Garbage Disposer Advice Needed

[johnrk]

My garbage disposer has died--locked up. It was a Badger installed about 3yrs go by my plumber who said it was the most popular model their company used. I never did like it--it's one of those that has the slinging weights on a bottom plate. I can still get it to go on occasion after pressing the reset button on the bottom but it's obviously had it.

Does anyone on here recommend a particular brand? I think the model I was happiest with was about 20 years ago, a Craftsman/Sears. It had a reversible motor so it'd go a different direction each time it worked. I think it didn't have those slinging weights as I remember, but had sort of blade-type things on the walls of the chamber.

I've looked at YouTube and Amazon and apparently there are two types now--one uses some 'easy mount' system and the other does't. My Elkay sink is about 25 years old; is it a safe bet that it doesn't use that 'easy mount' system?

Though I live alone, I really miss the disposer. I do lots of beans and veggies and right now I'm trucking around the corner to dump small amounts in the toilet in my utility room half bath--and that ain't fun. I only have garbage service in my city twice weekly and with our heat, some stuff will start stinking in my garage if I leave it there.

Any advice will be surely appreciated.

 

[polkanut]

Our 40+ year old Insinkerator crapped out on us late last year, and we replaced it with a GE Model GFC530V.  It actually performs better than the old one ever did.  I recommend this model very highly.

http://https//www.geapplianceparts.com/store/parts/spec/GFC530V

 

[tolivac]

Try to find a VINTAGE NOS disposer-some members-Volsboy- may have some he can sell.I WOULD NOT dump food waste in even a toilet-it can clog or worse yet clog your home main sewer line.shredded waste from a disposer won't clog the lines.I use an old Vita Mix blender to shred the waste-pour it onto the sink strainer and throw the stringy stuff into the trash.Most goes down the drain.The stringy stuff can cause clogs.

 

[tolivac]

Silly me-now use an older Maytag disposer I bought from Volsboy.Does a GREAT job-the "slinging weights" or impellors are a benefit-like the blades on a Brush Hog tractor mower-the "weights" swivel away from tough stuff for another blow instead of jamming as fixed impellors can.The swivel impellors eventually along with the shred ring--"BASH" the waste to shredded remains.

 

[johnrk]

tolivac

I never, ever toss anything stringy into either the disposer or into my toilet. Only stuff like gravies, etc. It's funny--I remember growing up and my parents tossed watermelon, celery, bones, etc., down our GE Disposall. But I never did. I can remember when a friend of mine had to call a plumber a while back because his teenaged son crammed too much pasta into the disposer and stopped things up!

I tend to save old food containers in the garage, specifically for dumping used frying oil in the garbage. I don't want it going into my drains. I'll also use those little plastic baggies from the grocery store to wrap stuff before going in the garbage.

The one appliance I never had and never wanted was one of those trash compactors. They were a nightmare down here where we constantly fight roaches for most of the year.

My biggest concern where I live, on this acre with a creek in the back, is that we have tons of raccoons and possums, a few coyotes and some armadillos. If we put our garbage out late at night to await morning pickup, it's no surprise when the sun comes up, to see that something has torn open the plastic bags. Solid cans are prohibited in our city.

 

[panthera]

I install a garbage disposal about once a month

So here's the opinion of a guy who does lots and lots of them.

1) Don't worry about the easy-mount system - if your current disposal is a Badger, then any disposal you buy will fit that easy-mount collar without difficulty. There's even an inexpensive adapter (and it actually works) to fit the other design to the one in your sink.

2) While the Badger 100 is a very popular one, they have a horrible problem lasting much beyond three years unless they are in constant use. Vital components rust out unless flushed constantly. Many of the Chinese knock-offs with 'stainless steel' and 'non-corroding' (means plastic) parts still use regular steel under the chamber and it still rusts through in, well, about three years.

3) I've not had a single problem with any of the InSinkErator Evolve units I've installed, some have now been running for over 10 years.

4) The Evergrind disposals offered by Menards are easier to install (pre-wired) and they hook-up to the easy-mount collar perfectly. They also have been subject to some scary recalls.

