I'm pretty sure this is the one I have, but I got it at Lowe's so it's blue. It's unclear whether the $200-ish price was okay or not. Not sure what reasonably priced would be to any particular person.

Here is a link that might be useful: Evolution 3/4 compact or space saver

I guess I would like to avoid going over $300 but not if it means jams and leaks. My H isn't the best at being judicious about what gets put down the disposal, so keep that in mind. :)

When I was searching, I read reviews and lists of the best disposal and this one constantly got on the top of the list so I got it.

It is really quiet, very powerful and comes with a lifetime warranty and its only 120.

Here is a link that might be useful: waste king disposal

I got the same one cal quail linked to on amazon. I have a small sink base 27 1/2 inch and this isn't so big underneath. I am still able to fit a small garbage pail underneath on one side and cleaners and what not on the other side . It helps space wise also that the kraus sink drain is located toward the back middle. It is so much quieter than the insinkerator I had before kitchen reno.

OK, Jancy and cal_quail, does this one have an air switch I can buy that goes with it? How does the air switch work? Do I have to get the same brand?

You can get any air switch.

I didn't get an air switch for mine. I use a wall switch. I really didn't want another hole in my stone. My sink is only 23 inches actually 21 inside so faucet and soap dispenser was all I wanted behind my sink area even though the switch isn't big or noticeable. I'm fine with using a wall switch.

I have a Waste King and very happy with it so far. It is in my 30" cabinet and there is room for recycling, trash and compost along with detergent, sponges etc. I think that I paid around $100 for it using a sale + coupon at a local store.

I had it in use with a wall switch pre-reno and air switch now. I happened to get insinkerator air switch, but as mentioned, I don't think it matters. The disposal plugs into the air switch box and the air switch box plugs into the wall.

I have the Evolution 3/4 Spacesaver. I picked it up at Lowes for $168 and the Insinkerator air switch for $57. I'm extremely pleased. I chose it because it is quiet and would fit well under my 10" deep sink with my planned pullouts.

The air switch is quite simple. A plastic tube connected to the sink top switch is attached to the air switch power module. The power module plugs into an outlet below the sink, then the disposal plugs into the module.

We have an insinkerator evolution with "cover control", which I don't see mentioned very much. I love the cover control - basically you put the stopper thingy in the garbage disposal when you want to run it. There are magnets in the stopper that turn on the disposal. There are two advantages in my mind. First, it's totally safe (well, 99.9% at least). You can't turn it on unless the stopper is in place. And second, you don't need to hit a wall switch or air gap or anything like that. Our switch is under the sink, and it's always "on".

The only negatives I've found are first, if you have a bunch of gunk in your sink and you let the sink fill up with gunky water, you have to reach down into the sink to put the topper in place. And second, you have to keep the stopper in a somewhat accessible place, which for me, is in a little ceramic dish on my counter. Others might keep it hidden away.

what you are describing is a batch-feed unit. These have been around since Genesis or there abouts. The debate between batch feed and continuous feed continues.

I have the Evolution 3/4 HP compact unit at my prep sink and we liked it so much that we bought the 1 HP version when Amazon had it on sale maybe a month ago. If it was down again yesterday and you can wait a bit, I'd wait and watch for the price you want. I did that earlier this week when the printer I was buying for my son at college wasn't available from Amazon and the other sellers were all higher. I waited and the next day, it was back in stock and I saved about 25% on the printer and ink. If you can't wait -- get the 3/4 HP compact and check Lowe's and Home Depot for their pricing in your area.

Man, you guys always give me so much to think about. OK, I have the WasteKing one in my cart right now due to price, but I'll look at the Evolution one tomorrow.

I really appreciate all these different insights. Susie, I have a feeling your system would fail at my house. My H cannot put anything back where it goes. He's a great guy, but he just cannot. So at some point (probably soon after install), we would have no way to turn on our disposal. I do love the idea of not having any switches to the disposal, though!

My H cannot put anything back where it goes

Any chance you're actually married to my husband? :-)

I believe Waste King is made in China. I (and maybe you) try to avoid Chinese made ju_ _, I mean stuff. I'm pretty sure we paid around $200 for the Insinkerator Cover Control at a local appliance store two years ago, which we also try to support.

