InSinkErator is one of the most popular brands of food waste disposers in the world, with models sold all over the globe. There are plenty of different models, each with its unique benefits and drawbacks, so it can be difficult to decide which one to go with.
This guide will help you compare and contrast some of the most popular InSinkErator models, helping you determine which one suits your needs best and can save you time and money in the long run!
What are the Features of the Most Popular InSinkErator Models?
As stated earlier, InSinkErator has many models in the market. To make your selection process easy, we will focus mainly on the two most popular models: the badger series and the evolution series.
Features of The InSinkErator Badger Series
The Badger Series includes three different models to choose from. The first (and most basic) model, simply called Badger 1, has a 1/3 horsepower motor and a 3-year limited warranty.
The most powerful model in the badger’s series is the Badger® 5XP, which, even though it doesn’t offer a much quieter sound, comes with 3/4 horsepower. It also comes with one of InSinkErator’s Magnetic Drive Induction motors, which makes it significantly more efficient than traditional garbage disposals and allows it to grind up food scraps 20% faster than other Badger models.
With these increased performance abilities, the Badger® 5XP model has a 4-year warranty, significantly different from that of Badger 1.
Finally, there’s the Badger® 1HP, which features all of Badger® 5XP enhanced capabilities but adds stainless steel components for added durability.
All three Badger models come with a removable splash guard that helps keep your kitchen clean while you’re using them. They also come equipped with corded power outlets so you can plug them into nearby outlets instead of relying on batteries or hardwiring them into your house.
All Badger units are backed by InSinkErator’s Lifetime Service Agreement (same as warranty), which means they’ll replace or repair any part that fails within that designated timeframe.
So, whether you want increased performance or want to save some money while purchasing a garbage disposal, consider purchasing an InSinkErator Badger series garbage disposal. In other words, the badger series is known for increased performance and budget-friendliness.
Features Of The InSinkErator Evolution Series
The InSinkErator Evolution Series comes in five models:
- Compact®
- Cover Control® Plus
- Septic Assist®
- Essential® XTR and
- Excel®
The most notable difference between each model lies in power, which translates to how much waste it can grind daily. The higher-end models offer more efficient grinding capabilities and produce less noise; they also come with better warranties (and installation costs tend to be higher).
These upgraded models are ideal for larger households or those that host frequent parties. They can easily handle bread, cereal, and fruit pits (the number 1 problem people encounter with disposals) and small bones. Users who run these units three or four times a week do not face the issues of food scraps clogging, and maintenance is minimal.
If you have an extra $100 to spend on a disposal unit, there’s no reason not to go with one of these high-end options. But if your budget is tight, don’t worry; other affordable options work just fine for everyday use.
And if you’re looking for something smaller but still want some of the features found on the high-end models (like quick installations and removable splash guards), you might want to consider one of the badger models instead. Or you could get two separate disposers for different parts of your kitchen!
New Models Of The InSinkErator Evolution Series
The Evolution Series introduced two new powerful models: Evolution Essential and Evolution Excel. Both offer state-of-the-art grinding technology using 3/4 and 1 horsepower motors respectively, which run faster than traditional garbage disposals. This, in turn, grinds food waste faster than previous InSinkErator models and reduces jamming while reducing noise.
Source @Alice Wu
Each model also comes with an insulated sink flange to reduce noise even further, as well as corded power outlets so you can plug them into nearby outlets instead of relying on batteries or hardwiring them into your house.
For those who need even more power, there’s Evolution Pro, which features all of these enhanced capabilities but adds stainless steel components for added durability. All three units come with a removable splash guard that helps keep your kitchen clean while you’re using them.
The InSinkErator Evolution Compact
The InSinkErator Evolution Compact garbage disposal is a mid-range unit that effectively handles most household tasks. Although it’s not as compact as its name implies, it offers powerful grinding capabilities at a reasonable price.
This model includes an auto-reverse feature, making it easy to use and ideal for households with limited space. Some users find that they need to replace their gasket every few years due to wear and tear, but replacement parts are cheap and readily available online.
What Makes The InSinkErator Evolution Series Different From The Badger Series?
The InSinkErator Evolution Series of garbage disposals is unique because most of its models are powered by a 3/4 HP induction motor that provides permanent magnet motor technology. This means less horsepower and more torque, making it easy to grind through any food waste, even celery and hard vegetables.
The Badger Series has models that use a 1/2 or 1/3 HP direct-drive motor that doesn’t slow down when grinding tough foods but also has a lower overall capacity than Evolution Series models; these disposers can only handle 30% more in volume compared to their Evolution counterparts.
The Evolution Series has a model (Evolution® Excel) that comes with a 10-year warranty compared to just seven years for the Badger® 1HP model (which is the highest warranty for the badger model).
Finally, all Evolution Series models come with an exclusive Jam-Buster® wrench that allows you to easily unjam your disposal without calling a plumber or using other tools! If you’re looking for something durable and reliable, look no further than InSinkErator Evolution Series garbage disposals.
