Knowing the depth of the cabinet beneath your sink is necessary for selecting the proper trash disposal. Compare your sink to the measurements provided to determine if it is small, medium, or big. Garbage disposals, usually positioned under the kitchen sink, may range in height from 12 to 18 inches.
Disposal requires 6 to 12 inches of space from the floor to allow setup and takedown. You should allow at least two and a half feet of room beneath your sink to install the disposal.
- Best Low Noise & Powerful Garbage Disposal: InSinkErator Evolution
- Best Quiet But Powerful Garbage Disposal: InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR
- Best Stainless Steel Garbage Disposal: Waste King L-1001
- Best Easy-To-Install Garbage Disposal: InSinkErator Badger 100
- Best Continuous Feed Technology Garbage Disposal: MOEN GXP50C GARBAGE DISPOSAL
Best Smallest Garbage Disposals
1. InSinkErator Evolution
I believe in the quality of InSinkErator goods and constantly recommend them. They have been manufacturing high-quality kitchen trash disposals for almost 80 years, and their tagline "We know garbage disposals because we created them" has stood the test of time. Thanks to its revolutionary design and silent operation, the InSinkErator Evolution is the greatest compact trash disposal.
The InSinkErator Evolution 3/4 HP Continuous Feed has a capacity of 34.6 ounces and a height of a little over a foot, making it suitable for compact kitchens while still processing difficult things like peels, nuts, and tiny bones.
On the InSinkErator website, there are approximately 3,000 favourable evaluations of trash disposal, many of which commend its longevity.
Furthermore, they were always present in the homes I visited. I was certain I needed a replacement sink for my most recent purchase. We discovered that the smallest compact Continuous feed model was the best choice. Easy to put up and utilise!
It works wonderfully and is quiet. The extra expense for better noise insulation is money well spent. And there isn't much-wasted room beneath the sink.
2. InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR
The InSinkErator Essential XTR trash disposal is similarly efficient to the Evolution Compact. It has a 3/4 HP DuraDrive induction motor that runs at 1725 RPM.
The MultiGrind technology's two stages significantly increase its grinding capability, converting food waste to powder. Because ground food particles are smaller, they are less likely to block drainage systems.
Thanks to this technology, its disposer can grind even difficult things like tiny bones to a pulp. This trash disposal is also 40% quieter than regular garbage disposal, thanks to its SoundSeal technology and QuietCollar sink baffle.
Let's go right to the point now, shall we? The Essential XTR has the same proportions as the Evolution Compact. It is 12.25 inches tall by 8.75 inches broad. The distance between the drain outlet and the sink is less than typical, measuring just 6 inches.
Its grinding chamber can contain 34.6 ounces of food waste, the same as the Evolution Compact disposal. The grinding components and the grinding chamber of the Essential XTR are made of high-quality stainless steel.
All the InSinkErator versions on this list include a stainless steel sink flange and a 3-bolt mount, providing a more stable and vibration-free connection to the sink.
3. Waste King L-1001
After a comprehensive investigation, this Waste King garbage disposal was the only one to be cut as one of the top compact disposals. The 1/2 HP motor of the L-1001 is similar to that in the InSinkErator Badger 5, making them direct rivals in the market. The speed, however, is 2600 RPM.
Waste King favors disposal machines with high RPMs. Some grinding components in this continuous feed type disposal are stainless steel, while others are galvanized steel. It contains a corrosion-resistant grinding chamber made of glass-filled nylon and fiberglass.
4. InSinkErator Badger 100
While the InSinkErator Badger 100 is the weakest of the Badger Series, it is still extremely strong for trash disposal at 1/3 HP. Because of this, we believe that this is the finest trash disposal for apartments and other compact residences.
This trash disposal fits under many sinks where taller versions would not work because of its low profile (just over 11 inches). The InSinkErator Badger 100 may seem innocuous, but don't underestimate its strength.
Despite its potency, it is best suited for less regularly used rooms, such as studio flats or residences with just one or two residents. The grind blades on the Badger 100 aren't stainless steel like those on the InSinkErator Evolution series. Therefore they won't last as long.
5. MOEN GXP50C GARBAGE DISPOSAL
The Moen GXP50C trash disposal has a 1/2 HP motor and Moen's trademarked SoundShield technology for quiet operation. InSinkErator appliances, for example, may be fitted using the same three-bolt technique as Moen.