I don't get a sink full of gunky water so I don't need to reach in to use the magnetic cover. We keep the cover in the sink drainer. You have a sink stopper for your sink anyway, so it replaces that by flipping it upside down. You can put just about anything in it--their website has a list of what's okay. It's so quiet you don't know it's on.

Hmmm, I checked my waste king and the manual and found no mention or mark indicating it is made in China.
It is made by Anaheim Manufacturing in Southern California.

Apparently there is another disposal called Titan which tries to look very similar to the Waste King and it is made in China.

They have domestic disposers and international disposers, so I don't know if all sold here are domestic. They have different model names, so it should be easy to check. When I was researching them in the Appliance forum, I found posts saying they were Chinese. I never heard of Titan.

You have to be careful when you look at websites that make it sound like their product is made in the USA. Sometimes they say "Designed in the USA". I even saw a site that had the American flag on it that said "We are an American company" but their product was made in China. Usually they won't say where they are manufactured, as is the case of Chinese quartz countertops, and you have to dig around a little.

Here is a link that might be useful: disposer info

Hi-we have had the same insinkerator for about 20 years. It never has needed any repair despite our taking it for granted. It has never leaked etc. Hope this helps.

We've had the ISE pro SS since 2001, still going strong. Never a problem, or leak.
Dug thru my receipts, it was $135.00 in 2001

It's now called the contractor 333... Currently $155.00 at Faucets Direct sounds like a great deal with free shipping

Here is a link that might be useful: ISE Contractor 333 disposal

This post was edited by ctycdm on Fri, Aug 22, 14 at 21:18

Since it appears you are still looking, I wanted to mention that the Evolution really is quieter than other disposals. We had an electrician at the house checking a couple of things for us and we were standing in the kitchen talking. When I turned off the disposal, he said he didn't even realize it was running. That's a huge plus for me.

lascatx, I absolutely agree. It was an important consideration for me with open concept. My contractor DH is always rolling his eyes at my research but was pleasantly surprised with the quality and quietness of the evolution. He told me to get the cheapest, that it didn't matter. I rolled my eyes at him and now he's glad I didn't listen.

Bbtrix and lascatx, which evolution do you have?
Oh, lascatx, I read in another post that you had a ise 3/4hp compact. If you bought another would it be this one or the 1 hp?
Also, do the insinkerators come with a stainless steel flange that becomes part of your sink, or do you buy this separately? Thanks.

This post was edited by Barbarav on Sun, Sep 14, 14 at 22:09

I have the 3/4 hp compact and I believe lascatx said she has both. There is nothing additional to purchase unless you want an air switch. Flange is included. Interesting though, when I bought it I found it difficult to figure out what additional parts I'd need too.

We have both -- the 3/4 HP at the prep sink and a 1 HP for the main sink. DH has been traveling a lot and we've had some other challenges, so it hasn't been installed yet. Honestly, the 3/4 HP is all the power most folks would ever need and it's cheaper. It can grind up all the drain pipe can handle and then some.

DH found that out the hard way -- stuffing artichokes down it once, and saying, "I love having such a great disposal -- I can put ANYTHING down it!" (I hear "JINX!" CUE the gurgle, gurgle.) The disposal was fine -- completely clear. Nothing in it. Until the water backed up intot he sink, The disposal chopped up that artichoke as fast as DH could shove it in -- but the drain pipe below couldn't handle it and got overwhelmed. That almost got really ugly, but we learned that Dawn Platinum Power Soak formula and , OxiClean with HOT water, patience and a plunger can eventually move the artichoke mountain.

If it were me, I'd buy the 3/4 HP compact for less money and be happy. But DH wants more power. Even after learning that even the 3/4 HP could get him into trouble. It's a guy thing. Either one is likely to be all you need. Maybe more.

Ok. NO ARTICHOKES! Thanks to both of you. I'm looking at the 3/4hp evolution essential. It's a tad taller, 1/2" I think, and a 1/2 " more in diameter. It has the stainless steel grind chamber, the compact doesn't. And it's only $23 more. Tomorrow I'll measure to make sure it'll fit under a 10" deep sink that I don't yet have. Bbtrix, me too with the added parts. I guess I'll need the plug and the DW hookup too? Although there is an ancient ise under the sink now.
Big thanks to you both.
B

We bought no additional parts. I believe the DW kit is only needed if there is a hose size difference. Mine came with a stopper.