Our ratings of plus lab-tested disposals will make the process even more seamless and help you make the best choice, depending on your situation and particular needs. Consumer Reports tests garbage disposals on a number of factors. For our speed test, we grind pieces of beef rib bones for 1 minute with cold running water, then measure how much food is left in the disposal. To see how well the disposals grind food, we toss a mix of bones and raw vegetable scraps into each model and run the resulting fragments through four different-sized sieves to gauge fineness.
A garbage disposal that garners an Excellent rating turns out food particles fine enough to slip through most of the sieves. For noise, we measure the decibels emitted while the disposals grind a mix of bones and vegetables.
In general, we find that the quieter models are heavier because they have more insulation. For details on how each model we test performs, see our garbage disposal ratings. Are my pipes up to the task? Food debris might not present a problem in a newer home with slippery plastic drainpipes, but clog risks go up substantially if you have rugged old cast-iron drainpipes.
Polyvinyl chloride PVC piping became more commonplace in homes built after the mids. One general rule of thumb: If your pipes already clog fairly often, a disposal might not be for you. Is my septic tank big enough? Disposal manufacturers insist their products are safe to use with septic systems, but some plumbers are equally adamant that they are not. The truth probably lies somewhere between and may depend on the age, type, and size of your system.
You may need to size up your tank to accommodate food waste and pump it more often once a year instead of the recommended three- to five-year intervals or limit your garbage disposal use. If you have a septic system and want to install a disposal, check first with your local septic system inspector.
Is there room under the sink? There is no standard size for garbage disposals—the models we tested were 10 to 15 inches high, 5 to 9 inches wide, and 6 to 13 inches deep. Generally, the more sound insulation a unit has, the bigger it is.
The best model for you will depend on your budget, the size of your household, and how much food you need to grind on a regular basis. Less expensive models usually have small motors and a one-year warranty. Cons: They need to be powered by wall switches sold separately that should be installed by an electrician. Alternatively, an air switch does not require professional installation but does require an undersink outlet and a drill.
Because the disposal can run with the drain open, there is the risk of objects—such as utensils—falling in or shards of food debris flying out. Cons: In general, batch-feed garbage disposals are more expensive than continuous-feed models. They make up a very small percentage of the market, so options are limited. The last major decision point? We also indicate amps—the amount of electricity the disposal draws—in our ratings charts.
Be sure your circuit breaker can handle the demand before buying. Cooks who use the disposal on a daily basis and need to grind tougher waste, including bones, may want to opt for a 1-hp model. Anti-jamming feature: Some higher-end disposals come with an auto-reverse feature that detects jams and automatically reverses the grind table to help loosen lodged food and prevent jams.
From an environmental point of view, garbage disposals have pluses and minuses. They help minimize the amount of garbage that is delivered to landfills, but, in doing so, they require using significantly more water and energy, and they can strain septic systems and sewage treatment facilities. A good compromise is to compost food scraps whenever possible and use a disposer when not. Garbage disposals are either continuous-feed or batch-feed.
You turn on the continuous-feed with a switch as you run the water and can feed it food waste as long as it is running. The batch-feed type automatically turns on when you press a special stopper into the drain; this type is a little less convenient but is easier to install and safer because it cannot be operated unless the stopper is in place.
All garbage disposals sold in the United States are made by only a few companies, though they are branded with several names. InSinkErator makes eight out of 10 of them, with consumer ratings favoring the Waste King and Kenmore models in their group. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for in most regards.
Power, for example, makes a big difference both in performance and durability. Higher power models will grind just about anything. With the top-end InSinkErator Evolution Excel , for example, the disposer has multiple grinding stages that will fine-grind food, and do their job exceedingly quietly. There are two types of garbage disposalsto choose from: the continuous feed and the batch feed. Both get the job done; however, the continuous feed disposals are the easiest to use.
Also the most commonly used disposal, the continuous feed version has an open mouth and is operated by a switch. The batch feed disposal, on the other hand, requires that you place your food waste into the chamber and close the stopper lid to activate the food grinder inside.
For example, a one-third or one-half horsepower HP motor is perfect for a single homeowner occasionally grinding soft vegetables. A three-fourths or 1 HP motor, on the other hand, is much more suited to a large family that often eats at home and will provide smoother operation, finer pulverization and less jams — which equals less stress on your waste water system.
Similarly, some models offer additional features, such as sound baffles to lower the decibel level of the unit , anti-splash baffles to keep your sink cleaner and corrosion protection shields. Bonus Tip: If your home has a septic system, consider buying a garbage disposal with an enzyme reservoir, to help break down the food scraps.
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