Pay attention to these details when shopping for a garbage disposal

THE WASHINGTON POST

A garbage disposal is hardly a glamorous item, but there are reasons to pore over its details the same way you do with any other kitchen appliance, lest you wind up with a shrieky, leaky or clog-generat ing device. These tips about garbage disposal features, cost, installation and maintenance will help ensure you purchase a product that fits your needs and will last for years.

Suisun City

84 Calhoun Street - $395,000

01-12-23 [3 Bdrms - 1152 SqFt - 1980

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-24-08, $115,000

129 Candy Drive - $417,000

01-09-23 [4 Bdrms - 1391 SqFt - 1977

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-06-06, $440,000

107 El Campo Court - $299,500

01-13-23 [3 Bdrms - 1468 SqFt - 1954

YrBlt]

118 Fairmont Avenue - $550,000

01-13-23 [4 Bdrms - 2107 SqFt - 1937

YrBlt]

159 Farallon Drive - $610,000

01-13-23 [3 Bdrms - 1514 SqFt - 1974

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-01-18, $409,000

340 Haviture Way - $580,000

01-13-23 [3 Bdrms -

Vacaville

SqFt - 1988

Previous Sale: 09-21-11, $44,000 335 Pepper Drive - $387,000 01-12-23 [3 Bdrms - 1885 SqFt - 1958

Horsepower: A garbage dispos al’s job is to grind food waste into pieces small enough to pass through your plumbing. The most important choice you will make is the motor’s horsepower (hp). Horsepower equals grinding power and ranges from 1 3 to one hp. Take into account your family’s size, how often you cook, how much food waste you generate and how often you will use the disposal. Though economical, a 1⁄3-hp unit will probably fail quickly, says Bob Harrah, general manager at SAK Electric Plumbing in Arizona. Most households are well served by a 1 2 – or 3 4-hp motor. Large families and home chefs may want to consider a one-hp unit.

Size: The higher the horsepower, the larger the grinding chamber, both in depth and diameter. You want to buy a disposal that fits into the cabinet space under your kitchen sink. If you are replacing a disposal, measure the length of the existing one or measure from the cabinet bottom to the sink, says Aaron Mulder, a journeyman plumber and co-owner of Mr. Rooter Plumbing in San Antonio. If space is an issue, consider compact models that have just as much horsepower.

Noise: Garbage disposals are not quiet appliances. The stronger the unit, the louder it will be. Manufacturers are now producing models with sound insulation jackets, claiming to cut noise by up to 60% over

ADOBE STOCK standard disposers, but serenity comes at a price. A one-hp unit with sound-reduction technology may cost twice as much as its uninsulated counterpart. “It’s personal preference. Some people don’t care about noise, and others are really bothered by it,” Mulder says.

Hire a plumber to install the disposal if you don’t know how to seal pipes and other joints.

Cost: A basic 1 3-hp model can cost less than $100, while a one-hp unit with sound-seal technology could be as much as $750. On average, a quality disposal will cost between $150 and $250. Experts advise sticking to tried-and-true brands such as InSinkErator or Moen. A standard installation typically runs from $125 to $325. Many home improvement stores offer professional installation services, and some plumbers will give you a deal on installation if you purchase the disposal from them.

Installation: Doug Greene of Signature Properties in Philadelphia

See Disposal, Page 6