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The 9 Best Garbage Disposal Buying Guide

“An Easy and Effective Way to Dispose your Kitchen Waste”

The garbage disposal is a handy tool in homes. It grinds up food scraps so they can be washed away easily. This keeps the kitchen clean and smelling nice. There are different types to choose from, so you need to pick the right one for your needs.

Here are two important things to consider:

Motor Power: This is like the engine’s strength, measured in horsepower (HP). Bigger HP means better grinding and longer use. So, for big families or if you use it a lot, go for higher HP.

Disposal Speed: This is how fast the disposal works. It’s measured in RPM. Higher RPM means things get disposed of faster. This helps to avoid clogs and keeps things tidy.

For more details, check our “Buying Guide”. It helps you choose the best disposal for your needs.

Best Garbage Disposal 2024 List

Garbage DisposalPower ratingRPMWarrantyBuy Now
Waste King  Garbage Disposal ½ HP2600 RPM2 yearsCheck On Amazon
Insinkerator Garbage Disposal½ HP1725 RPM2 yearsCheck On Amazon
Moen Garbage Disposal¾ HP2700 RPM5 yearsCheck On Amazon
InSinkErator 3/4 HP Garbage Disposal¾ HP-4 yearsCheck On Amazon
Waste Maid Garbage Disposal1 ¼ HP2700 RPM3 yearsCheck On Amazon
GE Garbage Disposal½ HP2800 RPM2 yearsCheck On Amazon
Frigidaire Garbage Disposal1.25 HP2800 RPM9 yearsCheck On Amazon
Whirlaway Garbage Disposal⅓ HP-2 yearsCheck On Amazon
GE Power Cord Feed Disposal ½ HP2800 RPM1 yearCheck On Amazon

9 Best Garbage Disposal Reviews

1. Waste King Garbage Disposal 

waste king

Waste King is also a well-known brand that is popular for its affordable products. We have included such affordable garbage disposal from Waste King.

In the 1st position, we have the most budget-friendly option from our list. The Waste King L-1001 garbage disposal is powered by a high-speed ½ HP motor that is capable of up to 2600 RPM. It is a permanent magnet motor that is decent as they rarely jam. You can also hook up a dishwasher to this garbage disposal so that all the waste, along with dirty water, will be disposed of right away via the disposal. You can get it cleaned up pretty fast as it has a removable flash guard for easy cleaning.

The material used for the outer body is rated for corrosion-resistant that is needed as there is continuous contact with water. As for the installation, you will not need any electrical experts to do so. The pre-installed power cord makes it as easy as a plug and play device. The grind chamber capacity is 27.3 oz. Hence, you should not worry about food clogging in the sink easily. It is backed by 2 years of warranty from Waste King.

Best Features:

  • Most budget-friendly option
  • High speed ½ HP motor
  • 2600 RPM motor speed
  • Permanent magnet motor
  • The motor does not jam
  • Can be connected to a dishwasher
  • Removable flash guard for easy cleaning
  • Corrosion-resistant material
  • Easy installation
  • 3 oz chamber capacity
  • 2 years warranty

Pros:

  • Standard warranty available
  • Cleaning is pretty easy

Cons:

  • High motor power available in similar options
  • Not suitable for heavy load

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2. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal

insinkerartor

InSinkErator is a very popular brand that has a lot of highly-rated products under its belt. Here is great garbage disposal from InSinkErator.

In the 2nd position, we have InSinkErator garbage disposal. It is a ½ HP Dura-Drive induction motor powered garbage disposal that has a 1725 RPM motor speed rating. The outer body is made up of galvanized steel components so that it has a reliable rust resistance as well as fatigue resistance. It is currently the highest-selling brand in the United States when it comes to garbage disposal.

If you have an old InSinkErator garbage disposal, you can simply get this as an upgrade and replace the older one with ease. It gets as simple as twisting off the older one and twisting in the newer model. You will be getting a 2 years warranty on this garbage disposal, which is pretty common for most options in this list.

