What Size Garbage Disposal Do I Need

The size of whatever product is its dimensions. But when information technology comes to garbage disposals, or peculiarly when answering the question 'What size garbage disposal do I need?' it is all virtually the grinding power of the disposal and has nothing to do with its dimensions.

Funny enough, there is another disposal size question; 'are all garbage disposals the same size?' which is non at all about power ratings but about whether they fit all sinks.

The dimensions of the disposal are irrelevant here because about houses take ample infinite nether the sink to accommodate 1 (I don't recall seeing ane above 18″ height). Likewise, a more than powerful disposal need non exist bigger in size. But simply in case, you lot mistakenly got here looking for a pocket-sized size garbage disposal that fits the tiny space under your sink, refer this mail service: 5 compact garbage disposals.

For all others, here nosotros go;

What size garbage disposal exercise you need?

Garbage disposals are generally available in iv ability ratings. They are;

i/three HP
1/2 HP
3/four HP
i HP

Garbage disposals with ane/2 to 3/four horsepower are powerful enough for boilerplate home apply. For industrial kitchens or heavy abode apply, a more powerful garbage disposal (1 horsepower) might be needed for disposing of larger quantities of tough kitchen waste. The corporeality of employ information technology receives should also be taken into account.

Here is a table showing the recommended sizes of garbage disposals based on that number;

Maximum number of people in the house	Recommended garbage disposal size
2	1/iii HP
3	1/2 HP
5	iii/iv HP or ane HP
7	one HP
More than 6 people	1 HP to 2 HP

garbage disposal size guide — A graphic representation to easily decide garbage disposal size

Let's run across what size disposals are best for your dwelling house:

one. 1/iii HP: Recommended for students and small apartments

These are the least powered garbage disposals. Patently, they are useful in households where the number of people is like 1-ii, and they don't melt much (or order nutrient online). These disposals are ordinarily the cheapest ones also.

I personally don't adopt these disposals as they are then low powered. As I mentioned before information technology all depends on your needs, so in that location is nothing wrong if you decide to desire a i/3 HP disposal.

The most popular and recommended disposals in this category are Waste King 50-111 and Annoy 1.

2. 1/two HP: Best for families with 1-3 people

Many of the most sold disposals fall into this category. They have ample ability for a pocket-size family unit, and their prices are comparable to those of the 1/iii HP ones.

one/2 HP disposals are all-time suitable for homes with 1-3 people who melt oftentimes. Occasionally, if you happen to have a few more than visitors, just brand sure you don't cram everything downward the disposal, only add them in small batches.

If this is the all-time choice for you, I recommend checking these; Annoy v and Waste King 50-2600.

3. three/four HP: Suitable for houses with up to 5 people

This is likewise a popular size which is suitable for any household with ane-5 people. The bulk of houses in the United states fall into this category.

These disposals have ample power, and you have more models to choose from than from any other category. You can get depression-cost models every bit well as high-stop ones which have lots of features like multi-stage grinding and noise insulation.

Many people choose a 3/4 HP disposal over a 1/two HP one considering price-wise the difference is not that huge, and also, they become more grinding power.

The most pop disposals in this category are InSinkErator Evolution Compact and Waste King L-3200.

4. 1 HP: Recommended for large families

i HP disposals are the most powerful ones used in households. Anything above that is used for commercial uses.

1 HP is definitely plenty of power for your kitchen, these disposals can grind well-nigh anything effortlessly. If your home has 4+ people, or if someone in that location aspires to be a professional person cook, or if you desire to dispose of harder food wastes this is the correct disposal for you.

As the saying goes, with great power comes a bigger cost tag. These disposals are ordinarily premium ones that come up with lots of fancy features, so expect a higher toll tag if y'all are planning to purchase them.

The pop choices in this category are InSinkErator Development Excel and Waste matter King L-8000.

Other things to consider while deciding the size of a garbage disposal

Fifty-fifty though the number of people using the garbage disposal is a huge factor, at that place are a few more things to take into consideration while deciding its power rating. Here are they;

Type of nutrient wastes y'all want to dispose of

Most garbage disposals cannot process tough or fibrous food items. Here is a list of what you shouldn't throw downward a garbage disposal. Simply some top-end models past manufacturers like InSinkErator claim to be able to dispose of items like small chicken bones and even eggshells which otherwise damage disposals.

And so even if yous have only 1 person in your dwelling house, to dispose of difficult and fibrous food items you volition have to buy top-end garbage disposal models. InSinkErator Evolution Excel comes highly recommended.

How much space you have nether the sink

Some garbage disposals tin can be upwards to eighteen inches in acme. It is also recommended to leave 4 to 5 inches of space under the disposal. Merely if you are using a farmhouse sink or similar there won't be enough space under the countertop to adapt a tall garbage disposal. And then if you do not accept much space nether the sink it is recommended to become for a smaller size garbage disposal unit of measurement.

How much money are you willing to pay?

The prices of garbage disposals are somewhat proportional to their ability ratings. A 1 HP garbage disposal always costs more than a one/3 HP one. In instance you are looking for a quieter or a feature-rich unit the cost is going to be much higher.

If you accept a large household then you have no options other than buying a 1 HP garbage disposal. Units like Development Excel comes with a premium price tag. However, there are as well some affordable options like Waste product King L-8000 in case your budget is low.

For models with depression ability ratings ie, those with up to 1/2 horsepower the price tags are most the same. Only for 3/iv HP and above, at that place are premium models equally well as upkeep options. So please brand certain to do a price comparing earlier you lot decide on the product.

Do you lot prefer a quiet and smooth operation?

Depression powered garbage disposals are likely to jam more than their powerful counterparts. They besides do not accept any dissonance insulation. So if you are looking for a tranquility and smooth running garbage disposal you lot will have to cull one of the premium models. Premium models come with noise insulation as well every bit anti-jamming technologies.

If yous are looking for such a garbage disposal I recommend InSinkErator Evolution Excel.

Are all garbage disposals the aforementioned size?

Patently, the question hither is whether a garbage disposal fits all sinks, or, whether all of them fit a sink.

All standard kitchen drainage holes accept a size of 3.five-inch diameter. All garbage disposals are made to fit this size.

Simply in instance the drainage hole size of your kitchen sink is different there are accessories you tin buy to fit a disposal.

Are all garbage disposals interchangeable?

No, just because they are all made to fit a 3.5-inch sinkhole doesn't mean they are interchangeable.

The reason is disposals use two kinds of mountings for installation; 3-bolt and EZ, the details of which you tin can read here.

If your existing disposal is using a 3-bolt mounting and the new 1 is EZ mount so you will demand to remove the setup completely to install the new disposal.

If the new disposal is manufactured past the same company near likely they tin be easily replaced but not always as all companies utilize both kinds of mountings.

Also depending on the size (dimensions) of the new disposal, you lot may want to change the position of the connecting pipes. This will add together further complication to replacement.

That being said, replacing a disposal with a new one is generally a simple chore which yous can practise by yourself, I was only showing you lot the worst-case scenario.