The main difference between these two models is that evolution has three grind stages while badger has two. These stages consist of grinding hard particles first, then slightly softer particles second, and soft particles lastly to produce finer waste.
This ensures no matter what waste you feed your disposal it will chop it up finely enough to fit through its piping system. It also means less maintenance for you as you won’t have to worry about unclogging your unit due to larger pieces getting stuck in it.
The InSinkErator Evolution Series vs The Badger Series
When choosing between a badger and an evolution model, you might be tempted to choose a badger as it comes at a much lower price. However, their similarities make both models worth considering, even if they might not necessarily be all you need.
Both models have air-gap technology, preventing clogs by separating food and water. In addition, both models have removable splash guards that help prevent leaks.
They also come with jam-busting reverse action mechanisms and quiet motors so you can enjoy using your disposer without listening to loud noises. Finally, both disposers are backed by InSinkErator’s warranty on parts so you can rest assured knowing any defects or malfunctions will be covered.
An unavoidable difference between these two models is in their power capacities. The Badger 5 can handle a higher volume of waste than its Evolution counterpart. Otherwise, both models offer great features and come at reasonable prices.
The decision ultimately comes down to what you’re looking for in an appliance. If you want something basic but still effective, then either model should suit your needs. If you need something more powerful (and expensive), then Evolution disposal may be right for you!
Are You Having Trouble Choosing The Right Model For Your Needs?
One thing that makes purchasing an InSinkErator a little tricky is that there are so many to choose from. There are at least 9 different models available, each with a specific job it was designed for. As you can imagine, trying to figure out which one you need may be difficult without looking at some guidelines.
We’ve compiled a comparison of each model and what they were designed for below. We hope that by looking over these different options, you will find one that will work well with your lifestyle, needs, and budget.
1. The first thing you should do when deciding on an InSinkErator is to figure out how much space you have in your kitchen. If you have plenty of room, we recommend going with a 3/4 HP or 1 HP model because they have larger grinders that allow them to process more food in less time.
If space is limited, we recommend going with a 1/2 HP or 1/3 HP unit because their smaller grinders mean less wasted food when grinding up small amounts of leftovers or scraps.
2. The next thing to consider when choosing an InSinkErator is your budget. If you have a low budget for a disposer, we recommend you go for a Badger series. If the budget isn’t a problem, we recommend using an Evolution model because it offers more power.
3. If you plan on using your InSinkErator for non-food items like plastic, glass, or paper, then we recommend going with either a 1/3 HP model or a 3/4 HP model, depending on how much space you have available in your kitchen.
If space isn’t an issue, go with a 3/4 HP unit because it has larger grinders that allow it to process more food at once than smaller models. If you plan on processing only food scraps and small amounts of leftovers, we recommend going with a 1/2 HP model because they are both powerful and compact.
4. If you want something quiet enough to use while people are sleeping, we recommend getting one of the newer Quiet Series models that InSinkErator offers. The Quiet Series units feature sound dampening technology; some even come with decibel meters so you can see how quiet they are!
Even though it doesn’t seem comprehensive (see a detailed comparison here), the above comparison guide should hopefully give you a direction in figuring out which InSinkErator is right for your needs!
There are also a few other brands that may suit your need than Insinkerator. You can check our comparison of Waste King vs Insinkerator and Moen vs Insinkerator.
How Much Horsepower Do I Need For A Garbage Disposer?
Here’s a simple formula for calculating horsepower. Let’s say you have a 1 horsepower disposer, which is less powerful than most modern disposers. Divide 1 by 3.6 (the number of quarts in a gallon) to get 0.29 horsepower per gallon of grinding capacity. So, if your disposal has only one horsepower, it would take about 29 gallons to grind up an entire chicken (which includes bones).
If you have an old-school 3-horsepower disposal, you can easily grind half a chicken with about 8 gallons of waste and if it’s an industrial 10-horsepower disposer, it will only take 4 gallons or so to do that job!
But what if you want to grind more than just chicken bones? It’s easy to figure out how much horsepower you need based on how many pounds of food waste you plan on grinding each week.
A 5-horsepower disposal can handle five times as much food as a 1-horsepower model. A 5HP disposer can process 50 pounds of food waste per week, whereas a single HP unit might be able to handle only 20 pounds at once.
But beware: very high horsepower units are usually loud and expensive!
Summary
As one of the most trusted names in home appliance technology, InSinkErator has been manufacturing innovative products for a long time, and they don’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
With both their Evolution and Badger series of garbage disposers leading the charge on home food waste management, they seem poised for continued success, especially if they continue developing new models like these two gems.
While they may look nearly identical at first glance, some significant differences between them can help you determine which one will work best for your needs. By knowing what your needs are and finding a model that can meet them, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying all the features a brand-new InSinkErator system has to offer for years (or even decades) to come.
