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You’re looking for a convenient way to get rid of your food waste in your kitchen. You need quick and easy elimination of food waste. You know that food waste, if not handled correctly, can cause health and sanitation issues. You want a machine that uses your sink water to break down your food waste into biodegradable particles.
Garbage disposals are known to break food waste into biodegradable particles and send it through sewer systems for quick and easy elimination. This smart guide will help you choose the best garbage disposal for your home.
What do Garbage Disposals Do?
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The simplest explanation is that garbage disposals utilize a grinding motion to break food particles down into small pieces that easily pass through sewer systems. Wastewater treatment facilities then process the liquefied particles into fertilizer or energy producing products.
Disposal is green!
Environmentally conscious consumers often use garbage disposals as a way to help save the environment. Their powerful grinding action liquefies food waste so it can easily be processed through existing sewer systems and wastewater plants. This is more environmentally safe for the environment because food waste has naturally high water content which makes it hard to burn in waste to energy facilities. Decomposing food waste in landfills often releases methane gas into the air. The liquefied food waste however, when processed correctly, can be used for energy production.
Why would I want one?
Most consumers buy garbage disposals for one or two reasons. The first and foremost reason is the convenience of having a machine that will eliminate food waste without worrying about the odor and disease that comes from food waste. The second and equally important reason why consumers, especially environmentally conscious consumers buy garbage disposals is that by liquefying food waste they are helping save the environment.
Learn how to install and how to unclog a garbage disposal.
What are the types of garbage disposals?
Continuous feed-This type of garbage disposal has a continuous feed action that allows you to feed food in the garbage disposal after it starts. This is the most common type of garbage disposal.
Batch feed– This type of garbage disposal requires placement of food waste in chamber before you start the garbage disposal unit. This is a safe way of avoiding unnecessary clogs in your sewer pipes and drain.
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Continuous feed garbage disposals
Pros– You can continuously run the unit while preparing food. This is good when you have a large amount of food waste to get rid of without worrying about turning the unit on and off. You can keep your kitchen clean when you’re busy fixing dinner. Continuous feed garbage disposals are less expensive than batch garbage disposals.
Cons- Continuous feed garbage disposals clog easily. They are not easy to turn off if you drop a foreign object down the sink. You have to be extremely careful not to stick your fingers anywhere near the garbage disposal hole. Water usage can be excessive.
Batch feed garbage disposals
Pros- Disposal has stopper to stop foreign objects from entering cavity and cover to protect drainage hole. You can save food waste in the chamber and turn the unit on when you fill it up. Batch feed garbage disposals are energy and water efficient.
Cons- It is tempting to wait until chamber is full before running disposal causing food to rot in chamber. You have to put food in chamber, make sure the cover is closed and manually turn on switch before you can run disposal. Rotting food attracts bugs and is unsanitary.
Are there any regulations and special plumbing that I have to do to install one?
Yes. If you are running on a septic tank sewer system, you may need to check with your local municipality to find out what regulations there are for installing garbage disposals. You will also need to check your current set up under your sink to see if you need to have a professional plumber install it for you.
What features should I look for in a garbage disposal unit?
Garbage disposal units have certain features in common. These features are the grinding chamber or hopper and the motor. Noise level reduction and anti-jam mechanisms are popular features that not all garbage disposals have in common. You should consider the following features before purchasing a garbage disposal.
- Motor Power – Consider at least a ½ horsepower motor for a small family and 1 horsepower motor for a larger family.
- Continuous feed or Batch feed – Consider a continuous feed garbage disposal if you want the convenience of not having to worry about turning the disposal on and off and/or you have a large load of food waste.Consider a batch feed garbage disposal if you are clumsy or you are concerned about safety.
- Noise reduction – Consider this feature if you want to hear yourself think or have a conversation around the kitchen table.
- Anti-jam mechanism – Consider this feature if you want to save costs on clogs and other plumbing issues.
There are three categories to consider when purchasing a garbage disposal. The first category is the Entry level, low cost garbage disposal. The second category is the Intermediate, mid cost garbage disposal and the last category is the high end, expensive garbage disposal. For this article, we will select the best garbage disposal for each category.
What are the best garbage disposals in the three categories?
Entry level, low cost
InSinkErator Badger 5, ½ HP– The cost is compatible with similar models of garbage disposals. Its sturdy stainless steel construction ensures that this disposal will last for years. With its dura-drive induction motor, the Badger holds up well under pressure. It utilizes 120 volts of electricity to run.
Intermediate, mid cost
Waste King L-8000 Legend Series 1.0 HP– This intermediate level garbage disposal utilizes stainless steel swivel impellers to reduce jamming and insolated stainless steel grinding components to reduce noise. This disposal unit comes with a fast and easy mount system and a 36 power cord. It can be utilized with properly sized septic systems.
High End, expensive cost
InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP– This high end level garbage disposal has it all. Sound seal technology offers a quiet performance, while the state of the art grinding technology grinds all types of food waste with three grind stages. The stainless steel construction ensures that this disposal will last a long time. InSinkErator offers a 7 year all parts and labor contract for this product.
How do I compare features on these three products?
Motor Power
The most important consideration when purchasing a garbage disposal is motor power. The more powerful the motor, the better able it is to process food waste. For occasional usage, you might consider getting a less powerful motor.
