Advice on a new disposer

Gather App
Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support AutomaticWasher.org:

aamassther

aamassther

Well-known member
Platinum Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2005
Messages
439
Location
Hendersonville, NC
Hello all, we are looking for a new disposer. The Badger 10 that was only installed 4 yrs ago is getting progressively louder, so I finally have my excuse to ditch this POS.
I was looking at the Waste King L8000 and the Frigidaire Pro 1 HP, though they seem to be the same unit. Is this a good choice or should I go back to Kitchenaid? Kitchenaid used to make a great disposer, the one that the Badger replaced was great. Is it worth the premium, compared to the $130 I can get the WK for on Amazon?
I'm drawn to the reviews of the WK and the lifetime warranty.
My main criteria are power/ torque, reliability and if I can achieve it, quietness with minimal vibration.
Is a full HP the way to go or is a 3/4 HP just as good?
Thank you in advance for all of your help!
 
In the last home I lived in, I replaced my existing one with an in sink erator that was 1 hp and reversing. I never had another problem in 20 years.
 
OK...

I bought my sister back in 2002 a TOL Sears 1 HP.

What a Great Disposal. Quiet, Smooth, and would take just about anything. (Except for used car parts).

Living here on the SandBar of Cape Cod, most of us are on Septic Tanks and therefore they are not allowed.
 
We had a GE disposer and a Whirlaway disposer and they both shook the counter tops while running. They are so noisy they'll also wake the neighbors. So we are interested in finding a new one too.
 
InSinkerator

I have a 1 HP Insinkerator and I love it-- its quiet and has a 7 yr in-home warranty. Oh-- and they make the garbage disposer's for KitchenAid.
 
I was thinking that Insinkerator was over rated after this pos Badger 10. It shook a glass off the top of the sink the other day. But, now after these reviews, I'll give the higher line models a look see. Are these units US made? Who makes the Sears disposal, I'm not a Sears shopper, but will certainly give the manufacturer some research. Thank you for the advice!
 
EverGrind by InSinkErator

I went through this last summer, and have posted a link to my original thread below. ISE makes probably the majority of garbage disposals, under many different brand names so that retailers don't have to do price-matching.

The one that we got at Menards was a match to the 3/4 HP KitchenAid model, I think, and it was a much better price.

Overall, it has been a good disposal. We do notice some vibration if we have dishes sitting in the other side of the sink. However, I think this is the fault of the stainless steel sink I chose, which doesn't have much anti-vibration mastic on the bottom.

There was never a vibration issue with our old Kenmore disposal, which was mid-line at best. However, it was attached to our old faux-cast-iron Americast sink, which was considerably heavier than this stainless steel one we replaced it with.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?47314
 
You do Insinkerator a disservice judging then based on a Badger line product. Those are typically low cost builder models. Typically rough, noisy and short lived.

I put in an ISE 333 SS in the early 80's, it worked flawlessly for ~25 years until it developed a leak through the motor. I replaced it with an ISE Evolution Essential and so far that unit is quieter and more refined then the 333 was. Check back in 20 years and we'll see which lasted longer ;)

I'm not sure the HP rating on the 333, the Evolution Essential is 3/4 hp I think. Neither one ever lacked for power in any case.
 
Go with ISE or ISE made disposers-they have cap start induction motors.These last the longest.Other machines have PM DC motor-those have brushes and can burn out quicker-esp the rectifier in the motor base of the machine.Sadly disposers aren't made to the quality standards they used to be.Go to an OLD Maytag store-see if they have any "old stock" Maytag disposrs-these have induction motors,cast shred rings and cast swivel shred hammers on the flywheel.These are supurb-I replaced a 1Hp ISE with a half HP old school Maytag and its MUCH better!Older disposers show up on EBay-Older GE,ISE,Waste King, are excellent machines.Don't be swayed by the HP of the disposers motor--its the quality of the SHREDDING components that counts!!A high quality shredder on a half hp motored machine will be better than a low quality shredder on a 1 Hp one.You don't see the quality in disposalls as you used to-they are being made to be literally disposable-you have to buy one every few years-Badgers for a cheap builders machine-do quite well-they are built by ISE.Stay away from machines built in China-as the newer Waste Kings ones are.Their old school machine were excellent.And the longest lived machines will have cast stainless steel or Micron shred rings and stainless steel flywheels,shred hammers and hoppers.
 