5) The GE system, which uses a brushed motor, will require either the adapter (no big deal, don't let anyone tell you otherwise, I do them all the time and if I can do it....) or replacing the three-bolt mounting collar, seems to last a bit longer when you get into the stainless steel designs.

6) If you want reversing and three-chamber grinding, go with the Evolution Excel Garbage Disposal by InSinkErator. It's a no-compromise unit at a reasonable price (about $400). If you've never installed one before, a third hand will help, but it fits the same collar as you currently have so you can definitely do it yourself.

 

[johnrk]

Thank you, Endora!

I think this crappy disposer was only about $150, which is the cheapest I've ever gotten.

I'd rather pay more and get more--and longer-lived.

And no, I can't even get under my sink any more due to ruined spine, my plumber will put it in. I just bought a new sink faucet set and I'll get them both done on the same call.

Thanks again!

 

[panthera]

No problem,

Having to rely on someone else for plumbing is never fun. Regardless of what you buy, running it everyday with lots of water and flushing thoroughly after its done grinding will extend the life.

 

[gusherb]

I installed an ISE Evolution here about 6-7 years ago and it never skips a beat, unlike the Badger before it that clogged the drain any time you put anything in it. With the new one the only maintenance I do is dumping the ice cube tray down it to clean out any built up particles that are stinking.

 

[jkbff]

I sell a lot of the Kitchenaid KCDS100T units because they are the Insinkerator Evolution 1 hp units. We can get the kitchenaids cheaper than we can get the ISE units.

Everyone I have sold, the customers absolutely love them. I have one waiting to go in my kitchen when I get time.

The thing could probably chop up a cow carcass and you'd barely hear it.

 

[ea56]

I took our garbage disposal out about 3 years ago and I don’t miss it.

My experience with any of the garbage disposal that we’ve owned is that they seem to clog up at the most inconvenient of times, when
I ‘ve got five things going at once that I need to pay attention to, and then the garbage disposal would clog. And I was always careful to not overload the disposal, but even so there would still be the occasional clog. Of course then, when I needed the sink the most, I’d have to drop everything, get out the plunger, and hope that would do it. If that didn’t work, then I’d need to get out the snake. PITA! So, I really don’t mind disposing of my vegetable peels, ect in the garbage can. But we also live in a condo, so we have a remote dumpster that I can take the garbage to regularly, so its not stinking up the house. The other plus is that we now have more room under the kitchen sink. And since I took it out, not once have I needed to plunge the kitchen sink, so it works for me.

But that all being said, I do think that Panthera’s advice is right on if you must have a garbage disposal.
Eddie

 

[jakeseacrest]

The condo I moved into last year had an Ace Hardware version of the Badger 5. It clogged a few times in the first 3 months that I lived here. Replaced it with an ISE Evolution Space Saver from Lowe's. 5/8 hp and auto reverse all for only about $160. Haven't had a clog since

 

[sudsmaster]

I am of the opinion that the main reasons why a plumber might say Badgers are the most popular is because they are CHEAP.  I regard them as garbage disposer bottom feeders. They appear to be "contractor grade", which generally means they'll last long enough for the contractor to be paid ;-).

 

This house came with a vintage brand disposer (original Waste King, I think) but it kept on overloading and needing resetting until finally I replaced it with a 3/4 HP "Titan" from Costco, about 15 years ago. The Titan has worked flawlessly, never clogs or bogs. It has stainless steel components so rusting is not a concern.  A drawback, if any, is that the diameter of the opening is a bit less than that of the previous model. So my hand won't fit in there. That may not actually be a drawback, though. Another issue may be the thin nature of the sink flange that comes with these units. It dents easily. However it is backed up by a strong black plastic and although the one in my sink as accumulated a lot of dents, it still works fine and doesn't leak. And I notice that newer models may come with a variety of sink flanges, like stainless, bronze, white, etc., so if one dents too much there are always spares... Ironically, the same design used in the Titan is now sold under the Waste King name... but of course they are not the same internally as the vintage Waste Kings.

 

I bought a second 1-1/4 HP Titan a few years ago to put into the second kitchen in the enclosed patio. I've held off on that because that installation would require some electrical work which I'm not too keen on at the moment. Meanwhile the 3/4 HP Titan in the main kitchen seems to have more than enough power.

