6 Best Compact Garbage Disposals [For Deep Sinks]

A garbage disposal may seem like a trivial piece of equipment but having the right one can make cleanup all the easier. But all garbage disposals are not created equally. Finding a compact garbage disposal for a deeper sink can mean the difference between efficient cleanup and additional mess.

The best compact garbage disposal for deep sinks should have ample power, reasonable noise level, and be easy to install. Additionally, the warranty should be reliable and the unit should last at 10 years. This is your guide for the best compactors for deep sinks with a variety of different horsepower options as well.

The first thing to keep in mind about garbage disposals that are meant for deeper sinks is that power is the biggest difference. The horsepower motor can mean the difference between being able to handle larger workloads without overloading or breaking down.

There is a half dozen in particular that stand a cut above the rest, each of them offering their own list of benefits. Not only that, but there is a plethora of criteria that must be met when finding the best compact garbage disposals.

. But that is in part due to the high-speed, 1 HP motor capable of turning out 2,800 RPM. Not only that, it has a sound-insulated motor that won’t sound like there is a woodchipper in your home.

It is also a highly versatile disposal that has an all-metal mounting system, making it capable of working with just about any 3-bolt mounting system. That includes Moen and InSinkErator systems that are so popular today.

Best of all, it comes with a pre-installed power cord. While some of the less expensive options out there may have the need for electrical experience, the Waste King Knight simply plugs into a nearby outlet for maximum ease of use. The high speed, low jam rate, continuous feed disposal, and easy install combine to make this one well worth the price.

Maybe you’re looking for a more cost-effective option and don’t want to shell out a few hundred bucks for a garbage disposal. For just over $100, the InSinkErator Badger 5 can fit that bill. The install is as easy as it gets thanks to included hardware and a step-by-step installation guide.

The InSinkErator brand is also one of the most popular in the industry, making it a trustworthy option. The 0.5-HP is capable of providing a faster, easier cleanup without all the unnecessary grinding noises that we have become accustomed to with some disposals.

Each of the components are highly durable as well. The dura-drive induction motor and galvanized steel components are meant to hold up to the wear and tear of grinding down everyday food items without breaking down.

. Those situations require more power than necessary and that is precisely what the Host series offers.

The SoundSHIELD technology is there to cut down on the sound that disposals can produce thanks to the deadening sound insulation. It also helps to reduce the amount of waste that would typically get sent into landfills, making it a much eco-friendlier option than most others on the market.

What is great about the Host series is that it is also septic safe to use when paired with properly-sized septic tanks, making it versatile enough to fit any home. And the simple swap system allows for simple, easy installation while also freeing up space under your sink.

. The magnet motor also ensures that there is far less jamming, providing more efficient disposal.

What is great about the Waste King line of disposals is that they have a pre-installed power cord so there is no previous electrical experience necessary to install them. Simply plug it in, mount it and you’re ready to go.

The stainless steel composition also ensures that it will stand up to the test of time. Even if it doesn’t, Waste King comes with a 5-year warranty protection plan to cover any defects that may occur during use.

. This unit has an innovative SoundSeal Technology that makes it one of the quietest disposals on the market. After all, you don’t need to hear the disposal going to know that it is doing the job.

Despite the quietness of the Evolution Excel, brings the power thanks to its 1-HP Dura-Drive Induction motor. Combined together it makes for one of the most efficient garbage disposal units out there today.

Most importantly, the internal components are highly durable, and the 3-Stage Multigrind Technology is there to provide jam prevention like never before. It can handle even the most difficult of food scraps. The LeakGuard Liner in particular offers maximum durability for longer life.

. Despite its sub-$100 cost, the L-3200 brings the power thanks to a 0.75-HP that can produce speeds of up to 2,700 RPM.

Waste King is also known for being very easy to install as it comes equipped with a pre-installed electrical cord and an EZ mount system. If that weren’t enough the splash guard is removable for an easier cleaning experience.

While there are pricier and higher-powered units out there, the Waste King line gets the job done effectively and at a much lower price point.

Now that we’ve seen some of the best options available, what they can do, and what kind of cost you may be looking at, it is time to go into a deeper breakdown. Doing so will help us to better understand what makes these units so great and will help you to make the proper selection for your sink in particular.

We will look at quite a few categories: power, size, warranty, noise level, usage, and a few peripheral qualities that can really hurt or elevate a garbage disposal.

The basic question here is what kind of power will you need from your garbage disposal? The easiest way to figure this out is to think about the kind of foods and food waste that you may be dumping down into your garbage disposal. Not only that, how often will that garbage disposal be put into use?

The power level of a garbage disposal is determined by horsepower (or HP for short). The vast majority of disposals will range from as low as 0.3 HP all the way up to 3 HP (we want a disposal, not a woodchipper).

Generally speaking, you can expect a quality garbage disposal to have a motor that is between 0.5 and 1 HP. When it comes to deeper sinks where the space is limited, that is why you would need to find a compact unit that still brings the power.

Another thing to consider is the RPM. The faster the disposal can safely operate, the more likely it is to reduce food scraps to smaller waste pieces. Why is this important? Well, when the disposal jams, it can be a major inconvenience, so being able to handle even larger food chunks is a must.

