What garbage disposal size do I need?
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Buying a garbage disposal that is too large for your household will cost you more than necessary. On the other hand, choosing a unit that is too small for your household will get jammed and clogged regularly, leaving you frustrated and annoyed. For these reasons, it’s important to look for the right garbage disposal size when buying one for your kitchen sink.
But how do you determine the right garbage size for your home? What garbage disposal size do I need? What factors do you need to consider when looking for the right garbage disposal size for your kitchen?
This garbage disposal sizing guide will give you answers to all these questions and much more!
What size garbage disposal do I need?
First of all, unlike other products, the dimensions of a garbage disposal have nothing to do with its size. After all, most houses have adequate space under the kitchen sink to accommodate the dimensions of any garbage disposal unit. Not to forget that all garbage disposals can fit in all kitchen sinks. Also, a powerful garbage disposal doesn’t necessarily have to be bigger.
Instead, the size of a garbage disposal refers to the grinding power of the unit. That said, here are a few aspects you need to consider when looking for the right garbage disposal size for your kitchen sink;
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Motor Size
Garbage disposal units measure their food grinding strength in HorsePower (HP). If the motor has more HP (Horsepower), the garbage disposal unit will be more powerful. For instance, a ¾ HP disposal will be more powerful and operate better than a ½ HP unit.
With that in mind, garbage disposals are usually available in 4 power ratings;
⅓ HP
A ⅓ HP motor is found in the lowest-powered garbage disposals that are ideal for households with 1-2 people. For instance, this unit is ideal for small apartments and students who do not cook much.
One notable benefit of 1/3 HP garbage disposals is that they’re the cheapest option. However, they get jammed easily as they have limited utility levels. In addition, these units have a shorter service life since their internal components are made from the least expensive materials. Other than that, if you’re on a tight budget or live in a studio apartment, a 1 ⁄ 3 HP garbage disposal is a perfect fit for you.
½ HP
A 1⁄2 HP garbage disposal is the minimum recommended motor size for typical home use. Most plumbers recommend the 1/2 HP model over the 1/3HP unit since it has a little more power and better construction.
However, these models are smaller than the 3⁄4 and 1 HP units, making them ideal for light use and households with 1 -3 people. In addition, the 1 ⁄ 2 HP garbage disposals are budget-friendly and fit perfectly in tighter spaces because of their small sizes. For instance, you can install them in apartments, condominiums, or vacation homes.
To extend the service life of your garbage disposal, run a strong flow of cold water while running the appliance. More importantly, slowly feed the food waste into the grinding chamber without overloading it.
¾ HP
A 3⁄4 HP unit is an ideal garbage disposal size that will serve most kitchens quite well. To be precise, this unit can work well for a household with about 3 – 5 people as it has plenty of grinding power for all those leftovers. Some 3 ⁄ 4 HP garbage disposals even have enough power to grind problematic food waste like celery and potato peels.
In addition, these units are less likely to jam and have durable stainless steel grid components to prevent rusting and increase their service life. On top of that, they run quieter than their 1/2 HP counterparts as they come with additional features like noise insulation and multi-stage grinding.
On the downside, 3 ⁄ 4 HP garbage disposals are physically larger than 1 ⁄ 3 and 1 ⁄ 2 HP units. For that reason, it’s important to check that you have enough room under your kitchen sink before you buy the best 3/4 HP garbage disposal on the market.
1 HP
I HP models are the most powerful garbage disposal for household use. Unlike the previous models, these units can grind coffee grounds, chicken bones, and fruit rinds. Moreover, they have better insulation and operate quieter than even the ¾ HP units. Not to mention that they’re virtually impossible to jam as they can handle more food waste in the chamber.
As you would expect though, 1 HP garbage disposal can be quite large, meaning you’ll need quite a bit of space under the kitchen sink. Other than that, these units are a great option if you have the space and the money
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Grind chamber capacity
The grind chamber refers to the cylindrical chamber in which the food waste items are shredded by the blades. You can locate it just below the connector on top of the garbage disposal.
That said, the grind chamber capacity is another feature you can use to measure the size of a garbage disposal unit. Generally, a unit with a typical grind chamber can hold around 34 oz, while a unit with a large grind chamber can hold 40 oz of food waste or more.
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Connection sizes
The connection bracket is the other standard feature in a garbage disposal unit. Typically, this bracket fits onto the base of the unit’s basket strainer. It is installed on the kitchen sink before installing the disposal.
That said, the basket strainer of a garbage disposal has a diameter of 3.5” to meet the standard diameter of the kitchen sink hole. On the other hand, the connection bracket allows the garbage disposal to hook and clamp on a similar hole under the basket strainer. That way, water, and food waste will go right through the drain into the garbage disposal. In addition, garbage disposals have a standard 1.5” pipe connection on the sides to connect to the drain pipes.
Conclusion: What garbage disposal size do I need?
The Horsepower rating is the most important factor you need to consider when choosing the right size of garbage disposal for your home. However, you also need to consider other factors like the type and amount of food waste you’ll be disposing of and compare that to the HP rating.