appliances. A disposal will help streamline kitchen clean-up and cut down on the garbage you throw in your trash can. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.