Garbage Disposal Reviews

Choosing the right garbage disposal for you involves finding the right balance of features and price while reading reviews to get a high quality product and avoid the hassle of product returns. But you can't read almost a thousand reviews so you need to narrow your selection of products and then you can really dig deeper.

Our Reviewers' Bottom Line
If you're tired of reading already then you can just abide by our Bottom Line analysis: Go for the 3/4 Horsepower disposals from KitchenAid.

The 3/4 HP disposers are powerful enough to saitsfy busy kitchens but not as expensive as higher horsepower models. KitchenAid disposals are tried and true having consistently ranked well in our user-based Top 10 lists and it shows the best in our Disposals Brand Compare tool. Click to our Best Garbage Disposal page to see the in-stock winners as rated by over 900 consumer reviewers.

(Note that there is no paid placement or sponsorship in this Learn section. These opinions are those of the Buzzillions staff and not of anyone else.)

Learn even more about Garbage Disposals
What about Waste King?
Experts consistently give Waste King disposals high marks. They mention that they are more powerful and grind food up better. Though they do this at a higher price point. If you want the experts' favorite then Waste King is for you. It could be that our sample size is too small for Waste King to compete with the other brands.

What to avoid?
Many reviewers recommend avoiding these "Noisy" disposals. They also found that these disposals wore out quickly.

Recommended by Home Improvement Novices
Some purchasers are new to the DIY craze. On Buzzillions, we ask reviewers to categorize themselves when they review a product. As a result, you can narrow down to disposals rated highly by Home Improvement Novices.

Avg Star Rating for all Disposals
The Avg Star Rating for garbage disposals is 4.4 so your first task is to look for products that are at or vabove that rating. This is calculated from the almost 1,000 disposal reviews we've collected.

Is it legal to install a disposal?
If you have a septic system or live in a building with old or narrow sewage pipes, you may not be allowed to install a garbage disposal. Check with your local regulations or your landlord.

Where's the Energy Star rating?
Disposals don't appear to be rated by the Energy Star folks at this time.

Is my disposal "green"?
Some people advocate that kitchen waste is better diverted to compost where it can make a reentry into the energy cycle quicker with a smaller ecological footprint. Did you know that kitchen waste that ends up in a landfill causes the production of methane which is one of the worst Greenhouse gases...Experts recommend using cold water when rinsing food down your sink as that uses less energy than hot water. Note that using a disposal could increase your yearly water usage by hundreds of gallons.

Batch Feed vs. Continuous Feed
Most garbage disposals on the market are turned on or off using a switch (either a wall switch or an air switch). The Batch Feed disposals require that you to put a special plug into the disposal and turn it to turn it on. This is largely seen as a safety device since you can't put your fingers in the disposal while it's running. In addition, if you don't have the ability or space to install a switch then this is your best option.

Which brand should I buy?
At Buzzillions, we have enough reviews to provide user-based guidance on three brands. Check out our Disposals Brand Compare tool.

How much horsepower do I need?
If you use your disposal in conjunction with composting and you don't throw hard-to-grind foods down the drain then the 1/2 horsepower models are fine. If you're using your disposal frequently and throwing almost everything in it (or you just want a little bit more power) then the 3/4 horsepower models will suit you. If you want to set it and forget it, then go for the 1 horsepower models. Price generally goes up as the horsepower increases. You also want to check the dimensions of the unit so that it fits under your sink.

Tips & Tricks
To freshen up any smells, just cut a lemon in half and throw both halves into the disposals while it's running. To sharpen the blades, throw a handful of ice cubes into the disposal while it's running. If the unit just shuts off and won't start up again, it could be that you just need to hit the reset button on the bottom of the unit. That might help avoid a call to a the plumber.

Notes of Caution
Certain stringy foods may not grind well in smaller horsepower motors. Beware of throwing any non-food items into your disposal as that might void your warranty. And as always, keep your fingers and your children far away from the disposal.

External Garbage Disposal Links

External links from Google

-Content created by Jim M., Buzzillions staff, recent purchaser of the KitchenAid KCDS075 disposal. Updated October 2009