InSinkErator PRO750 Pro Series Food Waste Disposal Review

The Strong, Silent Type

The Sound Seal helps make it 40 percent quieter than average. This is a big deal if noise is a big concern for you, but you still want a continuous feed model.

Generally speaking, batch feed models are typically quieter than continuous feed models. Batch feed models will not run without a stopper. This is a safety feature but also helps reduce noise.

However, continuous feed models are far more familiar to most people. They also are more convenient in many ways. If you want a disposal that is both continuous feed and quiet, this model is a great choice.

Given the powerful 3/4 HP motor, it’s actually surprising that it manages to be so quiet. Stronger motors are generally noisier than less powerful ones. This unit manages to be both strong and quiet.

For tough jobs, such as grinding up ice to clean the unit, this model can hit 85 decibels. However, it typically runs at about 65 decibels.

Designed To Grind

It has a two-stage grind design that allows you to handle tougher jobs, such as small bones or fibrous fruits and vegetables. If you are trying to reduce that amount of rotting food giving off-odors in your kitchen trash or reduce how much waste is going to the landfill, this is a terrific feature.

The first stage grinds the food up. The second stage liquefies it. This helps reduce clogs and jams.

This means that, yes, you can put potato peels, celery, and small bones down the unit. These are things that single-stage disposals cannot really handle.

The unit also has an auto-reverse mechanism. If it gets stuck, a sensor causes the blades to go in reverse. This also helps prevent jams.

These features can also help cut down on the need to call a plumber. If you are having frequent jams, the cost quickly adds up.

You might be frustrated with a unit that jams a lot and wondering if it makes sense to replace it, just look at your most recent plumber’s bills and ask yourself how much you could save with a unit that doesn’t jam. If the answer is “Way more than a new one costs,” then you have a pretty good idea that replacing it makes sense.

Size Matters

Not only that, but it also comes in a compact size of 10″ x 10″ x 16.2″. It should fit just fine in standard kitchen units and may even fit smaller cabinets.

The compact size may be especially pertinent information for people downsizing their residences as part of the Tiny House movement. There is a general trend towards smaller homes, even if you aren’t choosing a space that is less than 500 square feet.

Some people downsize for lifestyle reasons. Maybe the kids grew up and moved out and you just don’t need the space anymore. Or maybe you just don’t want to spend all your time cleaning things and would rather spend it having more of a life.

Other people downsize for environmental reasons. They would like their children and grandchildren to have some kind of decent quality of life, so they are trying to live lighter on the land. They are trying to shrink their carbon footprint.

Buyer’s Guide

Garbage disposals are a somewhat unusual kitchen appliance, falling in their own weird little niche somewhere between the small plug-and-play countertop appliances and major appliances. Here is a quick and dirty overview of some of the basics you should consider when picking a disposal.

Batch Feed Or Continuous Feed

If you are only familiar with one type of disposal, it’s probably a continuous feed. In part, because they tend to be cheaper, they are commonly found in rental units across the nation.

They use more water than batch feed models and aren’t quite as safe. They also tend to be noisier, but are a bit more convenient. Read more at our batch feed vs continuous feed garbage disposal comparison.

Does It Have A Power Cord?

Generally speaking, batch feed models come with a power cord and plug as part of the basic package. Continuous feed models frequently do not

If there is no cord included, this can involve an extra expense. It also makes it less DIY friendly because you have to able to install the cord to install the unit.

If you have to pay a professional to install it, that’s an additional cost as well. So if you think the unit is cheap, but it has no cord, it may not be as cheap as it seems. There may be hidden expenses involved, potentially substantial hidden expenses.

In this case, you have a continuous feed unit that comes with a cord. This helps eliminate hidden costs involved in installing a disposal.

How Quiet Is It?

There can be many reasons to want a quiet disposal. Maybe you have a new baby at home or maybe someone in the household is expecting. Or maybe there are kids that still need naps. Or perhaps there is a senior who needs a nap or has a heart condition and is easily startled.

Typically, batch feed models are quieter, but you can also look for units with noise-dampening elements. This unit is a continuous feed model with noise-dampening features, so it is far quieter than average.

Are You On The Grid?

