Best 1/2 HP garbage disposals for small and medium homes

1/2 HP garbage disposals are an excellent choice for small and medium households with 1 to 3 people. They are a pocket-friendly option to get rid of food wastes from your kitchen.

There are many 1/2 HP garbage disposal models available in the market. Here are the popular ones;

InSinkErator Badger 5

Badger 5 is the most popular garbage disposal under the 1/2 horsepower category. It is made and marketed by InSinkErator, a company very well known in this industry.

Badger 5 is so far sold in thousands over the years, and it has a large base of happy customers. The model was recently given a facelift, and its warranty was extended from 2-years to 3-years.

Speaking of its specifications, this garbage disposal is powered by a 1/2 HP DuraDrive induction motor. It runs at a speed of 1725 RPM. It uses a 3-bolt assembly for installation which pretty solid and easy to mount.

The grinding components of Badger 5 are made of Galvanized steel. It is not as durable as stainless steel, but they are proven to last long. The sink flange of Badger 5 is made of Stainless Steel which is durable as well as improves the overall aesthetics of the kitchen sink. It also comes with a splash guard but unfortunately, it is not removable from the top, so cleaning it can be a bit difficult. Badger 5 also doesn’t have a pre-installed power cord so if you are installing a garbage disposal for the first time you will have to buy one separately.

The unit also comes with a hex hole at the bottom and a reset button for easy troubleshooting.

Pros

• Proven performance and reliability
• We come to your home warranty which covers labor charges and any other expenses
• hex hole makes it easier to unjam the disposal unit in case it gets jammed.

Cons

• Fixed splash guard can make cleaning a bit difficult
• No preinstalled power cord

If you are interested in knowing more here is my detailed review of Badger 5

Waste King L-1001

L-1001 is manufactured by another giant in the industry; Waste King. Waste King and InSinkErator are the leaders in this industry, and L-1001 is Waste King’s answer to Badger 5.

L-1001 is powered by a high speed permanent magnet type motor that runs at 2600 RPM. It uses an EZ mount type installation instead of 3-bolt. It is a bit easier to install.

This unit comes with a splash guard that can be removed from the top. This feature makes it easy to clean the underside of the splash guard which often gets dirty with ground food particles sticking on it.

The build quality of L-1001 is at par with that of Badger 5. It comes with galvanized steel grinding components and a corrosion-proof grinding chamber. It also comes with a pre-installed power cord which makes the installation a bit easier.

In terms of the warranty, this unit is covered for 2-years. It also comes with a reset button but it lacks a hex hole.

Pros

• Proven build quality and grinding power
• Preinstalled power cord
• Removable splash guard for easy cleaning

Cons

• No hex hole so you will have to use a garbage disposal wrench to unjam it
• Sink flange is not stainless steel

Here is my detailed review of Waste King L-1001. There is also a 3-bolt mount version for this; which is Waste King 9920.

Waste King L-2600

Waste King L-2600 is powered by the same 1/2 HP motor in the L-1001 model. But it is bigger and slightly better.

Just like the other model, L-2600 uses the same EZ mount installation. Its grinding components are made of Stainless Steel which is more durable than Galvanized steel. Its grinding chamber is made of the same material as of L-1001; corrosion-resistant, high-quality plastic.

It comes with a removable splash guard and a pre-installed power cord. Due to its better build quality, this unit comes with a longer warranty of 5-years, which his the best in this class.

Pros

• 5-year warranty which is the best in this category
• Stainless steel grinding components are more durable
• Preinstalled power cord
• Removable splash guard

Cons

• The sink flange is made of reinforced polymer, not stainless steel
• Lacks a hex hole so unjamming it in case of trouble is a bit difficult

Here is my detailed review of Waste King L-2600 for further reference. If you are interested in getting a 3-bolt version of this disposal unit, check Waste King 9930.

Moen GX50C

Moen is actually part of the Waste King family, but they come with their own features. This GX50C is the most feature-rich garbage disposal in the 1/2 HP category. It comes with ShoundSHIELD technology that makes it quieter than any of the other garbage disposals in this category.

It is powered by a high-speed VORTEX motor. It is mounted via a 3-bolt assembly which is similar to that of InSinkErator’s. It uses Stainless Steel grinding components, and its grinding chamber is made of high quality, corrosion-resistant polymer.

GX50C is covered under a 4-year limited warranty. In terms of aesthetics, it looks better than the other garbage disposals listed above. Its stainless steel finish splash guard further improves its looks. It also comes with a removable splash guard and a pre-installed power cord. It has a reset button that is located at the bottom of its front-facing side.

Pros

• Quietest garbage disposal in this category
• Removable splash guard
• Preinstalled power cord
• Durable grinding components
• 4-year warranty

Cons

• No hexhole
• Sink flange is not stainless steel but only in finish

Things to consider while buying a 1/2 HP garbage disposal

Grinding power

Obviously all the above garbage disposals are powered by a 1/2 horsepower motor. These are not exactly powerful motors so they cannot handle hard and fibrous food wastes. Some of these exceptions include corn husk, celery, chicken bones, and fish bones. In short, if you can’t chew it, don’t put it in the dispsoal.

Also, 1/2 HP garbage disposals are not the best choice when it comes to frequently disposing of large amounts of food wastes. If you have a small household with 1 to 3 people this is a good choice. If you have a larger family I recommend going for a 3/4 HP garbage disposal.

Feed type

All garbage disposals are either ‘Continuous feed type’ or ‘Batch feed type. If you are wondering what they are please read this long article.

If you are looking for a batch feed disposal with 1/2 HP power I am afraid you won’t find any. All 1/2 HP models I came across are continuous feed types.

Price range

All 1/2 HP models are priced wallet-friendly. The exception may be the GX50C but then you get a premium feature or two. You can find most of these units under a $125 price tag.

Durability

Build quality is an important thing to consider while buying anything. An easy indication of the build quality is the warranty, a product with a longer warranty is likely to have better build quality.

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