Which kitchen sink grinder should you choose?

What do you know about the kitchen sink disposer? In the USA, and this is no secret, not a single kitchen can do without it for decades. Recently, such a device has become an increasingly frequent visitor to us. It turned out that it can partially replace a garbage can and even get rid of unpleasant odors from the drain. But which one to choose, what should you pay attention to first? Read more about this in our article.

Chopper and body material

Let's take a closer look at this device. Any brand of dispenser has a metal body. The unit is installed so that it is connected simultaneously to the drain hole of the kitchen sink and to the sewer pipe (on the other side). Sometimes - it all depends on the model - the shredder requires professional installation, although often you can install it yourself. At the top of the shredder there is a rotating crushing disk, and the walls themselves are a kind of grater for waste.

Manufacturers make the internal grater and disk from stainless or galvanized steel - they bear the entire load and must be durable. The top of the disposer body can even be made of plastic - but this is only the outer covering. There should still be metal inside.

The operating principle of this device is very simple - food waste flows from the sink drain into the upper part of the disposer. The disk, rotating, grinds all the waste into a fine pulp, which, mixed with water, ends up in the sewer. No garbage or unpleasant smell.

At the bottom of the device there is an electric motor. That's why When installing, you need to provide for the possibility of connecting it to electricity.

Power, speed, ability to adjust them

One of the main characteristics that you need to pay attention to when choosing a shredder is its power. The higher it is, the easier it is for the recycler to deal with waste.. A device with low power will cope with potato peelings, and with high power it will completely grind small seeds and nut shells into dust. But powerful disposers usually cost an order of magnitude more and take up a lot of space. Therefore, such devices are often chosen for restaurants and cafes, rather than for household use.

Typically, the power rating varies from 300 to 1600 W. For a family of three or four people, a 500-700 W heat exchanger is quite enough.

The disk rotation speed indicator does not require special attention when using the device at home - it only affects the speed of waste grinding. 1400-2000 rpm will be optimal. In some models, the rotation speed can be adjusted. In especially exclusive ones - even remotely.

Diameter

Depending on the characteristics and model, the volume of the bowl, and therefore its diameter, may vary. The main task - so that the disposal can fit into the kitchen cabinet under the sink. The size of the chopper chamber is selected based on the number of household members and the planned frequency of use of the disposer (cooking and washing dishes). For normal use, a family of three to four people will need a device with a bowl about 1 liter in size.. However, if space allows, you can choose a larger one - the size affects the quality of the disposal. Maximum volume - 1.5 liters.

The diameters of the inlet and outlet openings are, as a rule, universal and suitable for standard types of sinks and sewer pipes.

Important! The recycler has considerable weight due to its metal parts. On average, the device will pull 5-7 kg.

Energy supply method

There are two types of disposers on the market - electrical and mechanical. In the first case the motor runs from an electrical outlet. It is these recyclers that are usually faster.

Important! When choosing an electrical appliance, consider in advance the possibility of connecting it to an outlet, which, for safety reasons, is best installed away from water pipes.

The operation of mechanical (induction) dispensers depends on water pressure. Therefore, shredders of this type are also called hydraulic. On the one hand, such a recycler can be more powerful and process waste that its electric counterpart cannot handle. This is only true if the water pressure is strong.

Both types of devices have their pros and cons, which are quite obvious. Electric consumes energy and is more sensitive. Induction is “stronger”, but only with good water pressure. Thus, although it saves energy, it wastes water.

Availability of reverse and additional options

Many manufacturers supply disposers with various additional “bells and whistles”. Almost everyone has a reverse. Some models have overheating protection (they are more expensive). Not the least of which will be a noise reduction feature.The noise of cheap models is their main drawback.

The pneumatic start button will also be useful, which will protect you if things that are not intended for it get into the shredder. Very expensive models are even equipped with remote control.

Noise level

As mentioned above, this one of the most important characteristics that you should pay attention to when choosing. It depends on how comfortable it will be to use the device in the house. Manufacturers are constantly modifying models, trying to make them quieter. The noise from a working expensive disposer can be no higher than 40 dB (this is how quiet speech sounds). But budget models show an average level of 70 dB. This is already a “loud conversation”.

Important! Long-term exposure to noise levels exceeding 70 dB can lead to nervous system disorders.

Which manufacturer is better?

Several dozen disposer models have already proven themselves on our market. Shredders from American, Swiss, German, Italian and Chinese manufacturers are in greatest demand. Some - for their reliability, others - primarily for cost.

Most trusted brands:

• Swiss Franc. A combination of quality and practicality. The brand has been on the market for over 100 years;
• American In Sin ERATOR - for elite users. Their disposers are very reliable and durable;
• German TEKA - the most wear-resistant and hygienic;
• Italian Status - functional, well suited for the average consumer, fairly quiet (no more than 45 dB).

However, Don't forget about Chinese models. For example, Medea MD from the Celestial Empire copes well with waste of varying hardness, but is very noisy. If the noise level is not critical to you, then the price of the device will pleasantly surprise you.It is much lower than that of its European counterparts.