It’s generally not a good idea to use a garbage disposal with a septic tank. So if you are in an older house or a country abode, make sure you are on the grid before shopping for a disposal.

How Long Do You Expect To Live Here?

Garbage disposals tend to last between 8 and 15 years. The cost for the unit itself is typically not very high, but it isn’t a plug-and-play countertop appliance. You will either need to carve out time to install it yourself or pay someone.

So it’s not something you want to repeat in a year or two for some reason. If you expect to live here long term, look at this as a multi-year commitment.

It isn’t wise to weigh the cost of the unit too much in your purchasing decision. The need for installation means that’s really not as important as it would be for, say, a toaster.

How Much Speed And Power Do You Need?

Generally speaking, this will be a function of household size. The more people in the house, the more speed, and power you need to take care of food scraps.

But there can be other factors, such as how often you entertain. A childless couple who entertains regularly may need just as much — or even more — power and speed as a larger family with multiple children.

Disposals come in four different horsepower ratings: 1/3 HP, 1/2 HP, 3/4 HP and 1 HP. Of course, as the number gets larger, the power goes up.

If you only have one or two people at home and are easy on the disposal, you may be happy with a 1/3 HP model. But for most people, that will not be enough power.

If you have three people at home, you probably want at least 1/2 HP motor on your unit. For four people, you probably want to go up to 3/4 HP.

If you have a large family or entertain a lot, you should go with a 1HP unit. Anything less will probably frustrate you.

Tips For Owners

You should educate yourself about the proper use of a garbage disposal. It will help prevent jams, potentially dangerous accidents, and expensive service calls from your local plumber.

There are things that should never be put down a garbage disposal, such as:

• Glass
• Metal
• Oatmeal
• Pasta
• Large bones
• Nuts
• Fruit pits
• Seashells

Things like metal, glass, and bone can damage the disposal. They can also potentially fly out of the disposal and into someone’s eye.

The same is generally true of items like nuts and fruit pits. Disposals are not designed to handle anything this hard.

Pasta, oatmeal, and similar can expand and cause clogs. Just put such things in the trash. It is not worth stopping up the pipes for the convenience of putting such things down the drain.

Here are some things that most disposals cannot handle, but some can:

• Small bones, such as small chicken bones.
• Coffee grounds.
• Fibrous vegetables, like celery or onion skins.
• Potato peels.

Disposals with a strong motor, high speed, two-stage grinding, and an auto-reverse mechanism may be able to handle such things. If you want to be able to put such items down the disposal, make sure you get a model with such features.

Putting small amounts of food scraps down the disposal can help reduce the number of flies and insects in the kitchen, especially in the hot summer months. It can reduce the amount that the trash smells and improve germ control.

This can cut back on how often you have to take out the trash and can be more sanitary. If you have small children, elderly household members, or someone with a compromised immune system, this can be a real boon to the welfare of the household.

You should also familiarize yourself with basic maintenance. One good tip that many people don’t know: You can clean and sharpen the blades by putting ice down the disposal periodically.

Make sure you turn the water on first. It should be cold water. Make sure you don’t overload the disposal with too much ice. Ice is very hard, so it is a little like putting bones or similar through the disposal. You need to be careful.

Alternatively, you can clean it and make it smell better by periodically putting a cut-up lemon through the disposal. The rind of the lemon will have an abrasive action similar to ice, but will also leave behind a nice fresh smell. Bonus points: The high acidity can help kill germs.

Maybe you showed up here not knowing exactly what kind of disposal you wanted. Maybe you had no idea there were two feed options or that the cord is not automatically included with all disposals.

Or maybe you knew exactly what you wanted and you just needed to be told that the InSinkErator PRO750 had the features in question for you to decide this is the one for you.

Either way, now that you have a broader view of the subject in mind, let’s go over the key features again:

• Powerful 3/4 HP motor with auto-reverse and two-stage grinding.
• Forty percent is quieter than most models.
• Comes with a cord.
• Continuous feed design.

Many continuous feed models don’t come with a cord. Strong motors make extra noise, so it goes against the grain to find a unit that is both strong and quiet.

Conclusion

If you need a strong, quiet continuous-feed model, this model is an excellent option to choose from.