Not all garbage
disposals are the same and there are many factors you have to take into
consideration before buying. Let’s look at a few tips on how to choose the best garbage disposal unit
for you. We’ll also give you general guidelines to determine what you want and
need and narrow down the potential options to what will work for you and your
particular situation.
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Research
the Rules and Regulations
Yes, you may need to
worry about rules and regulations before you install a garbage disposal. It may
be a violation of your lease to put one in your apartment. Your jurisdiction
may forbid garbage disposals because of the strain they put on the sewer
system. Conversely, the rules may only limit the size of garbage disposal
you’re allowed to put in. Or you may have to find a unit that stays within
certain noise levels to be allowed to install it.
Consider
Your Needs
Do you just want to
wash a few vegetable bits down the garbage disposal? Or do you want to throw
mashed potatoes, beef remains and other large pieces of food down the garbage
disposal to avoid having food in the trash? Understand the volume of food you
want the garbage disposal to handle before you pick an under-powered and/or
undersized unit.
Another factor to
consider is the hassle factor. Continuous feed garbage disposals let you throw
everything in and the unit keeps processing until you turn it off. They are
convenient. Batch feed garbage disposals require you to throw food waste in,
close the lid and then run it. They are more expense and less convenient, but
now there’s no risk of someone accidentally getting their fingers mangled. If
you have young children, you may want a batch feed disposal to minimize the risk to them. If you are
constantly washing dishes and keep dropping silverware into the disposal and
are afraid to fish it out, you may want a batch feed disposal so it can never
injure you.
Understand
Your Plumbing Arrangement
Not all garbage
disposals are the same. Most accept food waste from your dishwasher, but not
all of them do. Some units sit under the sink and only accept food from the
sink. Are you going to need a garbage disposal that can connect to your
dishwasher? If so, how far is the dishwasher? You may need to buy an extra
length hose to connect them.
Another factor to consider
is the area under the sink. Garbage disposals have different capacities and
differing motor power factors. You need to know how much space there is below
the sink to put in the garbage disposal so you don’t buy something that
literally doesn’t fit. You can find units like the Badger 1 that combine significant power in a compact
design, though this takes some research.
Rank How
Important Labor and Repair Tasks Are to You
Another consideration
is whether or not you are concerned about the unit breaking. You may want to
pay a little more for a unit with a better warranty, though you need to be
careful about what the warranty does and doesn’t cover. For example, it may
cover parts and labor but only if you go through their authorized repair
service that takes forever to show up. Or it may cover parts and labor but only
for a very short time after you buy it. You may be able to extend the service
agreement if you pay someone to install it.
Before you decide on a
particular disposal, learn about the rules and regulations that may limit your
options. Consider your needs and concerns to shorten the list of potential
garbage disposals. Know the space constraints before you buy. Then decide if
you want to install it yourself or have a pro do it, and determine whether or
not you want someone else to have responsibility for repairing it.
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