Best Compact Garbage Disposals for Deep Sinks
Kitchen sinks need to be a convenient spot for rinsing, washing and cleaning stuff if you really care about having a pleasant time while you’re in the kitchen. For that, you’d naturally require a deep sink that gives you enough room to work even after you have your soiled dishes piled up in it. But a deep sink often comes with a concern of being incompatible with standard under-sink garbage disposals. Is there a way you could have both? Well, absolutely! In fact, that’s what precisely this guide is all about! We’re going to be reviewing the best low-profile garbage disposals that are compact in design and are particularly ideal for deep sinks.
If you’re in the process of putting together a functional kitchen or having a kitchen remodel for that matter; be assured, you could very well opt for a luxurious, convenient and large kitchen sink (even spacious farmhouse sinks) and still have the option of installing a short garbage disposal for deep sinks beneath it.
For context, you’d classify a kitchen sink as a deep sink if it has a depth of at least 10 inches. If installed flush with a standard 34” high countertop, you’ve got ample depth left below your sink; at least 20 inches (in case of lower mounted countertops or undermount sink installations). Now, most garbage disposals have a height of 12 to 18 inches with low profile garbage disposals being closer to 12 inches.
These compact garbage disposals are a better choice over other options as they tend to leave more clearance and hence a better setup for installation and repair work. As a rule of thumb, you could consider models that are 13 to 14 Inches in height. Despite being smaller in overall stature, these shouldn’t be perceived as any less powerful or efficient. Deep sink compact garbage disposals are just as rigorous as their bigger counterparts. Below is a comprehensive collection of our most recommended garbage disposals for deep sinks.
Comparison Table
Best Garbage Disposal for Deep Sinks
1. InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1 HP Low-Profile Garbage Disposal
There’s virtually no way around listing down effective garbage disposals without InSinkErator models. It’d be as if we’re discussing basketball trying to disregard Michael Jordon. Yes, that’s the most apt comparison I could come up with to emphasize the popularity and prevalence of the Brand when it comes food waste disposals.
The Evolution Excel has everything that you might require. The model has a height of 13.5 Inches that is perfect for someone like me who has a deep sink at home.
Besides height, the evolution excel also has an abundance of power and features such as the continuous feed grinding mechanism (Learn the difference between continuous and batch feed disposals).that allows me to use the garbage disposal without ever getting blocked.
For the sake of this review, I even entered chicken bones into the garbage disposal and besides it making a little noise, there was no issue with it.
So how is the InSinkErator so powerful and capable of disposing trash so quietly? The Garbage Disposal has a 1 HP Dura-Drive Induction motor ensures the blades cut through any solid matter. In fact, there are three blades with Multi-grind technology, including jam assistance (check the InSinkErator Evolution Excel Review for a better take on this). While the InSinkErator Evolution Excel Garbage Disposal boasts tremendous strength, it can also be whisper quiet. The company cites the device as the quietest disposal on the market thanks to advanced noise reduction materials.
The key to its quiet operation is the Sound Seal technology, which has provided professional-grade noise control for commercial and residential purposes since 1978. The disposal, in concurrence with the price, comes with a durable alloy stainless steel grinding chamber. For added peace of mind, the manufacturer covers the model with a hefty 7-year warranty!
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Height | 12 Inches |
| Power | 1 HP |
| Cord Length | N/A |
| Grinding Components | Stainless Steel |
| Dishwasher Compatible | Yes |
2. InSinkErator Evolution Compact ¾ HP Garbage Disposal for Deep Sink
This powerful, sleek and slender model from InSinkErator is in true sense, a compact garbage disposal designed for farmhouse sinks or any other deep sink for that matter.
InSinkErator, the Emerson subsidiary is known for producing best-in-class food waste disposal systems among contractors, décor enthusiasts and homeowners. Everything that the brand is known and popular for, holds true for this low-profile garbage disposal.
As someone who has not been through tons of garbage disposal, the first question that pops up in mind when analyzing a durable low-profile garbage disposal for a review is “How Good Are The Grinding Components? Are They Made of Stainless Steel?” The answer? Of course they are made of stainless steel, InSinkErator aren’t popular just because they have a fancy name.
