Is it time to replace your garbage disposal? If your garbage disposal leaks, makes loud noise, requires frequent maintenance, or doesn’t turn on at all, it’s definitely time for a new one.
Once you’ve decided it’s time, which should you choose? Here are some key considerations for your decision:
Garbage Disposal Horsepower
The amount of power available to help dispose of unwanted food items can be drastically different with different models of garbage disposal. Horsepower measures the amount of power the motor of the garbage disposal can provide to get rid of food.
Horsepower can range from about ⅓ horsepower at the low end to around ¾ horsepower at the high end. If you frequently use the garbage disposal and tend to have tougher items going down the disposal, the higher end of these is for you. If you tend to use the garbage disposal just for smaller items that remain after cleaning out the sink, then the lower end of these ratings will likely suffice.
Quietness
Different garbage disposal models have different noise levels. More expensive garbage disposals often have additional sound deadening within the unit to reduce how loud they are when processing. If the noise level of your current disposal is a concern, getting a model with a lower noise level is a great idea.
Manufacturer Warranty
Different models of garbage disposals have different warranties. These typically range from about 3 years at the low end to around 9 years at the high end.
The number of years in the warranty isn’t the amount of years the disposal may last. In some cases, the disposal will last beyond the amount of warranty coverage provided.
However, these warranty values clue you in on the general level of useful life expected from the garbage disposal. Models with a higher warranty often indicate that the disposal will last longer than those with a shorter warranty.
If you are moving out of the house soon, or do not expect to live there long term, getting a cheaper model with a shorter warranty likely makes sense. But, if this is your forever home, it’s worth the additional expense to get a better model.
Professional Installation
Getting your new garbage disposal installed by someone who installs garbage disposals often is a great way to protect the insides of your cabinets. When garbage disposals are installed incorrectly, they often end up leaking, often ruining the bottom of your sink cabinet.
Avoid the headache of having to deal with a sink cabinet problem – get your new garbage disposal professionally installed.
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