Clogged garbage disposals. No matter if you’re a homeowner or renting an apartment, chances are you’ve run into an incident where the garbage disposal was clogged up. Depending on the clog and the quality of garbage disposal you have installed, this could mean one of two things. First, it could just be a simple clog. In which case, an experienced plumbing technician would be able to clear up the clog and get you back in working order. Option number two would be a garbage disposal that’s seen it’s better days and the only solution is a garbage disposal replacement. In either case, a licensed plumber is going to be your best friend in getting this project taken care of.
Considering we receive numerous calls throughout the year in regards to garbage disposals, we wanted to have this week’s blog post focus solely on finding which disposal fits your needs best. While we have experience with a number of different manufacturers, we primarily install InSinkErator models for residential homeowners here in Kansas City. Towards the end of the blog, we’ll touch on this manufacturer and fill you in on why we have so much confidence in their products!
Which disposal do I need?
While there certainly are unique scenarios where exceptions apply, it’s generally rather straightforward in sizing a garbage disposal for your needs. Here’s the factors that tend to be most important to homeowners:
Size
Honestly, the motor size is likely the only decision most homeowners will need to make in choosing which garbage disposal is right for them. Generally speaking, you’re going to have four different options available.
- ⅓ horsepower: The weakest motor you can get is a ⅓ horsepower. These are certainly the most affordable option on the market, but also isn’t going to suffice for larger households. We would recommend only using these for studio apartments, 1-bedroom apartments or possibly vacation homes that aren’t used very frequently.
- ½ horsepower: Next level up is a ½ horsepower garbage disposal. These tend to be our most common options for standard homes. For households of 3-6 people, you should be safe with ½ HP models.
- ¾ horsepower: As you’d likely guess, ¾ HP models are going to possess a little more kick and fight through tougher substances that may have jammed up the sizes above. Keep in mind these are generally going to be larger in actual size as well. If you have 5-8 people in your home, roll with this one!
- 1 horsepower: For those with either over 8 people or using this kitchen for commercial purposes, consider 1 HP (or even 2 HP) models. It’s going to be tougher to watch everything going down the disposal, so this will ensure you have a little more leeway.
Noise
While you can likely finalize your decision after figuring out the correct motor size, it never hurts to clarify the noise level with your plumber! Even though they are appliances critical to any complete kitchen, everyone is well aware that they aren’t always the quietest of appliances. In other words, if you’re close to the kitchen area when one is turned on, you’re well aware it’s been activated! Let’s take a look at the actual decibel numbers to consider how loud a garbage disposal really is.
Normal Garbage Disposal: Your average, everyday garbage disposal is going to be roughly 80 dB. This is the case with the InSinkErator’s ½ HP model. It’s definitely nothing that’s unbearable and likely the noise level you’d associate with an average garbage disposal. A lawn mower comes in around 90dB.
Talking: A normal conversation is suggested to be around 60 dB, while whispering is roughly 30 dB.
Extra Noise-Reduction Garbage Disposals: For comparison purposes, let’s look at the figures listed above and compare those to one of the models from InSinkErator’s “Quiet Series.” As we’ll hit on down below, this model features their SoundSeal technology and has a decibel range of 25-45 dB. It’s widely considered to be one of the quietest garbage disposals on the markets and packs quite a bit of punch with it’s 1 HP motor.
Even though the noise level of normal garbage disposals isn’t going to be an issue for the majority of people, it never hurts to know that there are options on the market designed for noise reduction. And with that said, InSinkErator models certainly don’t disappoint when stacked up against some of the competition. Check out this report compiled by DisposalXT that has InSinkErator models taking the six top spots when it comes to quietest garbage disposals.
Continuous Feed vs. Batch Feed
From a plumbing perspective, garbage disposals typically fall under two primary categories: continuous feed and batch feed. Continuous feed models are certainly much more convenient and common amongst homeowners. As you’d likely guess, continuous feed simply means you can toss in food scraps while they are running and everything gets taken care of. The only caveat is they need to be plugged into an electrical outlet to work. On the flip side, batch feed models require you to insert scraps in one batch at a time. These garbage disposals only work when the drain is covered as well, which makes it less of a safety risk than their continuous feed alternatives.
Introducing the InSinkErator
As I mentioned earlier on in this blog post, here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we primarily install InSinkErator models for the majority of our clients. They are a manufacturer that consistently receives rave reviews from consumer indexes and have become a household name in the appliance world! So…what makes their products so special?
For starters, InSinkErator breaks down their disposals into three main categories: (1) Standard Series, (2) Power Series and (3) Quiet Series. As a plumber, what this tells me is that they have something for just about every potential user. Whether that means something standard, more powerful or one with added insulation, you’re more than covered.
Standard Series
The standard series consists of their ⅓ HP (Badger 1) and ½ HP (Badger 5) models. These possess “long-lasting galvanized steel grind components” that will be sufficient for most smaller-sized households. As noted on their website, the standard series models are installed in over 60 million households worldwide.
Power Series
With the power series, you’re going to get a little more pop and as such, this series will be the ¾ HP (Badger 5XP) and 1 HP (Badger 1HP) models. The ¾ HP possesses the same galvanized steel grind components mentioned with the standard series models, while the 1 HP has “rust resistant stainless steel grind components.”
Quiet Series
Last, but not least, InSinkErator also offers a range of ¾ HP and 1 HP products known as their quiet series. These models are the ones they advertise as the “quietest garbage disposals on the market.” With their patented “SoundSeal” technology and multi-grind technology, you’ll achieve dependable results at a reduced sound level.
Garbage Disposal Installation in Kansas City
As a homeowner, garbage disposals are certainly one of the more straightforward aspects of your home’s plumbing system. Simply put, there’s certain items you should never put down the disposal and it’s always these items that end up clogging things up. Check out this past blog post for a few of the most common culprits behind clogs. In addition, as is the case with just about any other appliance, over time as it is used more, you need to be mindful of needing to eventually replace the unit.
In any case, you can have faith in the plumbers at Stine-Nichols to assist you with any garbage disposal issue you may have. Whether that means a service call to clear out a clog or installing a brand new InSinkErator model, we’ll get you taken care of!
If you’re interested in receiving a free quote, don’t hesitate to either give us a call at (816) 348-3481 or fill out our online form. Our operations manager, Jim, will work with you to figure out which disposal will work best for you. We currently serve the entire Kansas City area, as well as all of the surrounding cities (Liberty, Parkville, Kearney, Leawood, Overland Park, Lee’s Summit, Independence, etc).