Best Features:

  • ½ HP Dura-Drive induction motor
  • 1725 RPM motor speed rating
  • Galvanized steel body
  • Reliable rust resistance
  • Fatigue resistance
  • Highest selling brand in the United States
  • Can replace older InSinkErator garbage disposal
  • Easy installation
  • 2 years warranty

Pros:

  • Rust resistance is good
  • Reliable brand name

Cons:

  • Motor speed is low
  • It has a little bit of noise in operation

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3. Moen Garbage Disposal

moen disposal

Moen has not gained popularity in the market recently. But that might change due to its reliable options such as this garbage disposal.

Next up, we have the most reliable garbage disposal from Moen in our list of the best garbage disposals. It houses a ¾ HP permanent magnet motor that is slightly better than the standard motors. It has an RPM rating of 2700 RPM that allows it to quickly and efficiently grind the waste items. It has universal Xpress mount fits that allow you to easily install it on your sink. In case you have a problem with pre-installed wiring, you can remove the power cord and rewire it as you wish.

It has a special sound shield that reduces the noise by a significant amount. Hence, you can have a quite operating garbage disposal system on your sink. It also houses a removable splashguard that comes in handy to properly clean the garbage disposal. It has a polished stainless steel drain stopper that provides great corrosion resistance. It has a long 5 years warranty, which makes it the most reliable option from our list.

Best Features:

  • ¾ HP permanent magnet motor
  • 2700 RPM motor speed
  • Universal Xpress Mount fits
  • Easy installation
  • Pre-installed power cord
  • Power can be manually set up if needed
  • Soundshield for reduced noise
  • Removable splash guard for easy cleaning
  • Polished stainless steel drain stopper
  • Good corrosion resistance
  • 5 years warranty

Pros:

  • Longest warranty period
  • Noise level is pretty low

Cons:

  • A bit expensive in comparison
  • Installation requires a little bit of effort

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4. InSinkErator 3/4 HP Garbage Disposal

InSinkErator Garbage Disposal

InSinkErator is another popular brand that specializes in developing products to keep your kitchen fresh and clean. These products include garbage disposals, hot water dispensers, and all relevant accessories.

InSinkErator’s garbage disposal runs on a powerful 3/4 Hp dura-drive induction motor to help grind your household wastes efficiently. It uses a multigrind technology with two grinding stages to quickly grind all kinds of food wastes. Even the toughest food scraps including chicken bones and melon rinds will be grinded easily by repeatedly breaking them into smaller particles. With a capacity of 34 ounces, this garbage disposal can grind large volumes of food waste on a single grinding.

This garbage disposal is made of stainless steel that makes it durable and increases the longevity of the product. There is a magnetic coverstart activation which means there is no need for a wall switch. The stopper is plated with chrome to hold back water and allow water to flow only when activated manually. It is equipped with a SoundSeal technology that allows for ultra-quiet operations. Coming to the installation part, this garbage disposal uses a patented Quick Lock mount to conveniently install it with all InSinkErator models. The garbage disposal is backed by a 3 years in-home service warranty from the date of purchase.

Best Features

  • Powerful 3/4 Hp dura-drive induction motor
  • MultiGrind technology for efficient grinding
  • SoundSeal technology for ultra-quiet operation
  • Magnetic CoverStart activation
  • 34 ounces grinding capacity
  • Chrome plated stopper
  • Quick Lock mount for easy installation
  • 4 years in-home service warranty

Pros

  • Grinds even the toughest food wastes easily
  • Easy to install

Cons

  • Does not come with a power cord
  • Large size that makes it difficult to keep in small kitchens

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5. Waste Maid Garbage Disposal

Waste Maid

Waste Maid is rather an unfamiliar name for many users. Still, you should check out this powerful garbage disposal from Waste Maid.

At the 3rd position, we have very powerful garbage disposal from Waste Maid. It houses a high powered 1 ¼ HP permanent magnet motor that has a very high-speed rating of 2700 RPM. It is one of the anti-jam motors along with stainless steel impellers to prevent corrosion. The power cord available with this garbage disposal is around 3 feet long so that you can easily plug it in even if the socket is a bit far from your sink.

