Buy Garbage Disposal Faq
Helen asks…
What should I look for when buying a garbage disposal?
My Insinkerator Garbage Disposal is leaking water (yes, I’ve cleared everything out from under the sink and used a flashlight to see exactly where the leak is coming from), so I need to purchase a new one at Home Depot or Lowe’s or something. I have no experience with this kind of thing.
Since these are not cheap, and since it’ll likely last another 10 or 15 years, I want to buy the right thing.
What should I look for (what characteristics) when purchasing a garbage disposal for my kitchen sink?
Garbage Disposal Staff Says:
Hi there GetOutaTown,
My name is Blake, and I actually work at The Home Depot. There are some key features that differentiate the InSinkErator disposals that we carry in our stores. The first thing to check is the power of your current model (1/3HP, 1/2HP or 3/4HP). Going up in Horsepower from your current model will give you more grinding power.
The basic InSinkErators are the Badgers, they come in 1/3 1/2 or 3/4HP, they all have a single grind stage, and galvanized grind chambers.
The evolution series come in 3/4 or 1 horsepower and offer much quieter performance. In addition to being quieter the evolution series offer multiple grind stages, this will provide you with more effective grinding (smaller food particles) and lower chance of jamming.
I usually recommend either the Evolution Excel or the Evolution Essential, as they both offer stainless steel grinding chambers in addition to all the other features, stainless steel drums will not rust through (which is a common cause of eventual leaks or failures) The excel is the big boy, it offers an auto-reversing 1 horsepower motor, which is pretty much impossible to jam, if something does get stuck, the motor will reverse direction and hit it from the other side!
It is also a good idea to check to see if a larger disposal will fit under your sink with your current plumbing configuration before you go out to buy one.
Check ‘em out: http://bit.ly/cI1ZCE
I hope this helps you dispose of your old disposal!
-Blake @ The Home Depot
Nancy asks…
My garbage disposal broke. Will any model fit/work or do I have to buy the exact same one?
I live in an apt and I am trying to help the landlord out by finding a cheap one on Ebay, but don’t know if they will work or fit or whatever? I have never had a garbage disposal before, but found that they are very handy and I like having it, but she cannot afford to buy one. Any comments/suggestions anyone has are appreciated. Thanks-
The reason I am trying to help is because my building is owned by a church and they do a lot of good things for the community-and I meant that she (director)/they (church) cannot afford to put a lot of money into it at this time since it is not a necessity. It is also questionable as to what happened. I may have broken it myself. I really don’t know. Thanks for all your suggestions and I have tried the reset switch 
Thanks again to everyone.
Garbage Disposal Staff Says:
They will all fit into the sink. However the easiest to install are ones that fit into the mounting bracket that is there already. It just twists and clicks onto that. Look at what brand you have now and see if you can get one that is supposed to use the same sink-mounting ring. And of course if it plugs into an outlet under the sink instead of needing to be wired that is a plus also.
I would look in off-price stores that have new ones for about twenty dollars. A used one on eBay might leak or might have electrical problems.
Unless you are planning to live in that apartment for the next 20 years you should not buy a large, elegant, high power one. A merely adequate will meet your needs.
Betty asks…
Where Do I buy Flywheel Seal For a Garbage Disposal?
What is it called exactly (the material) and where can I buy it?
THX
The bottom of the disposal is leaking, and the seal deteriorated.
I disassembled the disposal, and saw the seal is gone.
The old seal is gone
Garbage Disposal Staff Says:
There are no sealers to use. Be sure the disposal is leaking and not the sink strainer, were it connects. If it is the disposal , go an buy a new one.if not re-seat your sink strainer, it holds the disposal to the sink
Courtesy of Y!Answers