When we moved to this home, almost 12 year ago, it was a brand new home with some InSinkErator Badger or another installed. It lasted for about 6 years give or take.

I wasn't sorry, in fact I really was looking forward to see it go. If it wasn't the cheapest thing ever, it was the next up on the line.

I went straight into Lowe's and bought the InSinkErator Evolution Excel, 1 HP, which at the time was their top of the line, not sure if it still is.

The difference is night and day: while the Badger was slow, loud and often got the drain clogged, the Evolution Excel is quiet, fast and has kept the drains clear for nearly 6 years now. I avoid big bones, but now I grind almost everything else, including fibrous stuff like celery stalks, corn husks and cobs, etc.

Good luck!
 
ISE Evolution Compact

When I owned a condo, I had a Badger disposal that was a piece of garbage; I replaced it with a similar one because I planned to move. When I moved in with my partner, his disposal was on the blink as well. We went shopping for a new model, and I chose the ISE Evolution Compact. It was twice the price, but more than twice the machine. After three years, it continues to grind food waste efficiently and quietly. Bottom line: With "builder" models, you get what you pay for. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Evolution.
 
I know several people who have put in the ISE Evolution series disposers and claim they were the best they'd ever owned.  Replacing a Badger series with anything quieter and more solid would be impressive to most but they really are fine units.

 

A friend in Chicago gave me a Waste King SS5000 from 1986 and I saved it for a couple of years before we remodeled the kitchen.  Having had a few Badger series machines over the years, I've been really impressed with this Waste King.  Quiet, powerful and able to grind anything put into it.  I replaced the splash guard with one for a ISE Evolution series which fits securely and works well but as with all of these, must be cleaned with a brush now and then.  It's easily removable for more thorough cleaning and even has taken a brief spa day in the dishwasher from time to time.  

 

I likely wouldn't buy another Waste King branded product now, there is little similarity to the build quality of 1986 in their offerings now.  I wouldn't hesitate to spend the extra money to get an Evolution series should the need ever arise.
 
some things to consider no matter what you choose....

batch feed or continuous feed?

and the one thing I really liked about our GE Dispos-ALL.....the flapper/splashshield was removable for cleaning as well as if you had to reach in and grab something that dropped in......

I think all of them have he slot underneath for the 'key' in case it jams....

another thing, one that reverses with every cycle...

and a stainless grind chamber is preferred rather than the plastic....some even do a double grind!
 
My parents replaced a broken 30+ year old disposal with the Insinkerator 5/8 HP insulated space saver model:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_240439-712-SPACESAVER_1z0x141+1z13y7f__?productId=3065641&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1%26page%3D1&facetInfo=InSinkErator

It has been in place for five years with perfect service. So quiet you can barely hear it run and it does not vibrate. Disposes all appropriate waste with ease. Probably a larger non-space saver model would have fit, but we chose the compact model to allow more under-sink space and because they are--in their 80s--not super heavy power users as a family with a load of young kids might be.
 
and yes Yogitunes, my father still calls it a dispose-all. Even when we installed the first one in 1962, he called it a dispose-all. However, unlike my grandparents, at least he did NOT use "Frigidaire" as a common noun meaning "refrigerator". 
smiley-sealed.gif
 
Removable splash shield

As Martin mentioned, the splash shield MUST be removable for me to consider that model. Both ISE models I have owned had removable shields. The last couple Badger models I have seen/used were not removable, seems like the rubber piece was a permanent part of the assembly.

I bought a spare splash shield and they are removed and rinsed often and cycled through the dishwasher every once and again. Most disposer odors seem to stem from debris that build up on the bottom of the splash guard...
 
Insinkerator PRO line

If you can find them at a reasonable price, the Insinkerator PRO models (targeted for professional contractors) are a bit higher-end than their regular line. I just installed their batch feed PRO model -- 7/8 HP, double-grind, reversing, stainless steel chamber, 9-year warranty. It works well, and it's so much quieter than my 1970s GE batch disposer that it's not even funny.

