Garbage Disposals
To Help Our Clients . . .
Disposal Features
Garbage disposals decrease the amount of garbage
in landfills. Since they eliminate garbage immediately,
insects, rodents, and other pests are less likely to visit
your garbage cans. This information sheet is designed
to help you make an educated decision about selecting a disposal. Popham also encourages you to visit
local business resources such as King’s Great Buys Plus
and Lensing Home Consultants to learn more and to
view products in person. Additionally, you may enjoy
researching online. Popham does not endorse specific
resources, but only offers them as a convenient source
of information.
A garbage disposal unit is a device, usually electrically
powered, installed under a kitchen sink between the
sink’s drain and the trap which shreds food waste into
pieces small enough to pass through plumbing to the
municipal waste water facility. There are also models
made especially for use with septic tanks.
Types of Disposals
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Continuous-feed models
Pros: These garbage disposals are easiest to use, since
you can push new waste in as the old waste is ground
up and washed down the drain.
Cons: Their open filler necks pose a greater risk to small
hands and can allow bone shards and other scraps
to fly out. You should hold the supplied stopper at an
angle over the drain as a shield while it’s running.
Safety Option: A safety wall power switch can be
installed so that the disposal only runs as the switch is
being pushed instead of the traditional wall switch that
turns either off or on.
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Batch-feed Models
Pros: These require you to load them with waste before
turning down the stopper to activate the blades.
Safety: Because the stopper keeps food in and fingers
out, batch-feed models are generally safest, especially
for families with kids.
Cons: These tend to cost more and can require more
time to get the job done.
Popham Construction
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Power is important
Find out what materials a model can grind. Some excel
at grinding stringy vegetables while others are better
at grinding bones. Disposals come in a range of motor
sizes including 1/3 HP, 1/2 HP, 3/4 HP and 1 HP. If you’re
grinding only soft foods like vegetables, then 1/3 to 1/2
HP is fine. But paying a bit more for a 3/4 to 1 HP motor
will provide you less jams and smoother operation and
finer pulverization of the food waste, and that means
less clogged drain lines and less stress on the waste
water system. The revolutions per minute (rpm) of the
blades are definitive when it comes to grinding ability.
Although 1400 rpm may be good enough for fruit and
veggies, you will most likely need to upgrade to a faster
induction motor for stubborn bones, coffee grounds,
and seeds. Some of the top units reach speeds of 1800
rpm, but keep in mind that energy cost and water
usage varies depending on the model.
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noise level
Disposals are generally noisy, but some models offer
sound shielding and anti-vibration features. It’s helpful
to visit a local store for a demonstration.
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Safety
Some safety issues apply to certain types of disposals as
indicated in the first column of this sheet. An important
feature for either type is overload protection that will
turn off the motor if it begins to overheat. The electrical
reset button will pop out and turn off the unit. Another
option to choose is an auto-reverse feature to prevent
jamming. Definitely select a unit with a flywheel turning
wrench hole in the bottom so you can manually turn
the disposal’s grinding flywheel if there is a jam.
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warranties
Warranties can vary greatly, so avoid models with only
a one year warranty. Always read the warranty before
any purchase.
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www.insinkerator.com
www.kitchenaid.com
www.sears.com
www.vikingrange.com
www.waste-king.com
(812) 479-5850
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www.nkba.org
www.pophamconstruction.com