I tried various provisions such as vegetable scraps, chicken bones, eggshells etc., to try and get the garbage disposal to clog up the drainage pipe, however I did not succeed in doing so. This is because garbage disposals with stainless steel grinding components are considered to be more durable than disposals with galvanized steel components. This is why stainless steel garbage disposals are costlier.
With the InSinkErator Evolution Compact, you gain a fairly powerful ¾ HP induction motor that is quieter than most disposals out there. However, the noise level also depends on the type of food waste you’re trying to grind. For instance, when I was grinding citrus peels, the disposal started to get a little noisy when compared to other soft foods.
Additionally, the model is primed for an easy swap. You need not make any additional modifications if you’re going to be replacing your older InSinkErator disposal with this model. Above all, the manufacturer covers your purchase against anomalies for a generous period of 4 years.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Height | 12 Inches |
| Power | 3/4 HP |
| Cord Length | N/A |
| Grinding Components | Stainless Steel |
| Dishwasher Compatible | Yes |
3. Moen GXS75C GX Series ¾ HP Compact Garbage Disposal
The Moen GXS75C GX Series is not as compact as the garbage disposals from InSinkErator with a height of 13.5 inches. However, there is a reason why I have included this disposal in our list of the best compact garbage disposal for deep sinks.
Fortunately, since I have a big storage space under the kitchen sink, installing the Moen GX Series did not prove to be an issue. If you do have the space to install this garbage disposal, I promise that it won’t disappoint you.
As you would expect me to, I tried various soft and tough food scraps such as melon rinds, citrus and vegetable peels, bones etc., and the Moen disposal did not disappoint. After further inspection, I can tell you that the fast action grinding technology that has been installed in the disposal along with the ¾ HP, 2700 RPM Vortex motor that has a permanent magnet inside ensures that the disposal is efficient, effective and quiet. Note that the permanent magnet feature is unique to this model and is not present in any other model presented in this article.
Besides this, the disposal features the Moen trademarked Soundshield Insulation that mitigates as much noise as possible as it is designed specifically to lower the sound emanating from the grinding chamber and the pipes. While it does not reach the same low volume as InSinkErator Evolution Excel and InSinkErator Badger 5, Moen’s soundproofing is above average and for this price, it’s nothing short of a steal.
Further, the GXS75C comes with design elements aimed at convenient installation. There is a pre-installed power cord as well as a Universal Xpress Mount system to streamline the process. The set-up fits with a majority of three-bolt mounting assemblies thanks to the twist-and-lock mechanism. Finally, the model is covered with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty. If all of these features interest you, you could learn more Moen GXS75C in our detailed long-term review.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Height | 13.5 Inches |
| Power | 0.75 HP |
| Cord Length | 34 Inches |
| Grinding Components | Galvanized Steel |
| Dishwasher Compatible | Yes |
4. InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal for Deep Sink
Tired of seeing InSinkErator mentioned in this article? The reason they have so many products in our list of the best compact disposals for deep sinks is because of how satisfied i have been with their products, and it is not only me who is satisfied, if you read the reviews of InSinkErator garbage disposals online, you will find a lot of pleased people.
Do not get get mistaken by perceiving this disposal as the infamous Badger 5XP, because there are a few differences in the two Badger models. The InSinkErator 5 is a great low-profile garbage disposal that ranks pretty high in popularity of deep sink garbage disposals.
The badger 5 has a mere height of 12.6 inches, which suits most kitchen sinks. So if your under-the-sink kitchen cabinet has a height of over 18 inches, you should not face any issues with the installation. Another benefit of getting the Badger 5 is that it is much cheaper than the models mentioned above.
Just because this model is cheaper, it does not mean that the disposal isn’t powerful or lacks features. The garbage disposal has a motor of 1/2 HP that is capable of grinding through most food waste. In my experience, it is not as smooth with bones as the other models, this is because the Badger 5 uses galvanized steel instead of stainless steel that is used in the InSinkErator models ranked in the top 2 of our list.
