Introduction

Evaluating garbage disposal performance and installation

Not only are garbage disposals (also called garbage disposers) a convenient way to get rid of food scraps, bones, coffee grounds and more, they reduce the amount of waste headed to landfills. Another benefit: Food waste is immediately disposed of, rather than emitting unpleasant odors from the kitchen garbage bin or attracting animals and insects in the outside garbage can. A garbage disposal is installed under the kitchen sink, where it's connected to the drain hole and dishwasher. After food waste is pushed down the drain hole, the garbage disposal's blades are activated to grind it up.

Garbage disposals' metal blades are activated one of two ways; continuous-feed disposers operate via a switch mounted on the wall or under the sink, while batch-feed garbage disposals include a magnetic cover that's placed over the drain hole to activate the grinding action. Continuous-feed disposals typically cost less, but can be more expensive to install if the home isn't pre-wired for the necessary switch. Batch-feed garbage disposals are safer because the drain must be covered in order for the device to turn on, which means operators' fingers cannot accidentally get caught in the grinding blades. One manufacturer offers garbage disposals designed specifically for use with septic tanks, which release bacteria into the tank to aid with food-waste breakdown.

We found professional reviews on garbage disposals at ConsumerReports.org and New Zealand's Consumer magazine. ConsumerReports.org tests 13 continuous-feed garbage disposals and two batch-feed models. After grinding beef ribs, potatoes, celery and other table scraps, they recommend four of them. Consumer magazine's editors test performance by feeding in grapefruit rinds, tea bags, corn cobs, potatoes, dry paper towels, banana skins and a combination of bones and vegetables. The New Zealand publication recommends two garbage disposals, but neither is available in the United States.

Outside those two sources, professional garbage-disposal reviews are scarce, so we compared models evaluated in professional reviews against owner feedback on ease of installation and performance. We found user-written reviews of garbage disposals at retail websites such as Amazon.com, ABT.com, Lowes.com, HomeDepot.com, Sears.com and AJMadison.com. We also read interesting opinions on garbage disposals posted on the GardenWeb.com forum.

Additionally, we consulted several websites with information and opinions about specific brands or types of garbage disposals. HowStuffWorks.com provides information about popular disposer brands including Waste King, InSinkErator, Whirlaway, KitchenAid and Viking. ThisOldHouse.com features an interesting video tour of the InSinkErator manufacturing plant, which shows how garbage disposals are produced and tested.

A solution to wall-switch dilemmas

If you don't like the out-of-reach location of your current wall switch, or if your sink is located on an island without walls, an air-activated switch is worth considering for a continuous-feed garbage disposal. This push-button switch is installed next to the sink, by drilling a hole into the countertop. A narrow tube runs from the button to the power module, which plugs into an outlet under the sink and connects to the garbage disposal. When the button is pushed, air flows down the tube to the power module and triggers the garbage disposal. Another push of the button turns the disposal off.

Depending on the brand and finish (which can be metallic, white, black or anywhere in between) prices for an air-activated garbage-disposal switch start around $50. Even with this additional component, the overall cost is likely to be significantly less than hiring an electrician to install a wall switch or purchasing a batch-feed garbage disposal that doesn't require a switch at all. We didn't find many owner reviews of air-activated switches made by InSinkErator, Rohl and others, but owner opinions are generally favorable. Some reviewers say they prefer an air-activated switch because it eliminates concerns about touching an electrical switch with wet hands.