The important feature of this garbage disposal is the silver guard security that catches any metal parts with the help of a magnet so that it does not damage crucial parts of the machine. There is a special torque master grinding system for churning down the waste materials that allows balanced impeller action and lesser vibration in operation. You will be getting 3 years of the warranty period with this garbage disposal that is better than many other options on this list.

Best Features:

  • 1 ¼ HP motor capacity
  • High speed rating of 2700 RPM
  • Permanent magnet motor
  • Anti-jam motors
  • Stainless steel impellers
  • Corrosion-resistant
  • 3 feet long power cord
  • Silver guard security to avoid metal parts in grinder
  • Torque master grinding system
  • Balanced impeller motion
  • Reduced vibrations
  • 3 years of the warranty period

Pros:

  • Warranty period is quite long
  • Motor capacity is best in class

Cons:

  • Expensive price tag
  • Mounting can be difficult for first-time users

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6. GE Garbage Disposal

General Electric

General electric is a great brand if you are looking for a high-performance product. Here is its garbage disposal mentioned below.

Next up, we have garbage disposal from General Electric. It is one of the fastest garbage disposals from our list as it has a 2800 RPM motor that has ½ HP capacity. You can also get this product as a replacement for previously owned General electric garbage disposal as it will fit the cavity perfectly. The feed disposer has a large capacity so that the disposal can be operated continuously. It has stainless steel jam-free impellers that can perform dual swivel action.

Installation is pretty easy with this garbage disposal, along with a direct plug and power cord. It has a standard sound insulation packaging so that the noise gets isolated around the source, and you will not be hearing much of it. It is made up of cold-rolled carbon steel armature shaft material to ensure the best build quality in the class. You can also hook up your existing dishwasher to get multiple tasks done at once. It is backed by 2 years of warranty from general electrics.

Best Features:

  • ½ HP Dura-Drive induction motor
  • Fastest garbage disposals
  • 2800 RPM motor speed rating
  • Can replace the previous model
  • Large capacity feed disposer
  • Continuous operation
  • Stainless steel jam-free impellers
  • Dual swivel action
  • Easy installation
  • Isolates noise
  • Cold-rolled carbon steel armature shaft material
  • Great build quality
  • Can be used with dishwasher
  • 2 years warranty

Pros:

  • Build quality is very good
  • Impellers are heavy-duty

Cons:

  • Motor capacity could be higher
  • High speed causes more noise

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7. Frigidaire Garbage Disposal

Frigidaire Garbage Disposal

Frigidaire has been selling reliable and powerful garbage disposals at affordable prices. The brand designs garbage disposals for personal as well as commercial purposes.

This an exceptionally quiet and powerful disposer, now enhanced with Silver Guard technology. This disposer features a fully insulated sound shell, operating with a robust 2800 RPM motor to effortlessly grind tough food scraps, from bones to coffee grounds and produce. The innovative Silver Guard magnetic ring captures metallic objects, preventing potential jams.

Its straightforward installation includes a 3-bolt mount flange. Backed by an impressive 9-year warranty, it outlasts standard offerings. Customer feedback reflects satisfaction with its noise level and efficacy. Detailed specifications include advanced odor protection via BioShield Antimicrobial. Experience a new standard in disposal technology.

Best Features

  • High speed 1.25 HP motor
  • 2800 RPM motor speed
  • Insulated for quiet kitchen use.
  • Prevents jams with metal object capture.
  • Quick installation with 3-bolt mount.
  • 9-year coverage for lasting assurance.

Pros

  • Noise-free kitchen experience.
  • Handles even the toughest waste.
  • Metal capture technology for durability.
  • Simple setup process.

Cons

  • Advanced features may raise the price.
  • Not universally accessible

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8. Whirlaway Garbage Disposal

whirlway

Next we have yet another underrated brand called Whirlaway. We will urge you to check out its garbage disposal as it is another affordable product.

With an inexpensive price tag, Whirlaway 191 will offer you a ⅓ HP motor that is moderately lower than the standard motors. It is a vortex powered permanent magnet motor, so you don’t have to worry about clearing up unwanted jams and disturbances. The mounting can be pretty easy as well as fast with this garbage disposal.

