With so many different brands of garbage disposals to choose from, it’s hard to know which one to buy. After all, who wants to spend hundreds of dollars on the new garbage disposal, only to find out that it’s not the best one?
Waste King vs. Insinkerator Garbage Disposal
Let’s take some time to compare Waste King and Insinkerator so that you can make an informed decision that ensures you get the best bang for your buck while also making sure you get a product that will stand the test of time, based on your usage.
Here are just some of the many ways Waste King and Insinkerator are different.
An Overview of The Waste King Garbage Disposal
This unit is a popular choice for consumers looking for top-notch garbage disposal at an affordable price. The $89 model packs some serious punch with a 1/2 horsepower motor and continuous feed design.
The Waste King is one of America’s most recognizable brand names in home appliances, so you can feel confident that you’re getting quality. Plus, they offer an impressive 10-year warranty just in case something breaks down or needs replacement.
At 2.8 gallons per minute, it’s one of the highest capacity disposals and has many people singing its praises (many claiming that it’s hushed). Consumer Reports even made it their featured garbage disposal.
An Overview of The Insinkerator Garbage Disposal
The Insinkerator Badger 1 Continuous Feed disposer is made of stainless steel. The high-speed, 2800 rpm permanent magnet motor provides quick grinding action that pulverizes food waste.
A non-clogging sink strainer ensures smooth operation while quiet running technology virtually eliminates noise. It’s made in the USA, with a 2-year limited in-home service warranty. For areas serviced by a waste disposal company, warranty service may not be available or restricted to onsite parts replacement only.
Let’s look at some of the significant factors that differentiate these two garbage disposals.
Price
To get started, let’s talk about price. As it turns out, most units made by Waste King cost more than comparable models from Insinkerator.
For example, if you were looking at a 1/3 HP model (about $100), you would pay $180 for an Insinkerator Evolution Compact versus $200 for a comparable Waste King L-8000 model.
Keep in mind that these prices are before tax and shipping costs. Add another 10% onto these figures to figure out your total price tag before purchasing online. Both brands offer similar features such as multi-stage grinders, sound insulation, and safe dishwasher components.
Power Consumption (in horsepower)
Many people don’t think about it, but garbage disposals are appliances, meaning they draw a certain amount of electricity. The national average is around 4-5 horsepower, translating into 5-6 gallons of water per minute.
You can save a good chunk on your energy bill by investing in a more efficient model. In general, continuous feed disposals are more efficient than batch feed ones. Models that use 10 gallons per minute (GPM) or less tend to be more energy-efficient.
Waste King Legend Series comes in at 1.25 hp as far as models go. At the same time, Insinkerator Evolution Septic averages out at 1.28 pm, not much difference if you’re looking for something inexpensive!
Work Rate
If you want something powerful enough to grind up all sorts of food scraps, you may prefer using an Insinkerator. On average, they are slightly more potent than their competition from Waste King.
However, if power isn’t your primary concern and price matters most, consider going with a less expensive model from Waste King instead. You can get just as much power at a fraction of the cost!
In terms of performance, there isn’t too much difference between these two products. Both are very effective when grinding up any food waste you put into them. So, if power is not a significant concern for you, save some money by buying one from Waste King instead.
Waste King offers three different grinding stages: two pre-grinders and one main grinder stage, while Insinkerator offers two pre-grinders plus the main grinder stage.
This means that both brands will be able to handle all sorts of food waste, but only Waste King will be able to handle things like small bones or peels without jamming up during operation.
The Sizes of Waste King and Insinkerator Compared
The first thing some individuals consider is what size will fit best in their sinks. Both companies offer a variety of sizes, but there are some differences you’ll want to be aware of.
The good news about these two brands is that it’s easy enough for anyone, even those who aren’t handy with tools to install one. This means no expensive plumbers or professional installation is required!
However, both units have unique installation processes, so make sure you’re paying attention when installing your new disposal. And if you’re not quite sure how to do it yourself, ask someone at the home improvement store for help.
They’ll show you exactly how to install your new garbage disposal correctly so you can get back to enjoying all its benefits sooner rather than later. This takes us to the next point; installation.
Installation
When buying an appliance, it is crucial to understand how difficult it will be to install. These disposal units are relatively simple to install, so you don’t have too much concern in that department.
The two significant differences between Waste King and Insinkerator are that Waste King has a stainless-steel design while Innsinkrattor has a more traditional polystyrene design.
That being said, both appliances should run smoothly for many years. There is not a huge difference in ease or complexity as far as installation goes. You should be able to handle either one with no problem.
Both brands offer various installation kits that you can choose from based on your specific needs. However, we recommend going with an Insinkerator model if you want an easy-to-install unit that will work with just about any sink type (even odd ones like a farmhouse style). Their models are designed specifically for these sinks, so there’s no need for an adapter kit or particular parts. Just pop it in and go!
Models and Prices
Now let’s take a look at the famous models from each brand:
- InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Household Garbage Disposer – EZ Mount (List Price: $356.90): This product has received over 7600 reviews on Amazon and averages 4.8 out of 5 stars overall. It comes with a power cord, stopper, and mounting hardware.
- Waste King L-8000 Legend Series 1 HP Continuous Feed Operation Garbage Disposer (List Price: $99.98): This product has received over 11,400 reviews on Amazon and averages 4.5 out of 5 stars overall. It comes with a power cord, stopper, and mounting hardware.
Note: These prices and ratings were captured at the time of writing this content. Prices may vary, depending on several factors.
The essence of including these ratings and prices is to give an idea of the cost of each of these products and the rate at which they’re accepted by users who have actually purchased them.
Ease-Of-Use
Insinkerator’s advantage over its competitors, in general, is ease-of-use. It has buttons on top that allow you to operate it efficiently without using your hands or arms to reach down into it (which could be difficult depending on how high off the ground it is).
Also, its insides do not require any cleaning. Wipe them out occasionally when needed. This makes for a pretty convenient disposal unit overall! One disadvantage of Insinkerator is that if you live in an area with hard water, it can cause some issues with clogging up inside of it.
If you have hard water and are worried about clogs forming in your disposal unit, then Waste King may be a better option because their units are designed to handle hard water better than most other brands.
Warranty
Waste King wins when it comes to warranties too. The company offers lifetime coverage for their grinding motors, while Insinkerator only provides ten years’ coverage. If something goes wrong with your grinding motor, you can count on having a replacement sent out by Waste King.
Sound: Which is Quieter?
In terms of sound insulation, Waste King wins hands down here too! Their units are much quieter than those made by Insinkerator, making them an excellent choice for those who live in apartments or near other people.
Conclusion: It All Comes Down To Individual Needs
The type of garbage disposal you choose comes down to your individual preferences. For example, if you live in a small apartment, you might want a compact unit that doesn’t take up too much space under your sink.
In other cases, like homes with prominent families or multiple people living in one space, you might need larger garbage disposal to handle more volume. Some homeowners may also require special features from their garbage disposals like grease traps or dishwasher connections.
Regardless of what kind of food waste disposer you need, be sure to research different models and determine which will work best for your home’s unique needs before making a purchase.