Just like with other InSinkErator models, the Badger 5 also has ‘Easy Swap’ hardware included. This means that you can replace this garbage disposal unit can be easily replaced with other InSinkErator garbage disposals that are available in the market.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Height | 12.6 Inches |
| Power | 1/2 HP |
| Cord Length | N/A |
| Grinding Components | Galvanized Steel |
| Dishwasher Compatible | Yes |
5. Waste King L-2600 14 Inch Garbage Disposal
Waste King is a popular kitchen appliance brand. They have actively occupied the commercial and small apartments kitchens. They are also extremely well known in the garbage disposal market as they have been making high quality garbage disposals for the past 5 decades and this is why we roundup our list with one the best Waste King Garbage Disposals, the L-2600.
The L-2600 in particular is best suited to moderately active kitchens with deep sinks. The model has a total height of 13.5 Inches making it a good option to be a compatible garbage disposal for deep sink or a farmhouse sink garbage disposal.
Similar to the Badger 5, the disposal handles soft food waste such as vegetable and fruit skin without any issues, however it did struggle with food waste such as tendons and bones. This is because the economical disposal supports only a ½ HP instead of 3/4 or 1 HP motors that have been listed above. If you’d like your garbage disposal to have more power, you can consider buying the Waste King Legend 8000 or the garbage disposals mentioned above.
Because of the lack of power, the Waste King L-2600 is very affordable; however, unlike the Badger 5, this model does use stainless steel components. Which means that the L-2600 should be more durable than the Badger 5. This disposal also features EZ mount system that makes it easy to install the garbage disposal under the kitchen sink and you are also provided with a 5 year warranty with the purchase.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Height | 13.5 Inches |
| Power | 0.5 HP |
| Cord Length | 36 Inches |
| Grinding Components | Stainless Steel |
| Dishwasher Compatible | Yes |
Compact Garbage Disposal Buying Guide
What are Garbage Disposals & What Sizes Do They Come In?
In simple terms, garbage disposals are a handy hardware installed as as your very own food disposer in your kitchen. Of course, you could use a trash can to dispose waste produced at your countertop (or at least at an easily accessible area around it) but sometimes it’s just convenient to wipe the waste down your sink. This is where a garbage disposal steps in.
A trash can would only hold what you chuck inside it; how about the stuff you accidentally forget in the fridge and has been shoved at the back since we don’t know how many days?
It turns smelly and then you would even hesitate chucking it in the bin! Besides, a garbage disposal is extremely handy and is designed to make cooking a simpler and comfortable process for you. How many times do you have to keep hopping back and forth the trash can from the kitchen to throw vegetable peels or other waste into it? Now with a garbage disposal, you can literally shove it all down the sink! Yes, it may sound weird but it’s actually a lot better, convenient, and hassle-free if you think about it. You merely need to get the spray head out of your pull-down faucet and wash away crumbs through the drain hole of your sink and your waste is taken care of.
Garbage disposals are found in sizes ranging from 12 to 18 Inches. The smaller variants are exceptionally functional where you’ve got a deep sink installed in your kitchen. Compact garbage disposals are the ones that do not exceed 14 inches of total height.
Factors to Consider While Buying a Deep Sink Garbage Disposal
1. Size
When looking for a garbage disposal that is compatible with your deep sink, the first check that you need to be conducting is the dimensions of the model. Garbage disposals come in different sizes ranging from as less as 12 inches up to 18 inches. Short garbage disposals are best suited to deep kitchen sinks. Besides being a good fit, these also make up for easy installation and convenient repair work. A bigger-sized disposal would definitely have more space to house a powerful motor and a strong spin too. However, kitchen sink space (rather under the sink space) can often be of concern here. Not to forget, big disposals generally tend to be noisier too.
2. Motor Power
A significant concern when buying a garbage disposal for your kitchen is the power it comes with. As discussed earlier, if you tend to generate more of kitchen waste in a day, you’d need a disposal with a considerably powerful motor to do the job well. This means that you’d have to closely look up the horsepower rating of your disposal before picking one. Consider first how much horsepower would your disposal require to handle daily waste load effectively.
A small apartment with a family of 1-3 members would be best off with a disposal of 1/3 or ½ the horsepower. A slightly larger family of 4-6 members would need ¾ of the horsepower. You’d need a disposal of 1 horsepower at least to deal waste from a family of 7-9 members, and. A 2 horsepower garbage disposal would be able to support more than 9 members effectively. This one’s also ideal for commercial use.