Except for my disposer, all the other Insinkerator PRO models are continuous feed. I believe the TOL PRO model has 1.1 HP, triple grind, and a 12-year warranty.
 
Thanks everyone! You've convinced me that ISE is the way to go. This board such a great source of info! Its off to Lowes to see what they have to offer. Looks like the Excel and the Esteem are most what I'm looking for. I'll also look at the Evolution, it's 3/4 HP but from what everyone says, sounds like a good choice too. I would like to be able to put things like broccoli stalks and banana peels down the disposer again. I like the idea of being able to remove the splash guard, never been able to do that. Its much more sanitary, you can bet it will be taking a regular trip through the spa!
Are the GE Disposall's made in the US? They're quite a bit cheaper than ISE. I still call it a disposall too. lol.
 
Home Depot was where I bought my Badger... First thought I needed to just replace my cord on my old one, a Whirlpool, which except for the name, is just mechanically exactly like it...!

But water & waste may have just leaked into the machinery... I wish I'd gotten the more quieter one--or QUIETEST one, but I'm used to the noise, little often I dispose of anything enough that to this day I'd rather appreciate the money I'd saved...

I had some other plumbing work done under the sink there as well...

-- Dave
 
We have an Evergrind (I think house brand for one of the big box home stores), 1/2 hp, and I hqve no complaints. It has never jammed, and will literally grind up anything you throw in it (except maybe silverware). It runs very quiet (without garbage of course), and doesn't vibrate excessively. I have put just about anything down it, including some bones, loads of potato peelings, basically any food garbage, even ran coffee grinds (with the filter!) a couple times. I always run plenty of water, and once in a while will run hot water, turn on the disposal, and give a couple squirts of dish soap, to foam up and clean things out. Our dishwasher drains into the disposal, so never really have an odor problem either.
 
Viking

Take a look at the Viking disposers. They are the old Hobart design and you won't buy a better one. (This other stuff is just junk that is MADE to be recycled) They are not inexpensive though. Then again, you get what you pay for. Mark
 
I like turning the disposer on even if there is nothing to grind, almost like a power flush to drain the sink quickly....

I find mine to be very quiet with all the insulation wrapped around it, it a Sears from 1993, not sure the model, just know its huge, and still running...but I also think having a cast iron sink reduces vibrations alot....

I like GE's little attemps at using the 'all' word.....even in the filterflo...Dispens-ALL....not sure if I recall seeing other uses like in the fridge or stove lineup....

if you do have a dishwasher connected to it....remember to pop that plug out when you install the new one....too many times this mistake is made, and a service call is needed....
 
Anybody heard of EcoSink? Their "About Us" says that they are planning to sell their products in the US as well. The specs say their disposers run at almost 6000 rpm. That's like 4000 rpm faster than the TOL InSinkErator. They also come with a warranty of up to seven years.

www.ecoserviceuk.co.uk/index.html
 
Thats right--another good machine if you can find them-the older Viking/KA disposers these had fixed shred hammers on the rotating shredder-and it had cast shred rings as well as serrated edges on the shredding wheel-as waste peices pass thru these edges-they are finely shredded again-good machine for septic tanks!Sad they are no longer available-you may find one in the older appliance shop.Another good one to look for.The "Eco Sink" machine has the PM motor-this can be good or bad-if the motor is well made--good-if cheaply made--BAD!Generally the Chinese made PM ones--BAD-the US or other made PM motors--Good.
 

Similar threads

rp2813
New Frigidaire Disposal
2
Replies
42
Views
933
syndets2000
S
thomasortega
I need help to choose a new vacuum
Replies
28
Views
533
dartman
D
B
New GE disposal model
Replies
5
Views
170
tolivac
T
sudsmaster
New Garbage Disposer
2 3 4
Replies
90
Views
1K
hoover1060
H
B
More on Disposals (for disposal lovers only)
Replies
19
Views
337
tolivac
T

Latest posts

Sponsored
UnlistMe
Back
Top