It is made up of steel, so you can rest assured that it will have a decent build quality along with considerable corrosion resistance. You will get a 2 year warranty period on this garbage disposal that is pretty standard in the selection. Although there is no mention of the speed rating of the motor, so you need to trust the power capacity only for the overall performance.

Best Features:

  • Inexpensive price tag
  • ⅓ HP motor
  • vortex powered permanent magnet motor
  • Anti-jam operation
  • Easy mounting
  • Steel body
  • 2 year warranty period
  •  

Pros:

  • Warranty period is standard
  • Steel body provides better build quality

Cons:

  • Motor power is very low
  • Speed rating is not mentioned

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9. GE Power Cord Feed Disposal 

ge disposal

GE is a very underrated brand in the market when it comes to household items. Still, you can get a high-performance garbage disposal from GE.

Here is another standard ½ HP motor garbage disposal from GE. GE GFC525V can provide a very high speed of operation, which is up to 2800 RPM. It is also a permanent magnet motor that is known for its jam-free operation. The installation procedure is pretty simple because of the easy mount system. It comes with a removable splashguard that is needed to be removed for properly cleaning the device. Also, there is a stopper that is included in the package.

A large capacity feeder on the GE GFC525V will allow you to keep the grinding running continuously at high speed for a flawless operation. It also includes stainless steel jam-resistant dual swivel impellers for the best possible performance. It has a 2 level pre-cutter to ensure that the waste products are properly grounded so that it does not choke up the pipeline further down. It only has a year of manufacturer’s warranty.

Best Features:

  • ½ HP Dura-Drive induction motor
  • Fastest garbage disposals
  • 2800 RPM motor speed rating
  • Can replace the previous model
  • Large capacity feed disposer
  • Continuous operation
  • Stainless steel jam-free impellers
  • Dual swivel action
  • Easy installation
  • Isolates noise
  • Cold-rolled carbon steel armature shaft material
  • Great build quality
  • 2 level pre-cutter
  • 1-year warranty

Pros:

  • 2 level pre-cutter is a very useful feature
  • Motor speed is pretty good

Cons:

  • Warranty period is short
  • Expensive price tag

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What to Look for in a Garbage Disposal

One can find various garbage disposal options available in the market with different shapes, colors and features. Here we are providing the buying guide to help you understand and pick the right garbage disposal that suits best for your requirement.

Let’s check out the list of essential factors that have to be considered while shopping for this garbage disposal.

1. Types of Disposals

Based on the type of food waste you are dumping and budget range, you have to get the best garbage disposal for your home. In general, there are two main types of garbage disposals available in the market – Batch Feed & Continuous Feed.

Continuous Feed:

You can turn on this continuous feed model with a simple flick of a switch and runs till you turn off the machine. It let you add food waste even while it is running. A few models offer advanced grinding features, auto-reverse functions, and special circuitry to deter jams while disposing of waste. A few units have splash guards to avoid items from splashing back out when adding food waste.

Be cautious if you have small children or pets and watch them while using continuous feed disposal. Never let them put anything or hands into this unstoppered opening, which results in serious injuries. These continuous feed garbage disposals are easy to use and considered less expensive (affordable) than batch feed models. This feed model is available with motors of 1/3 HP or more. These models come with a grind chamber capacity of up to 40 ounces.

Batch Feed:

This batch-feed disposal operates when a stopper placed over the disposal opening, and power on the grinder. It won’t let you add the food waste to the grinding chamber unless and until the cover is removed and power off the grinder. These batch grinders considered less convenient, yet offers more safety advantages compared to continuous feed disposal, which makes them a bit expensive.

These batch feed models available with a motor of 3/4 – 1 HP and has a grind chamber capacity of up to 40 ounces. Though, they must be used with a stopper, which makes it the best option for households with pets or kids. This stopper will prevent any items from accidental falling into the machine/disposal (like your kid’s hands or wrong kinds of items).

2. Motor Power (or) Horsepower

Usually, the residential garbage disposals come with a motor power of 1/3, 1/2, 3/4, or 1 horsepower. The greater the horsepower, the strong will be its grinding capabilities. Also, a grinder with higher HP will be more robust and last longer than low HP grinders.