 

As for disposer pros and cons... I'm convinced they make food prep a lot quicker... no need to worry about small bits clogging a strainer... and one can send stuff that might rot and fester in the under-sink wastebasket, down the disposer instead, out of sight/mind/aroma.

 

The Titan disposers are often on sale a local Costcos for $80. Here's a link to where one can be ordered on-line. The same design seems to also be sold under the name Waste King which is available on Amazon...

 

Purists may disdain the Titan/Anaheim/Joneca disposers because they are high speed (2600 rpm) and made in China. As far as speed goes, it seems to do the job nicely and is also quieter than lower speed older designs. As for made in China... that's become the new normal, hasn't it? The company does say they are American engineered and designed, for whatever that's worth.

http://https//www.costco.com/Titan-.75-Waste-Disposer-Designer-Series.product.100279019.html

 

[repair-man]

I agree with the others here about the ISE Evolution models or equivalent. I have had mine for six trouble free years. Very quiet. Worth the extra money over the Badger line.

 

[johnb300m]

Evolution

I can't recommend the ISE Evolution series enough.
They're incredibly quiet and powerful.
I found my Evolution Compact on Amazon for about 20$ less than in stores.
It's HEAVY but a breeze to install if you have the quick connect flange already.
It's got a plastic grind chamber, but the flyweel, lugs and grind/shear ring are all stainless. 3/4 HP.

 

[tolivac]

Johnrk-I have roache problems along with raccoons,possums,and yes,coyotes-and occasionally--bears.I don't subscribe to a trash removal service-take mine to the "dump" a trash transfer station that has 2 dumpsters-one for appliances,another for yard waste,and a third for furniture.Then there are three compactors-one for general trash,another for cans addn bottles,newspapars-last for cardboard.I don't believe in home type compactors-compactors in trash trucks and the large ones at the dump site are more effective-and they can handle bulk waste.The trash services that pick up trash have EZ-Pack Goliath truck bodies on an International chassis.An EZ-Pak Goliath will crunch ANYTHING you can throw into its hopper.Other trucks are Pak-Mor and NewWay.The Greenville city area has new NewWay auto side loader trucks.Beatiful trucks!Too bad they will get grungy from trash hauling.Most ASL trucks use reciprocating ran compactors-they will crunch anything the ram can get a hold of.Seen one of these crush a 4X6 " piece of wood to kindling.Disposers and trash trucks are interests of mine.My NOS Maytag disposer I bought from Volsboy replaced an ISE Evolution Excell dispoer.The ISE was good but SLOW.The Maytag is faster and shreds just as well and with only 1/2 HP instead of one Hp.Honestly the OLDER disposer designs were better than today.
If you subscribe to the trash pickup services here-they provide with a container-These are designed to be used with the tippers on the RL trash trucks.In the city they give you a container to be used with the ASL trucks.In an area like yours or mine-think the solid containers should be REQUIRED.These are more likely to survive attacks by animals than bags.

 

[kb0nes]

I can't imagine living in a home without a garbage disposer. The last couple models I have had have been ISE's and the first model in the line with stainless grind chamber parts. First one lasted over 16 years, I'm about 8 on the current one. I have never seen any issue at all with clogged plumbing on the kitchen sink run. As long as you use the automatic dishwasher that shouldn't be a concern.

As for the Badger model, I wouldn't install one even if it were free.

 

[tolivac]

Badgers are a builders brand disposer-also they are used in apartment buildings.The ones I lived in the DC area had them.If your disposer has worn shredders-as with an old Badger-then clogging is a concern.The plumbing in my current house sucks-the plumber was an idiot.Had to reslope the main drain line in my house a few times.Also I have a septic tank.Septic tank users have to be careful what goes down the drain as opposed to homes on a sewer system.

 

[gyrafoam]

My KitchenAid is about eight years old, with no repairs or problems.

Too bad the old (Genuine) Maytag Batch-Feeds are no longer available, as they are great machines.

Of all the "builders grade" waste disposers I ever used, those cheap, tiny and loud old GE's of the sixties and seventies were great! I bought one as NOS off of Flea-Bay once. It was a dud. Years of sitting on the shelf had destroyed the bearings.