Buying Guide
We wanted to put together this brief garbage disposal buying guide to let people know what they should look for when they are shopping for a new garbage disposal. Many new homes have garbage disposals installed when they are built and many disposals will last for decades so a lot of people will never have to think about shopping for a new one but if you are buying an older home or the existing disposal breaks you will have to replace it so we wanted to give you some tips about finding a high quality unit at an affordable price.
One of the first things to consider is how much use your garbage disposal is going to get. If you live alone or with one other person your disposal will not get as much use as a unit in a home with a family of four. The more people in the household, the more food waste there will be and the more your garbage disposal will have to work. For single people or couples a 1/3 hp unit will probably be sufficient but for large families a 1 hp model may be required.
If you want your garbage disposal to last it is also important to make sure it is constructed from quality materials. Stainless steel parts are corrosion resistant and will last a lot longer than other materials. You may have to pay a little more money up front for a higher quality unit but it will save you money in the long run because you will not have to replace the unit for a very long time.
For some people it is also important that their garbage disposal operate quietly. There are disposals on the market that are built with sound dampening and vibration reducing features. Another feature that some people like to have is an automatic reversing mechanism. This will spin the blade in the opposite direction each time the unit is turned on which helps to prevent and clear minor jams. Additional features like these will drive the price up a little so you can save some money and grind up your food waste just as effectively with a cheaper model but if you don’t mind paying a little more for additional features you can have a quieter unit that is less likely to jam.
When you purchase a new garbage disposal you will also need to install it or hire a plumber to install it for you. Some models are easy to install and every InSinkErator disposer is built with a Quick Lock Sink Mount for easy installation. Disposals from other manufacturers may be a little more challenging to install and if you have to hire a plumber to install it for you, you’ll have to keep that in mind if budget is an issue.
I hope this garbage disposal buying guide has helped shed some light on some of the important things to look for when shopping for a new garbage disposal but I want to leave you with one final tip. Before you make the decision to purchase a garbage disposal take some time to read the reviews from customers who have been using the model you are considering. Reading customer reviews will let you know if a particular model is giving people trouble or if it works as advertised. There’s no need to purchase a unit, install it and then find out later that it has corrosion issues, a tendency to jam or will simply break after the first few uses. Purchase a model that has a lot of good reviews and you should get many years of reliable service from your new garbage disposal.