Though, all houses won’t require powerful garbage disposals. Here is the table that let you know how much HP is required for different household sizes.

Household Size (No. of People) Horse Power What it Can Handle
1 – 2 Persons 1/3 HP Light scraps, fruit rinds, soft food waste, meat trimmings.
2 – 4 Persons 1/2 HP Leftover cooked meats, small fish bones, seeds, and scraps
2 – 5 Persons 3/4 HP Tough scraps, cooked meat, vegetable peels, small chicken bones, artichokes.
4+ Persons 1 HP All scraps, fibrous food waste, small chicken or fish bones, vegetable peels, raw or cooked meats.

0.33 HP (or 1/3 HP) – Considered ideal garbage disposal for small household (or) for those who occasionally prepare their meals and comes at an affordable lower price range.

0.5 HP to 1 HP (1/2 – 1 HP) – A perfect option for households with 2 or more people (or) for those who prepare meals quite often. While 0.75HP (3/4 HP) and 1 HP models are larger than 0.5 HP models. So, make sure you have enough space under the sink to place them before making your purchase.

The higher the HP value, the better the garbage disposal will run, as the food waste is ground into fine/tiny particles with fewer jams. Also, a model with a higher HP can easily handle hard to grind food waste like bones or fibrous materials.

3. Grinding Speed or Disposal Speed

The blades spinning speed is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM), which ranges from 1700 RPM – 2800 RPM. Garbage disposal with high grinding speed is better, as it makes everything easier and faster, and it also reduces clogs or jams while operating the disposal.

4. Grind Stages

In general, disposers offer three different grinding stages – 1-stage, 2-stage & 3-stage. Check out what are those grinding stages and which is better for you.

  • 1-Stage Disposal Unit: In this single-stage unit, the food gets ground once before passing through the drain pipes with water and thereby has many chances for jams or clogs.
  • 2-Stage Disposal Unit: Here the unit grinds food twice to reach a finer grind, and thereby reduces the chances for any clogs or jams.
  • 3-Stage Disposal Unit: This triple-stage unit will provide the possible finest grinding of the food waste. Thus, it makes you worry-free of jams or clogs.

5. Unit Size

The unit with a larger motor requires greater horsepower for its proper functioning and it will increase its size. However, the size of the unit varies by brand. The disposal with a small 1/3 HP range from 6 – 7 inches in diameter and 9 – 12 inches in height. While a 1 HP disposal has a diameter of up to 13 inches and a height of 18-inches.

Mostly, this unit size matters only when there is limited space under the kitchen sink. If having a water filtering system like a reverse osmosis unit, then you won’t have sufficient place/room for this large disposal. We notice the home improvement centers might display all their models that let you check the size difference at their store. While shopping online note down the size of the unit and measure your under-sink space to know whether or not the particular model suits under the sink before buying.

6. Noise

All garbage disposal models make some noise while operating. Some are louder than other models. A few models with insulation feature around the motor are somewhat quieter, yet more expensive. While some models have removable sound baffles that reduce the noise generated while it is working. So, you can separately purchase them but ensure that they fit perfectly for your garbage disposal unit.

Also, investing in a cap will help to reduce the noise produced by a disposer. Simply, an open mouth of disposal will easily transmit sounds quite readily, whereas clogging that disposal opening with a cap, then it will reduce the amount of sound produced and thereby you can hear less/no sound from the particular unit.

7. Auto-Reverse Mode

It would be worst and frustrating to clear the jam/stuck manually (clearing task) whenever garbage disposal gets clogged or jammed. To help you get rid of this issue, a few models offer a handy feature known as Auto Reverse Mode. As the name implies, the motor and the blades will spin automatically in the reverse direction for some time, whenever the motor detects any resistance over a certain amount of waste disposal to clear the jam. When once the clog clears, it operates normally to get rid of those organic wastes.

8. Plug-in Vs. Direct Wired

We notice garbage disposal units with two types of power connections – a few models designed to be wired directly to the house’s electrical system without any power cord to plug into an outlet, while others have cords and plugs that let you plug into an outlet under the sink.

