Is a >1/2 HP garbage disposal worth it

[SarcasticDwarf]

I'm gonna head up to Sears in a bit to get a new garbage disposal as my current one is just dead. The one that was in there was 1/2 HP (the smallest). Is there any point to getting anything bigger for my place? It's not like I have 5 kids and am using it all day or anything.

 

[FoBoT]

will you be putting limbs down it? (like arms or legs?)

 

[CPA]

You should be okay. I had to go to a 3/4 for my household though, the 1/2 that was installed just didn't do the job. I have 4 kids though and use it daily.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
will you be putting limbs down it? (like arms or legs?)

That depends on if I ever meet skywalker.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: CPA
...I have 4 kids...

Not only are you a CPA, but you have 4 kids. My pity grows for you daily.

 

[Modeps]

I'd get a 3/4 personally. 1/2 is a bit weak for grinding up them tater peels.

 

[FrustratedUser]

What do you use a garbage disposal for anyway? Grind bones?

My leftovers gets tossed in the trash bag.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
What do you use a garbage disposal for anyway? Grind bones?

My leftovers gets tossed in the trash bag.

anything food related goes in the garbage disposal.

Why on earth would anybody put food in the trash can? stinky.

 

[FoBoT]

don't put celery in your disposal

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: CPA
...I have 4 kids...

Not only are you a CPA, but you have 4 kids. My pity grows for you daily.

thanks, I'll take all the pity I can get.

 

[rh71]

i should get one of these. I hate having to clean the strainer after each meal. It gets pretty nasty, even for throw-aways. Getting a grinder up in there would be so sweet. Now to look up some prices with fingers crossed...

EDIT>> So they're about $100-$200... how do you hook up these "canister" looking things to an on/off switch on the wall ?

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
What do you use a garbage disposal for anyway? Grind bones?

My leftovers gets tossed in the trash bag.

anything food related goes in the garbage disposal.

Why on earth would anybody put food in the trash can? stinky.

Well, not ANYTHING food related, but they're definately a handy thing to have around... I dont take out the garbage daily, therefore if I have some eggs, the shells go down the grinder... potato peels, down the grinder, small pieces of meat, down the grinder... skywalker66, down the... oh wait, that joke was already made in this thread.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
What do you use a garbage disposal for anyway? Grind bones?

My leftovers gets tossed in the trash bag.

anything food related goes in the garbage disposal.

Why on earth would anybody put food in the trash can? stinky.

Um yeah, you do have someone to pick up the garbage by your house right?
I guess it is a american thing then. I find it to be a redundant pice of equipment.

 

[TerryMathews]

Sears has really, really good warranties. The higher HP models have longer warranties to go along with. Just something to think about.

We bought the biggest one, because it had a 7 year warranty. It breaks, just take it back with receipt and they give you a new one.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
What do you use a garbage disposal for anyway? Grind bones?

My leftovers gets tossed in the trash bag.

anything food related goes in the garbage disposal.

Why on earth would anybody put food in the trash can? stinky.

Well, not ANYTHING food related, but they're definately a handy thing to have around... I dont take out the garbage daily, therefore if I have some eggs, the shells go down the grinder... potato peels, down the grinder, small pieces of meat, down the grinder... skywalker66, down the... oh wait, that joke was already made in this thread.

Don't worry, you could say that all day long and I wouldn't get bored with it.

 

[welst10]

How does it work? Can you install it by yourself?

 

[rh71]

link to one... I had no idea that's all they were...

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: welst10
How does it work? Can you install it by yourself?

most definitely. installation is pretty simple.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Oooh...1 hp!!!

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Oooh...1 hp!!!

rrrrrr......more power.

I'm of the belief that everything benefits from MORE POWER.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

i would definitely get the cheap 1/2 HP. dont waste ur money on the 1HP. u can take what u save and get a carbon fiber housing with it. i would get aftermarket turbo and put the blow off valve next to the soap dispenser. i would prolly put a wing on it too but thats just my taste.

 

Don't go with the bottom of the barrel 1/2 hp. Go with a 3/4 hp, and that should do the job well.
1hp is kind of overkill.

 

[drnickriviera]

Originally posted by: rh71
i should get one of these. I hate having to clean the strainer after each meal. It gets pretty nasty, even for throw-aways. Getting a grinder up in there would be so sweet. Now to look up some prices with fingers crossed...

EDIT>> So they're about $100-$200... how do you hook up these "canister" looking things to an on/off switch on the wall ?

Way it's usually done is there is an outlet under the sink. One plug is switched the other is always hot.

If you do not have a switch on the wall to control it, you can buy an air switch for them. They mount in a hole where the sprayer or soap dispenser would go.

There are also batch feed disposals. When you lock the strainer/stopper into place, the disposal turns on.

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
What do you use a garbage disposal for anyway? Grind bones?

My leftovers gets tossed in the trash bag.

anything food related goes in the garbage disposal.

Why on earth would anybody put food in the trash can? stinky.

Um yeah, you do have someone to pick up the garbage by your house right?
I guess it is a american thing then. I find it to be a redundant pice of equipment.

I totally agree with FU on this issue. I've got my sink all wired for a disposal, but my wife doesn't want one, and that suits me fine. Plates are scraped off into a small wastebasket, that's lined with the exact same bags that brought the food into the house. These bags are so small, that they have to be thrown out daily, so there's absolutely no time to start to decay. The small wastebasket is very handy, right under the sink. Garbage can is right outside the kitchen door, so frequently dumping the daily trash is no problem.

Scraping into the sink, or into a trash bag is the same amount of effort, so why fill your plumbing with food scraps? If I were to buy a disposal, it would have the auto reverse feature to get itself unjammed. No concern whatsoever for the horsepower.

 

[SearchMaster]

We lived in a rental house for a while....the disposal on that thing had to be at least 1 hp. We would get drunk and stick stalks of celery in it and laugh our butts off as that thing absolutely devoured them in about a second. Sad, pathetic, but man that was fun when you were drunk.