We’ve all been there before: blindly groping at night for a light switch only to hit the disposal switch on accident and scare ourselves half to death. There are some low-quality disposals out there that can sound like they are powered by a low-grade gas motor and that is not something you should have to settle for.

The thing is that most garbage disposals will make quite a bit of sound. Some have sound-muffling liners that can help to limit that sound, so it is important to find one that is at least manageable to hear on a regular basis.

While it is unlikely that you will find a unit on the market that is totally quiet, there is a good chance that there is a unit that will at least be manageable to listen to. Finding one that doesn’t make you grit your teeth is probably the best possible option from a sound standpoint.

For the purposes of this piece, this may be the most important factor there is. The size of the disposal that you are able to install all comes down to the depth of your sink. The deeper the sink, the less space there is in the cabinetry underneath.

Because of this, a compact garbage disposal is the best option for deeper sinks. And while this may lead some to believe that this equates to an automatic loss of power, that isn’t necessarily the case. All of the options above deliver well over 2,500 RPM and a few even have a high-powered 1-HP motor.

When going with a compact unit, it is important to find one that is capable of grinding food items and debris down into more manageable chunks. With compact units, they need to pass through a long pipe easily to prevent frequent jamming.

Another major factor when choosing a disposal is the amount of usage that it will see. When buying a deep sink disposal, you need to be certain that it will be able to stand up to the amount of usage that you intend on throwing at it.

For those that don’t really cook much at home, a high-powered disposal may not be necessary. But if you like to entertain, to prepare meals on a regular basis, having a quality garbage disposal is a must-have feature.

Having an option that will hold up to regular cooking sessions means finding one with adequate HP and RPM that can grind down those food scraps effectively. Otherwise, a low-HP motor will probably do the job when used infrequently.

The last major thing to consider when buying a deep sink garbage disposal is the warranty that comes with it. Even if you have a disposal that is lauded for its ability to prevent jamming, there is always the possibility that something can go wrong, and your disposal could stop working properly.

When this is the case, having an effective and reliable warranty becomes of the utmost importance. Even if nothing goes wrong over the life of the disposal, having that peace of mind in your back pocket can be an invaluable thing.

Generally speaking, most major brands will offer some kind of warranty. Keep in mind that the length as well as what they may cover can and will vary, so be sure to check out the warranty information before you buy to avoid any undue surprises.

There are a couple of other things that may not be major qualifiers when buying a garbage disposal that definitely bears asking. The first is the ease of installation. Some of the disposals out there come with universal mounting brackets, making it far easier to install quickly.

The other big question that bears asking is whether or not it comes with a power cable. There are definitely garbage disposals out there that require some electrical installation knowledge; this can be a major factor when choosing a disposal.

For some, like the Waste King, there are models that come with a power cable. All that is required out of these is to simply plug them in and mount to the inside of the cabinet underneath the sink. That level of ease can be a major selling point for an inexperienced do-it-yourself type who doesn’t have the electrical knowledge to perform a high-level installation.

Another thing to consider, though some may not particularly be bothered, either way, is how easy the disposal is to clean. Having difficulty accessing the unit can make it a real hassle to clean it out when it becomes too full. Some units will have an easy-to-remove splash guard to make cleanup easier, so that is something to keep in mind as well.

Despite popular belief, garbage disposal units are absolutely not universal. What does this mean? Well, you can’t just go out and buy any old garbage disposal and expect it to install properly under your sink.

The first thing that you should investigate is whether or not a particular garbage disposal is compatible with your sink. If the sink can’t use a disposal unit, the only way to make use of a disposal is to buy a sink that is equipped to handle one.

In most cases, the garbage disposals connect to the sink in three ways: large hose clamps, threaded plastic nuts, and a mounting-ring assembly. To make things easier on yourself, find a disposal that has the same attachment as your existing unit.

Your disposal system will also dictate what kind of disposal that you are capable of getting. The two common systems are regular systems and septic systems. Septic systems in general tend to have quite a few more complications when installing that are worth considering.

The smallest option when it comes to sink-installed garbage disposals is the Waste King L-1001. As of right now, it is the smallest at 5.2” x 5.2” x 12.8”. The incredible thing is that it still has a 0.5-HP motor, capable of delivering up to 2,600 RPM so that it can properly handle food scraps and debris with little issue.

This kind of sink is optimal for mobile homes and other areas where both the sink space and the storage capabilities underneath are limited. Otherwise, there are bigger and better options out there that will hold up better, provide easier cleaning, and deliver just a little bit more power (and bang for your buck).

Generally speaking, your garbage disposal should last in the 8-10-year range. This can all depend on a variety of factors and the amount of cleaning and upkeep that you provide. Simply shoving any food scrap into your disposal and then ignoring it is likely to lead to jamming and the breaking down of one of several components.

If it has been at least 10 years since you last replaced the disposal, consider doing so on your next renovation or installation project. Generally speaking, most disposals will start to show signs of more frequent clogging around this point, so replacing it is probably the better and easier option than fighting it every step of the way.

This, of course, all comes down to cost as well. Simply buying the best unit that money can buy is easy on paper, but not everyone has the budget available to splurge on peripheral things like a garbage disposal.