Waste King Vs Insinkerator Garbage Disposals; Which are Better? 

Waste King and Insinkerator are 2 of the most popular garbage disposal brands in the market. Thanks to their reliable and efficient performance when it comes to converting kitchen waste into a semi-liquid form, making it easy to drain down the drainage pipes. In addition, both brands are well-known for producing high-quality garbage disposal models to cater to various needs. 

Unfortunately, when buying the best garbage disposal for your home, you can only buy a unit from one brand. As a result, you have to make the tough decision of choosing Waste King or Insinkerator. So, which one is better? More importantly, how do you choose the right garbage disposal model for your kitchen needs? 

Hopefully, this detailed comparison of Waste King Vs Insinkerator garbage disposals will help you make an informed decision. 

First, let’s look at a brief history of each of these brands! 

Brief History of Insinkerator and Waste King garbage disposals 

Insinkerator 

Insinkerator was established in 1927 by architect John W Hammes from Racine, Wisconsin, making it the oldest garbage disposal brand on the market. In fact, John Hammes is credited for the invention of garbage disposal, after enhancing it for over 10 years before releasing it into the market. 

However, the company was later acquired by Emerson Appliance Solutions in 1958 and has developed into a household brand ever since. Currently, Insinkerator has 2 lines of garbage disposals; Badger and Evolution Series. The Badger Series has been in the market for several years. While the Evolution Series is a reinvented and modern model. 

Waste King 

Waste King was founded by Engineer Maury Fertig in 1946 with the aim of designing and manufacturing innovative garbage disposal systems for residential and commercial use. Since then, the brand has developed into one of the finest food waste appliance manufacturers. More notably, Waste King has introduced some of the most innovative technologies in the waste disposal industry. For instance, they use the permanent magnet motor and patent Vortex technology. 

The brand is currently owned by Anaheim Manufacturing Group, which is a division of Moen Inc. Moreover, Waste King has various models with different power and price ranges to suit the needs of different users. 

Notable Differences between Waste King vs Insinkerator garbage disposals 

• Motor Type & Power

Waste King garbage disposals are equipped with high-speed permanent magnet motors. These motors run at a speed of about 2600 – 2800 RPM to offer efficient grinding performance. This produces an instantaneous and consistent motor flux instead of relying on a stator field. Better yet, it generates a constant flux through a physical connection to the rotor like in induction motors. Consequently, the Permanent motor reaches maximum speed almost instantly when turned on, causing them to jam less often. 

As for the power output, these motors usually have 2 horsepower ratings; 1 ⁄ 2 and 1 HP. 1 ⁄ 2 HP Waste King garbage disposals are ideal for small households with moderate usage requirements. While 1 HP models are intended for larger households with heavier usage requirements. 

In addition, the permanent magnet motors in garbage disposals provide several benefits. They take up less space under the sink due to their compact size. At the same time, they ensure faster grinding speed to reduce the risk of jamming. Even better, permanent magnet motors are more energy efficient than their induction counterparts as they consume less energy. 

Insinkerator garbage disposals

On the other hand, Insinkerator garbage disposals use Dura-Drive induction motors. They are usually available in 3 horsepower ratings; ⅓, 1 ⁄ 2 and 3 ⁄ 4 HP. 1⁄3 HP models are suitable for small households with low to moderate usage requirements, while 1⁄2 HP units are ideal for medium-sized households. In addition, the 3⁄4 HP Insinkerator garbage disposals are intended for those who frequently dispose of more challenging kitchen waste and larger households. 

On the downside, Induction motors run at a speed of about 1725 RPM, which is relatively lower than that of permanent magnet motors. Nonetheless, they still provide effective power grinding. In addition, these motors offer a quiet operation due to the lower grinding speed. At the same time, they have durable construction and provide reliable performance, with reduced chances of overheating. 

• Models and Series 

Both the Waste King and Insinkerator brands have various garbage disposal models to suit the needs and preferences of different users. For instance, they have entry-level models (most affordable), mid-level models (reasonably priced), and higher-end models, which are accompanied by a higher price tag. 

As mentioned earlier, the Insinkerator brand has 2 major series; the more advanced Evolution series and the classic Badger series. However, the brand also has another garbage disposal system that is specifically designed for homes with septic tanks. 

The Badger series usually includes entry-level models that only provide basic functions. In contrast, the Evolution models are more modern and provide extra features and advanced functions. 