Take a detailed look into these power connections.

Plug-ins: It is quite simple and easy to install disposal. It comes with a cord to plug into an outlet, yet a dangling cord under the sink where the stored cleaners and other items place may dislodge the plug from its outlet. Also, this plug-in model may be affected by a water leak on the wall that causes the outlet to short out and thereby the circuit breaker to flip, even though the possibility to happen is less likely.

Direct Wired: A professionally installed disposal with its connecting wires is in the wall’s junction box. Thus, the moisture will less likely interfere with the wiring and makes it a completely safe and effective option to use.

However, it is up to the interest of the homeowner, whether to install a plug-in or direct-wired disposal. But it is suggested to consult your local building authority to know if there is any rules or regulations in the community.

Always remember that connecting a plug to direct wired unit is easy and simple, all you need is to purchase optional plug-in cords (cord kit) and convert them. Whereas converting a plug-in model into hard wiring (no plug-in outlet) into a home’s electrical system is a more complicated process and has to be done by professionals.

9. Grind Chamber Construction

The grinding chamber is an essential part of the garbage disposal, where all the grinding work done. Some are constructed with heavy-duty plastic, while others are made of galvanized steel or stainless steel. Each construction material has its own set of pros and cons. Take a look to know about them in detail.

Stainless Steel – Almost all the higher-end garbage disposal models have this stainless-steel construction. The stain and corrosion resistance is its main advantages, whereas the heaviest among these three options (weight) and expensive is its main drawback.

Galvanized Steel – After making the grinding chamber with galvanized steel, then it is dipped into zinc to create a surface layer. This makes the chamber rust and corrosion-resistant. But the main drawback is, the galvanization may wear down over time and also it is a bit heavy material.

Plastic – A high-tech thermoplastic polymer is used to manufacture a plastic grind chamber. This makes it not to get corrode or rust. It is the least expensive option and mostly used for basic household purposes. The main drawback is that it wears out and crack easily and quickly.

10. Magnetic Ring

Though it is not at all a common feature, some people like to have this feature in their garbage disposal. This magnetic ring around the drain will prevent the ironware or silverware (or other metals) from falling into the pipes. Thus, it helps in preventing clogs and protect your things.

11. Quick Mount Installation

Are you a DIYer or want to install disposal on your own? Then this quick-mount installation is the best feature to check whether your model supports it or not. Since it is just a mount, you can screw them easily on the disposal.

Also, while installing the unit yourself means you need to have a full set of tools handy. The garbage disposal is not lightweight and may need some additional hands to hold them up when you are installing it in a place. If you want to install this disposal with the help of pros, then it is not a necessary feature to consider.

12. Warranty

Always understand the warranty and claiming process while buying a garbage disposal. A few manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty while others provide a short time warranty (limited) without proper claims and policies. Most warranties won’t cover wear and tear and also installation or removal of disposal is not covered, nor cover shipping.

So, it all depends on personal preference. All the garbage disposal models mentioned on our list offer some sort of warranty. Check them and purchase the one that suits your requirement.

How long does the garbage disposals will last?

A garbage disposal can easily last for about 12 years (if taken on average). However, the right answer to this question will depend on various factors like – how often you use the unit, what kind of food waste you place in it, and how you use and maintain it regularly.

To make the disposal last longer, you have to follow these things.

  • Avoid running hot water while using the disposal.
  • Don’t pour grinding fibrous materials like corn husks or celery stalks in the basic disposal, as the basic disposals are meant to handle the normal quantity of food waste like vegetable or fruit peels, small bones, and soft food scraps.
  • If you want to throw a larger amount of food items, then prefer to use premium disposals, as they are designed to handle larger jobs.
  • Also, follow your manufacturer’s instructions in the user manual that let you know what can and can’t your garbage disposal handle, especially whether you are on a septic tank system or a public sewer.

How to maintain garbage disposal?

The garbage disposals are designed with zero maintenance, yet you have to do certain things to keep the unit run safely and smoothly all the time. Have a look at what tips to follow while operating the disposal.