The motor in this small disposal rotates at 2600 RPM, making it very unlikely that it will get clogged or jammed. Moen provides a two-year in-home guarantee for the GXP50C, which is adequate but less than the five-year warranties given by most other companies.
The Advantages of Garbage Disposal
Avoids the usage of garbage cans and the unpleasant odors created by food waste. It helps the environment! Fewer wasted meals equal less food in landfills and less methane gas produced by decaying food.
Instead of fretting about a blocked drain because someone threw their soggy cereal in the sink, concentrate on keeping your sink clean and healthy. Comfort and effectiveness. Trash disposal is useful for disposing of leftover food and preventing sink clogs.
Buyer’s Guide
Before buying the smallest garbage disposal, you must consider some important features and specifications. There are multiple factors involved that play a significant role in deciding which unit will be best to meet your requirements. Here are some of the factors you must check:
Required Dimensions
The limited space in a home makes it a bit complicated to choose disposal according to the right fitting size. Therefore you must measure the empty area under the sink to make room for your new garbage disposal.
The incompatible-sized items will not fit inside the cabinets beneath the sink. So you should pick a small-sized unit to prevent any issue in fitting, but it may compromise the motor's power.
Powerful Motor
You might have seen horsepower labeled on garbage disposals because it displays the motor's power. A powerful motor will have rapid spinning force or higher horsepower.
Usually, the smallest garbage disposals have 0.25 or 0.75 horsepower, which is fine to trim meat or grind other particles, while 1/2 horsepower or 3/4 to 1 horsepower is for larger units if there is a need for a heavy-duty machine.
Considering 3/4 horsepower, you may think of a bigger unit to get powerful spinning for better results, but this isn’t the only deciding factor. Though the motor will rotate faster, the flow rate and rotations per minute are major factors that help choose the best unit.
Flow Rate & RPM
The size of the grinding chamber and the water flow rate is essential factors you must add to your list. The size of the grinding chamber is almost similar to the size of the unit, while the flow rate decides how much water will flow in the meantime.
The flow rate is usually measured in cubic feet per minute or CFM to indicate the right waste processing. Also, gallons per minute mentions the sink output. The RPM or rotations per minute tells about the faster speed of impellers to spin to turn on the unit.
So buy a garbage disposal with a high RPM rate and good CFM to avoid clogging in the drain line.
Quick DIY Installation
It is obviously frustrating to spend a lot on buying a new model and then paying extra for its installation by hiring a professional. So, it should be on your priority list to pick a unit that doesn’t require complex installation. You can do all the mounting and installing without anyone’s help.
Look for a unit having the feature of quick-mount necks to allow DIY installation. Though the task isn’t difficult for small garbage disposals, you can simply install them by following manual guides.
Constructing Material
The material from which your garbage disposal is made is also an important factor. Most units are made of galvanized or stainless steel metals. We would suggest choosing stainless steel as it doesn’t rust quickly. Stainless steel can last longer than expected with the right care and maintenance.
Galvanized steel, on the other hand, isn’t poor quality material, but it rusts faster than stainless steel, even with great maintenance. The result will be permanent damage to the unit, requiring quick replacement.
Also, the stainless steel grinding chamber will easily crush the food leftovers, such as bones and hard particles. These materials make the machine more durable and protect it from wear and tear. You do not need to worry about leakages or blades blunting with a stainless steel unit.
Feed Types of Garbage Disposal
Another factor that is major in selecting the smallest garbage disposal is the feed type because it describes how you use the unit. There are mainly two important feed types such as batch and continuous.
The batch-feed garbage disposal grinds the food in different stages. When your food enters the disposal, and you turn on the switch, the unit will grind. In contrast, the continuous-feed garbage disposal will start functioning right after you turn it on. The process will be immediate, and the unit will keep working till the task is accomplished.
So, to buy the right garbage disposal, you must choose the most suitable feed type, which can be done by finding the waste’s volume and the usage details. A batch feed may fulfill your needs if the young children use the garbage disposal; however, a continuous feed will perform better.
For small units, batch feed is ideal, but for larger families, you must have a continuous feed.
Warranty & Price
Who can ignore the price and warranty of the unit that are the most significant factors? It all depends on the budget after considering all the favorite features. Your family needs also play a part, along with the unit's affordability.
While each company's warranty differs, you choose one that offers a better warranty. The InSinkErator offers five years of guarantee, including labor and other aspects. However, most small garbage disposals have 1 to 10 years of warranty.