Unlike the Insinkerator brand, the Waste King brand only has one series known as Legend. However, the Waste King Legend series has many models, ranging from the basic to the high-end models. More importantly, the models in the Legend series can either be classified as having a 3 Bolt or EZ mount assembly system. The units with EZ mount systems are easier to install and usually form the mid-level to high-end models of the Waste King Legend series. Some popular Waste King models include L-8000, L-3200, L-2600 and L-1001. 

• Noise level 

Another notable difference between Waste King and Insinkerator garbage disposals is the noise level produced by the units during operation. 

Insinkerator garbage disposals are known to provide a quiet operation, making them the perfect option if the noise level is a concern. They’re equipped with sound-reducing technology like insulation and anti-vibration mount systems to reduce the noise produced by the disposal. This includes Insinkerator’s patented Anti-vibration Tailpipe Mount and Anti-Vibration mount. These systems work together to reduce vibration, thus minimizing the noise generated by the garbage disposal. 

In addition, Insinkerator uses their patented sound reduction technology known as Quiet Collar Sink baffle to minimize noise in the disposals. A sink baffle is simply a rubber component that is installed at the sinkhole to reduce the amount of noise coming from the disposal while it’s in use. 

In comparison, Waste King garbage disposals are known for their outstanding grinding ability and powerful motor. As a result, these disposals tend to be noisier than Insinkerator models during operation. Nonetheless, some Waste King models have anti-vibration and sound insulation features to minimize the noise produced by the unit. For instance, Waste King L-3200 and L-8000 garbage disposals have a sound insulation technology known as SoundShield. This technology encases the grinding chamber and motor of these units in a dense, foam-like material to reduce noise and vibrations coming from the disposal while it’s running. 

• Grinding Technology 

As already mentioned, Waste King garbage disposals use a high-speed magnet motor to efficiently grind food waste into fine particles. In addition, they are equipped with durable stainless steel that aids in the grinding process and minimizes the risk of jamming. To be precise, stronger ¾ and 1 HP Waste King models are made from stainless steel, while low-power units (½ and ⅓ HP) are made from galvanized steel. Also, the grinding chambers of some models are crafted from corrosion-proof glass-filled polyester. Either way, all Waste King garbage disposals don’t have an advanced grinding mechanism as they use a single-stage grinding system. 

However, the grinding mechanism in the Insinkerator Evolution series is on another level. Specifically, Insinkerator Evolution garbage disposals use multiple stages of grinding to break down the food waste more thoroughly. This mechanism is known as MultiGrind technology. It includes a specialized grind ring, post-process cutting disc, and extra-supporting impellers to help the disposal produce the finest food particles. As for construction, the grinding chamber of Insinkerator garbage disposals is made from stainless steel to protect them from corrosion. 

• Warranty 

Waste King provides different warranties for various garbage disposal models. For instance, the L-1001 model comes with a 2-year warranty, L-3200 has an 8-year warranty, while the L-8000 and A1SPC models have a 20-year and lifetime warranty respectively. 

Similarly, Insinkerator offers different warranties for different garbage disposals. However, the longest warranty offered by Insinkerator is 10 years for the Evolution Excel model. While other models like Badger 1, Badger 5, and Evolution Compact have a warranty of 1 year, 3 years, and 8 years respectively. 

Can you replace an Insinkerator garbage disposal with a Waste King disposal? 

No, you cannot use a Waste King garbage disposal to replace an Insinkerator unit. Instead, you should disconnect the entire garbage disposal and its mount system from the sink. One reason for this is that Insinkerator garbage disposals use 3-bolt mount assemblies, while most Waste King uses EZ mounts. These mount assemblies are not compatible with each other unless you use an EZ to 3-bolt mount adaptor. 

Conclusion: Insinkerator Vs Waste King; Which garbage disposals are better? 

Despite their differences, both Waste King and Insinkerator garbage disposals provide efficient and reliable performance. Therefore, choosing a unit from these brands will ultimately depend on your budget, specific needs, compatibility requirements, noise tolerance, warranty, and desired features. 

For instance, if you want a unit with a high-speed motor and a long warranty, Waste King is a great option. But if you want a disposal that provides a quiet operation and comes with advanced features, Insinkerator is the better option. All in all, both brands are very reliable and each option has its pros and cons, regardless of whichever you choose.