  • When you operate the disposal, run water (especially cold rather than hot water) to ensure the fat solidifies and ground up into small pieces gets washed away with water.
  • To keep the garbage disposal last longer, you have to run cold water before, during and after operating the disposal.
  • Don’t place fibrous, hard or tough materials like nuts, celery, peach pits, and things that are tougher to crack in the disposal. Also, in some cases, pasta may stick and result in clogging the drain pipes.
  • Make sure to use a degreaser, as it helps to prevent the buildup of oils and fats and thereby clogging. But use them only if your manufacturer recommends them.
  • The usage of ground ice chips will clear small particles that might stick to the grinder and chamber. Ensure that you placed a rubber stopper over the opening to deter ice chips from flying out.
  • To scour the grinding chamber, you have to grind small bones, and to freshen the disposal, use a deodorizer, disposal cleaner or citrus peels.
  • Take away the silverware and other items from your sink before you start using this garbage disposal.
  • To reduce the corrosion from acidic foods, you have to operate the disposal every time you place food in it.

Tips to Use a Garbage Disposal

Here are some safety tips and precautions you have to follow while using this garbage disposal.

  • Go through the user’s manual to know what to put and what not to put in your garbage disposal and all about its working function.
  • If your unit is not turned on, then power off the unit and check inside by using tongs and a flashlight to see whether anything stuck between the blades. If that is not the case, use a wooden broom handle to remove the splash guard and turn the blade to right. Remove the broom handle and turn on the water and switch on the power.
  • Avoid placing fats, oils, butter, lard or any type of grease or greasy foods into the garbage disposal or the toilet or down the drain.
  • Make sure to cut the food into small pieces before placing them at their disposal. Separate the banana peels vertically and won’t put the stem end down the disposal.
  • A few types of foods like starchy or fibrous foods are not safe for this garbage disposal, as it is known to clog the disposal. If you scrape that food into the trash, then it is best to remove it effectively.
  • For cleaning the garbage disposal, you have to toss some citrus peelings or ice cubes into the disposal and then grind them. Remove the grime stuck to the blades to reduce the clogs and thereby eliminate the need to hire a plumber.
  • Never place large amounts of food into the disposal at a time. Grind them into small pieces at a time to prevent blockage or jamming.
  • Don’t place eggshells or coffee grounds down the disposal, as both of these are grainy and may sit in spaces to clog. Simply put them into the automatic trash bins to deter any unwanted expensive fixes.
  • After finishing the food grinding, make sure to run the hot water to flush the drain pipe for about 20 – 30 seconds to clear the pipe and make the disposal process effective.

Garbage Disposal FAQs

1. What are the causes of garbage disposals leak?

Ans: There are a few reasons that let you know why the garbage disposal is leaking. Have a look at those reasons.
*If the internal seal in the garbage disposal unit is broken, which happens often may result in leakage.
*If there is any loose seal somewhere in the disposal unit, mostly on the sink flange. Fix it with some plumber’s putty.
*If the drain lines are disconnected, then tighten or reseal the connections to prevent any leakage.

2. How does a garbage disposal work?

Ans: Most people think this garbage disposal have blades that spin to break down food into tiny pieces. But it is mostly myth. It won’t have any blades, yet they have a spinning plate with a grinding plate and impellers.
With its centrifugal force, the impellers will push the food against the grinding plate and thereby food grinded into small particles and then flushed with water through your plumbing onto the local water treatment facility or a septic system.

3. Is one size garbage disposals fits all?

Ans: Yes, almost all standard kitchen sinks come with drain holes with a diameter of 3.5 inches and the garbage disposals made to suit these standard sinks. In case, having a custom-made sink with a different size drainage hole, then you have to find the perfect accessory to adjust the opening to fit properly as per that size.

