Of all the home improvement projects you can take on, nobody gives a second thought to replacing or upgrading the garbage disposal. Many people won't think about it until it's too late and they are left with a nightmare in the sink.
When it comes to garbage disposals, you get what you pay for. Although you may see a broad range of prices, keep in mind that each price point coincides with different levels of performance and other optional features. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a garbage disposal.
Horsepower: Your garbage disposal's horsepower will account for most of the difference in price.
Continuous vs. Batch Fed: Continuous fed garbage disposals are generally cheaper and more popular than batch fed disposals. A continuous fed disposal is one in which you manually turn on and off. Batch fed disposals will operate when a certain level of waste has entered the receptacle.
Waste Disposal Methods: Garbage disposals are also designed depending on your waste disposal method. City sewage doesn't require food waste to be as finely ground up as you would need for a septic tank. Therefore, you will have various disposals for each method, and garbage disposals designed for septic tanks will generally be more expensive.
Other Features: There are other features to consider on your garbage disposal such as noise reduction, receptacle capacity, reverse modes designed to clear up jams and stainless steel chambers.
Price Ranges
The cost of your waste disposal will depend on these features. Here is a general idea of what to expect when comparing prices.
Budget
These garbage disposals tend to be 1/3 to 1/2 horsepower and are continuous fed disposals designed for city sewage. They usually don't have noise reduction features or come with a reverse mode. Their low power cannot handle much food waste at one time without jamming up. Usually, these disposals will come with a one year warranty.
My Budget Pick:
- Rugged galvanized steel construction
- Space-saving compact design
- Space-saving compact design
Mid-Range
These disposals will be 1/2 to 3/4 horsepower. They will have a bigger receptacle to handle larger jobs and will grind up food waste into smaller pieces. Most models in this price range will still be continuous fed models but may have other features such as noise reduction and a reverse mode and stainless steel grinding chambers.
My Mid-Range Pick:
- A MUST HAVE IN YOUR KITCHEN: This space-saving garbage disposal easily fits under your sink, perfect for small...
- LOW NOISE AND POWERFUL: This innovative food waste disposal features our exclusive 3/4 hp Dura-Drive Induction Motor...
- SAVE TIME AND ECO-FRIENDLY: From meal prep to cleanup, food waste disposal helps make it fast & easy to keep your...
Top of the Line
This is the price range where you will find garbage disposals designed for septic systems. Many will contain receptacles that are designed to hold enzymes to speed up the process of breaking down food waste. Also, many models in this range are the batch fed models and will work automatically without you having to turn them on and off. The power also ranges from 3/4 to 1 horsepower. These garbage disposals will come with extended warranties with some even having lifetime warranties.
My Top of the Line Pick:
- QUIET BUT POWERFUL: This innovative food waste disposal is the quietest disposal on the market, featuring advanced noise...
- DURABLE COMPONENTS FOR THE TOUGHEST FOOD SCRAPS: This garbage disposal features alloy stainless steel components with...
- AMERICA'S #1 DISPOSER BRAND: There are more American-built InSinkErator garbage disposals in US homes than all other...
If you are still unsure about which garbage disposal is right for you then be sure to ask your local hardware stores for help. They will have the knowledge and expertise to get exactly what you need at the right price. They also know which models are the most popular and most reliable and which garbage disposals will be the better value for your needs. Also, it never hurts to do some internet research or check with your friends and neighbors to find out which models are the most reliable.
Last update on 2024-04-22 at 20:28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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