A food waste disposal is handy to have in your kitchen sink. Not only does it keep smelly scraps out of your trash, food waste can often be recycled by water treatment plants instead of sitting in landfills. Let’s take a look at these two in-sink waste disposers to see which will be the best for you.
InSinkErator Badger 1, 1/3 HP Household Food Waste Disposer
The Badger 1 is an inexpensive, economical food disposal for a small household. It uses about a gallon of water per day per person, and only 3 to 4 KWh of electricity a year. You’ll spend only pennies to run it, but it will keep pounds of food waste out of your garbage can.
The 1/3-horsepower induction motor and galvanized steel grinding elements like the one-stage GrindShear Ring pulverize scraps into mush. You’ll hear it working; it’s not silent like some of InSinkErator’s other models.
While the grind chamber holds up to 26 ounces at a time, InSinkErator recommends certain steps to keep it running in top condition. For example, chop large food scraps into smaller pieces. Use cold water and don’t put fats and grease into the disposer. Grind citrus fruit peels once in a while to give it a better odor. If it needs cleaning, use a solution of baking soda and warm water. The rubber baffle isn’t removable, but it can be scrubbed with dish detergent.
Like all InSinkerErator disposals, the Badger 1 is very easy to install. It comes with their patented Quick Lock sink mount. This means you can literally twist off the old disposal and twist on your new Badger 1. At 11-3/8-inches tall, it’s small enough that it fits under most kitchen sinks. If you replace one Badger with another, all the hookups should be the same.
Wire it into your home’s electrical system so you can use a wall switch to turn it on and off. It only needs regular household current and voltage (110V, 50-60Hz). The average current draw is 5.6Amps, slightly less than the Badger 100 described below.
Should it clog or jam, you can use the wrench included in the box to open the grinding elements. Turn off the Badger 1. Insert the wrench into the bottom of the disposer and turn it a full revolution. Use tongs to remove any scraps or items inside the disposal. Let the motor cool for a few minutes, then press the red reset button (also on the bottom). If you hit the switch, the Badger should run as usual.
Other than keeping it clean, the Badger 1 doesn’t need any user maintenance. Its bearings are permanently lubricated and there are no parts to replace.
More features of the InSinkErator Badger 1:
- Comes with Quick Lock Sink Mount, Jam-Buster Allen wrench, tailpipe, tailpipe gasket, sink stopper, and installation instructions
- InSinkErator offers a 1-year warranty with free in-home repair
InSinkErator Badger 100 1/3 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal
You may be wondering if the Badger 100 is an upgrade to the Badger 1 described above. In fact, there are only two differences between them. One, the product number on the 100 signifies that it’s typically sold in hardware stores. Two, the current draw is listed as 6.7Amps, slightly more than what the Badger 1 uses. We weren’t able to discover why the current draw is greater when the 1/3Hp induction motor is the same.
Other than those two details, the Badger 100 is the same as the Badger 1. It’s small enough to fit under most kitchen sinks. It’s easy to install with InSinkErator’s Quick Lock Sink Mount system. It’s perfect for a small household, and very economical to use. Check out the full description of the Badger 1 above to learn more about this food waste disposer.
More features of the InSinkErator Badger 100:
- Comes with Quick Lock Sink Mount, Jam-Buster wrench, tailpipe, tailpipe gasket, sink stopper, and installation instructions
- InSinkErator offers a 1-year warranty with free in-home repair
Recommendation
Either one of these two Badger food waste disposals are great for light duty in small households. With care, they’ll far outlast their 1-year warranty. Since they are basically the same model, the choice comes down to price.
If you can find either model at a better price, get it knowing that they’re both the same.
Click here to purchase InSinkErator Badger 1 on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase InSinkErator Badger 100 on Amazon.com!
Good info. I was drawn to this subject while trying to see if either of these units would be a direct replacement for my old Kenmore 1/3hp 6010 unit. Desire a direct swap-out using existing plumbing fixtures, so I don’t have to run back and forth to the H-Ware store, tinker-toying with undersink plumbing fittings. I rarely ever use the thing, these units look like an affordable replacement.