4. What should or shouldn’t be placed in a garbage disposal?

Ans: One must know what to place and what not to place in a garbage disposal before buying it. Here is the answer to this question.
Most vegetable and fruit scraps, leftovers, a small quantity of vegetable or fruits peels, meat pieces or small bones can put in a garbage disposal. In case, if peeling a large number of potatoes, then skip placing the peels down the disposal.
The reason is that the starch in the peels may gunk up the disposal. The same might happen while placing stringy & fibrous vegetables like corn husks, artichokes, celery, banana peels, and asparagus, which resist pulverization and results in clogging the drain.
Leftover oil or grease and coffee grounds must have to be disposed of in another way to prevent drain clogging. Other food wastes like eggshells, shellfish, bones, and fruit pits are a bit tough/hard to handle the disposal and may result in premature wear. So, make sure to dispose these items directly into the trash or compost them.

5. How to unclog jammed garbage disposal?

Ans: Clogging happens quite often for two main reasons – whenever you place a lot of food into the disposal (or) if not allowing enough water to run for clearing the drainage system. However, you can easily clear this issue and unclog your garbage disposal.
All you need is to turn off the disposal, prevent water from running and unplug the unit. Then look down on the drain opening and check what clogging the disposal by using a flashlight. If you found anything stuck and causing a clog, then clear it by removing the stuck one by using pliers, tongs, or tweezers.
Finally, plugin and run the unit to check whether it unclogged or not. A few models offer a reset button, which helps you in clearing the clog effectively.

6. How to properly clean the garbage disposal?

Ans: The best and easiest way to clean the garbage disposal is by using a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Here is the process that let you know how to clean the disposal effectively.
*Sprinkle 1/2 cup of baking soda into the disposal and pour 1 cup of white vinegar gently on baking soda.
Then close the splash guard (if you have) and this mixture will start to fizz, bubble and froth.
*Leave it for about 5 – 10 minutes.
*Now open the splash guard and turn on the garbage disposal and run hot water on.
*This will rinse off the unit thoroughly to clean.
*As per your manufacturer’s advice, you have to use a degreaser once in a while (few months) to clear any fat solids.
*Usage of any harsh chemicals in the disposal may react badly with the grinding material and also not good for your septic pipes. So, avoid using/pouring those chemicals into the disposal.

7. How to sharpen the garbage disposal blades?

Ans: Most garbage disposals won’t use blades, instead, they cut the food waste with a grinding chamber. Try this method to clean and sharpen the grind chamber/blades.
*Pour 10 ice cubes and a handful of salt into the disposal by running cold water.
*Turn on the unit and run for about a minute. Here the ice cubes will sharpen the blades and the salt scrubs the grinding chamber.
*Finally, flush out with cold water for about 15 seconds to drain all those remaining debris.

8. Shall we run the garbage disposal while the dishwasher is on?

Ans: In general, the garbage disposal and dishwasher will share the same drainage pipes. Also, you may experience the clogged pipes when the food particles in the disposal are not cleared before you want to use the dishwasher.
In most cases, you can run the disposal unit while your dishwasher is on. But you should be careful about how much quantity you place in the disposal. So that the pipes will pump away the waste easily.

Conclusion

Garbage disposal is a really important part of any household nowadays. In a regular kitchen, you can find a lot of waste items on a daily basis that must be disposed of immediately, or they will start rotting and create a certain smell around the room.

Hence, we have provided you with a list of the best garbage disposals in the market, along with a dedicated buying guide to help you with your purchase. But, if it is still difficult to make a choice, take a look at our recommendations below:

  • First, we will recommend Waste King Garbage Disposal, as it is the most affordable option available in the market. Even with the small price tag, it has a standard ½ HP motor that runs at a decent 2600 RPM. You will be getting a 2 years warranty as well, which is great.
  • On the other hand, if you want powerful garbage disposal. You can go with Waste Maid Garbage Disposal. It has an impressive 1 ¼ HP motor that is capable of 2700 RPM. It has 3 years of warranty period, which is essential for heavy-duty machines.
  • Lastly, we will recommend the most reliable product from our list, which is the Moen Garbage Disposal. It is powered by a ¾ HP motor and runs at high speed of 2700 RPM. It has 5 years of warranty, which makes it the most reliable option on our list.

If you have any doubts, don’t forget to comment down below!

One Response

  1. Garbage disposal is necessary for a clean environment. Everyone must always focus on buying things that can be easily decomposed.

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