Now what’s worth considering here is that while a smaller horsepower disposal may not be exactly sufficient to meet the needs of an average family of 2-4 members; a larger one with 2 horsepower might be unusually powerful than required in an average household. Again, your decision would depend on your individual requirement and individual waste load generated too.
If you throw parties more often, you’d be more comfortable using a more powerful garbage disposal. However, if aren’t a big cooking fan, then a low-powered model should do the job for you. Compact garbage disposals are thought to be less powerful than other options which is not essentially true. For instance, Our top recommendation for the best deep sink garbage disposals, the InSinkErator Evolution Excel is a 1 HP rated model and has height of mere 13 inches.
3. Feed Type
| Product | Feed Type |
|---|---|
| InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1 | Continuous Feed |
| InSinkErator Evolution Compact | Continuous Feed |
| Moen GXS75C | Continuous Feed |
| InSinkErator Badger 5 | Continuous Feed |
| Waste King L-2600 | Continuous Feed |
There are two main types of garbage disposals out there with respect to the feed type; continuous and batch feed. The continuous feed garbage disposals enable easy passage of food waste through the sink drain and into the grinding chamber, almost uninterruptedly. These disposals are solely controlled via a remote switch. The batch feed disposals however function only when there’s a drain cover present. This means that any extra scrap cannot enter the grind chamber without removing the drain cover and turning off the disposal. That said, it’s worth noting that the latter might present itself as a rather inconvenient option for waste disposal, there are certain safety advantages associated with it too.
4. Grinding Components
| Product | Grinding Components |
|---|---|
| InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1 | Stainless Steel |
| InSinkErator Evolution Compact | Stainless Steel |
| Moen GXS75C | Galvanized Steel |
| InSinkErator Badger 5 | Galvanized Steel |
| Waste King L-2600 | Stainless Steel |
If you have owned a garbage disposal or have been looking for one for quite some time, you’d already know that garbage disposals with stainless steel grind components are generally preferred over models with galvanized steel or polymer grinding components. This is due to the fact that stainless steel is clearly a stronger alloy than any other industrially used material for making grinding components of a garbage disposal. However, this could also mean that the disposal produces high-pitched rattling if some hard solid gets through the neck of the unit.
A stainless steel garbage disposal coupled with a fairly powerful motor can grind through almost anything thrown its way. On the contrary, models that feature galvanized steel grinding components can occasionally cause blockages (in case a tough batch of waste is thrown down the sink accidentally or intentionally). This difference is also reflected in the price points of popular garbage disposals. Models with stainless steel grinding components are costlier than their alternatives.
5. Noise
| Product | Noise Emitted |
|---|---|
| InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1 | Ultra Quiet |
| InSinkErator Evolution Compact | Quiet |
| Moen GXS75C | Standard |
| InSinkErator Badger 5 | Standard |
| Waste King L-2600 | Quiet |
It is universally comprehended that garbage disposals can be really noisy. The noise produced by your garbage disposal is hence an important factor to consider when thinking about how to choose a garbage disposal. The two main concerns in this regard are the grinding noise and vibration sound produced from the disposal. Manufacturers are increasingly emphasizing on making quieter disposal models to tackle this inherent issue.
Most disposals today are generally attached to the sink via a heavy rubber gasket or union, designed to reduce vibration. Besides, certain high-end models might enclose a drain cover filled with insulation to deaden the sound. You might want to check your available options if you don’t like or are sensitive to such noises. Ask the store for disposals with specific noise-reducing features.
Conclusion
Garbage disposals, owing to the convenience they bring, are on the rise in terms of popularity and prevalence. These enable you to cut endless trips to the trash can while helping you manage your kitchen waste better. An efficient garbage disposal receives and cuts through almost all food waste including thick fruit and vegetable peels, fibrous roots and other discards. However, installing these successfully can sometimes be a cause of concern. Especially when you choose to have a deeper kitchen sink than usual.
This generally occurs when you opt for a luxurious farmhouse kitchen sink. Farmhouse sinks tend to be deeper than other options and hence could leave lesser clearance beneath the sink bottom. However, you could still fit in a compact garbage disposal in most cases. These models are manufactured with the intent of being compatible to deep sinks. Our recommendations in this write-up are tested and approved to be top-notch in terms of performance. You could choose one depending on the size that’s right for you.