InSinkErator Badger 5, ½ HP- The ½ horsepower dura-drive induction motor in the Badger 5 provides seamless connections between the hopper (grinding chamber) and the grinding ring. Its one stage grinding system pulverizes the food so it can flow safely through your sewer system.
Waste King L-8000 Legend Series 1.0 HP– Waste King’s 1.0 horsepower motor vibrates at a speed of 2800 rpm making it one of the fastest pulverizing motors in the industry. Its “Vortex” permanent magnet motor offers more power than compatible motors in its class.
InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP– This Evolution garbage disposal’s 1.0 horsepower motor drives the three grinding stages to pulverize even the toughest food waste. The Evolution series of garbage disposals offers powerful dura-drive induction motors combined with cutting edge grind technologies that ensure all food wastes are pulverized successfully.
Continuous or Batch feed
The second and equally important consideration when purchasing a garbage disposal is whether you need a continuous feed or a batch feed garbage disposal. Most garbage disposals on the market are continuous feed because they are easier to sell and easier to use. Families with young children however should consider a batch feed garbage disposal.
InSinkErator Badger 5, ½ HP– The Badger 5 does come with a stopper which makes it a batch feed garbage disposal. It also comes with a jam buster wrench and a quick lock sink mount.
Waste King L-8000 Legend Series 1.0 HP- This continuous feed garbage disposal has a “jam free and mess free” feed. Its stainless steel impellers move the food waste easily and with its insulated stainless steel grinding components, it operates noiselessly.
InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP– This batch feed garbage disposal has a stainless steel stopper, a quick lock sink mount, a sink baffle, an anti-vibration tailpipe mount and a jam buster wrench. This disposal is designed to process food waste effectively and noiselessly.
Noise Reduction
The third consideration is the noise factor. This is not as important a factor as the motor power and how the food waste feeds into your sewer system. It is however one of those factors that is nice to have. You definitely will appreciate not having to hear your garbage disposal run its cycle.
InSinkErator Badger 5, ½ HP– This is a basic garbage disposal with normal grinding sounds when you run it. It is designed for reliability and functionality as a basic garbage disposal unit.
Waste King L-8000 Legend Series 1.0 HP– Waste King’s grinding chamber is made of glass filled nylon and is non corrosive. The stainless steel grinding components are insulated so the noise level is drastically reduced without sacrificing efficiency.
InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP- The Evolution series has sound seal technology that reduces vibration and grinding sounds from the food waste disposal. The technology uses insulation around the motor, anti-vibration sink mount and tailpipe and a sink baffle to reduce noise levels. It guarantees to reduce noise levels to quiet conservation levels.
Anti-Jam Mechanisms
The final consideration when purchasing a garbage disposal is anti-jam mechanisms that reduce jams in your sewage pipe and drain. Clogs from foreign objects such as knives and forks are all too common plumbing issues. Expensive repairs of pipes and other plumbing fixtures can happen if garbage disposals are not used properly or are not installed properly.
InSinkErator Badger 5, ½ HP– The Badger’s GrindShear ring liquefies food waste while its stainless steel stopper stops large particles from entering your sewer system. If a large particle inadvertently goes through the stopper, the jam-buster wrench helps release the food particle from your sewer pipe.
Waste King L-8000 Legend Series 1.0 HP– Waste King promotes its stainless steel swivel impellers that whisk food particles to minuscule pieces thereby reducing food particle jams. It also has a removable splash guard that makes it easy to clean.
InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP– This Evolution Excel garbage disposal features multi-grind technology that grinds food in three grind stages utilizing three pieces of equipment. The first stage is the GrindShear ring stage where the food is pulverized in the ring. The second stage is Tri-Action Lug system stage where the large particles not pulverized in the first stage go through a patented breakdown of these particles. The last stage of the process is the Undercutter disk process which finishes the liquefying process.
Garbage Disposal Reviews: What do customers say about these products?
As you may expect, the InSinkErator brand of products have been rated as high quality products that work excellently with little or no customer complaints. Waste King is still a relative newcomer, compared to InSinkErator but their products have withstood the test of time and have proven their exceptional quality and service.
InSinkErator Badger 5, ½ HP
Reviews of this product are most favorable in regards to its quick and easy installation. Most customers find the quick lock sink mount helps them place the disposal securely in place. There are however some complaints about cracking cases, which customer service representatives have been very quick to respond to and replace.
It is the best economical garbage disposal on the market.
Waste King L-8000 Legend Series 1.0 HP
Customers reviewing this product rave about its powerful pulverization of even the toughest food particles. Its moderate price tag makes this product a good investment. It’s well known for its simple installation.
The only complaint is that it is too loud.
InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP
Very quiet and very efficient disposal is the reaction of most of the customers reviewing this product. Its powerful motor and grinding system pulverizes even the toughest food particles. The only complaints are that it is very awkward to install properly.
All food waste disposals will work properly with good care. You should never put grease or oil down your food waste disposal. Garbage disposals offer a good way to save the environment by liquefying food particles so they can be easily transported through sewer systems. The best garbage disposal for you is the one that you can afford and will work for you. These three products have been proven to work successfully with processing food waste.