Uploaded June 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Take a walk through your local hardware store or home center and you’ll find there are plenty of different manufacturers marketing plenty of different garbage disposals.
The one we installed features a half horsepower motor. In this case, bigger is definitely better. A larger motor will help the disposal to grind up just about anything that may come its way.
If you’re buying a disposal for your home, you also want to ask about sound insulation. If you’re in the store and they actually have some different disposals hooked up, take the time to listen to each. You’ll probably be surprised – we were -- at how quiet the newer, better-made disposals are.
Automatic reverse is another feature to ask about. Maytag offers it on some models. Automatic reverse allows you to conveniently fix a jammed disposal.
As with so many purchases, each feature is going to add cost to your new garbage disposal. Decide on the ones that are important to you, but remember, in general if you’re willing to spend a little more money, you will get a quieter disposal with a longer warranty. Again, that assumes noise level is an important consideration in your home. If the kitchen and disposal are near a family area where people talk and watch television or listen to the stereo, quiet operation might be very important.
Finally, if you live in a home with a septic system instead of municipal sewer line, look for disposal models designed for your waste system. We did some looking on-line and found a manufacturer who makes a disposal for just this sort of installation.
TOOL LIST
Towels
Screwdriver
Disposer Installation kit
Locking pliers or pipe wrench
Hammer
Small piece of wood
Sponge
Take a walk through your local hardware store or home center and you’ll find there are plenty of different manufacturers marketing plenty of different garbage disposals.
The one we installed features a half horsepower motor. In this case, bigger is definitely better. A larger motor will help the disposal to grind up just about anything that may come its way.
If you’re buying a disposal for your home, you also want to ask about sound insulation. If you’re in the store and they actually have some different disposals hooked up, take the time to listen to each. You’ll probably be surprised – we were -- at how quiet the newer, better-made disposals are.
Automatic reverse is another feature to ask about. Maytag offers it on some models. Automatic reverse allows you to conveniently fix a jammed disposal.
As with so many purchases, each feature is going to add cost to your new garbage disposal. Decide on the ones that are important to you, but remember, in general if you’re willing to spend a little more money, you will get a quieter disposal with a longer warranty. Again, that assumes noise level is an important consideration in your home. If the kitchen and disposal are near a family area where people talk and watch television or listen to the stereo, quiet operation might be very important.
Finally, if you live in a home with a septic system instead of municipal sewer line, look for disposal models designed for your waste system. We did some looking on-line and found a manufacturer who makes a disposal for just this sort of installation.
TOOL LIST
Towels
Screwdriver
Disposer Installation kit
Locking pliers or pipe wrench
Hammer
Small piece of wood
Sponge
