anyone?

We had a Badger installed with our kitchen remodel in 2010. It failed (started leaking as it had cracked) in 2016 so we replaced it with an Insinkerator Evolution Prestige. It's much quieter and was certainly rated higher than the Badger. No problems so far and I expect it to work a lot longer than its predecessor.

Insinkerator Evolution septic assist. Have 2. Been using them for about 10 months now and no problems so far.

The Badgers are fine, just don't get the one labeled "1", they are a 1/3 hp models and are garbage, no pun intended. The ones that are labeled 1/2 HP or above are fine. I have one in a rent house and it's been doing fine for over 5 years. I would probably guess any brand that has suitable power will be fine. The cheapest models simply don't have the necessary power to hold up.

Another vote for InSinkErator, 1 HP model. Quiet and very strong.

if it ever sounds weird, pack as much ice as you can down the disposal. Run for 10-15 seconds and turn on water for another 10. Good as new.

Unless they've improved a lot, forget the Badger.

I went with the Insinkerator Evolution in the compact model.

The difference in cost between the Insinkerator and other brands was minimal to me considering how long my previous Insinkerator disposals lasted.

I went with the Compact model because I wanted to preserve more space under the sink and the power was adequate for my needs.

Insinkerator Evolution septic assist, had them in 2 houses now, combined 8 years or so with no issues. But I dont use it as a garbage can, either.

The Septic Assist has the stainless 40oz grind chamber the same as the Excel. At a lower price. The Compact has a composite smaller grind chamber. Stainless will last longer.

Insinkerator, 1 HP, has been in for a long time.

I have the Waste King batch feed 3/4 hp, 3-bolt-mount, #9900TC. I grew up with batch feed disposals (versus continuous feed), and feel more comfortable with them. They cannot be operated unless the cover is on. There is no separate switch needed in your wall or your counter; the cover operates the disposal. Push the cover down, and the disposal goes on, pull the cover off, and the disposal turns off.

Some people prefer a continuous feed disposal because you can feed the scraps continuously, vs. a batch feed where you put your scraps in the disposal until the chamber is full, and then run it, and then put more in, and then run it. This does not bother me because the Waste King's chamber is so large and holds so much I rarely need to do more than one batch at a time. Even at Thanksgiving, I might have to do just two batches at a time.

I also prefer the 3-bolt-mount (Waste King also offers an "EZ mount" type) because it has less vibration. Also, regardless of which brand or type disposal you choose, you must get a 3/4 hp or 1 hp. Less than that and the grind is not as fine. Whenever we hear plumbers say that a disposal caused a clog, it is always a disposal that is less than 3/4 hp. My 9900TC comes with a 10-year in-home warranty. Not many manufacturers are as confident in their disposals to offer that.

I also considered the Waste King 9980TC which is the larger 1 hp model. It is a beast. I decided not to get it because I was worried it would be too big for under my sink, and also because I had the 9900TC in my previous home and it worked flawlessly for 14 years.

Insinkerator makes a batch feed disposal too. I prefer the Waste King because the Insinkerator's cover operates the disposal via a magnet, which I find more finicky. Also the Insinkerator's batch feed chamber is not as big as the Waste King's batch feed chamber. The Waste King's disposal's one downside IMO is that the cover is hard black plastic which is not as attractive as the Insinkerator's cover which is a mix of plastic and stainless steel. But after 14 years, I can say definitively that it has not been an issue.

Insinkerator Evolution Space Saver from Lowe’s. Grinds everything and is quiet

Insinkerator Pro SS, I've put them in dozens of homes I've built, never once had a complaint.

The Insinkerator Evolution Compact C does reasonably well in Consumer Reports ratings but the Insinkerator Evolution "Space Saver" at Lowes has 5.0 rating from consumers and costs only $199. People considered it quiet, too.

Cheaper is the Kitchenaid KCDB250G which consumers at both sears.com and Lowes liked and found reasonably quiet. Only $115 + shipping at Sears or $129 at Lowes.

We have a Waste King L-8000 for almost 7 years now. I can't recall ever needing to think about it. It has worked perfectly this entire time, and I suspect it will continue for another 7 years.

2nd the recommendation about batch feed. They can't accidentally be switched on. Makes fishing things out of the disposal much safer.

Ditto everything Helen said above.

Insinkerator Evolution in the compact model.

Moen GX100C 1HP continuous feed. So far, so good. It's MUCH quieter than the old Insinkerator we inherited when we bought the house, but I think that was only 1/2 HP. That thing was LOUD and didn't break things like meat scraps down well (especially raw) so we'd have to remember to reach in and clean out whatever was left to avoid the house stinking to high heaven from some unknown remnant. Ask me how we figured that out :-) Went with the Moen because it had a better warranty and price vs. the Insinkerator models for the same or better specs (HP, all stainless, etc.) So far the only minor complaint is despite its supposed power, we cannot throw big chunks of anything in it or they don't break down - it has to be smaller pieces whereas even the old/loud/cr@ppy Insinkerator could take a huge chunk of whatever and bust it apart. But if that's the only issue we face with it, then it's not that big of a deal and just something to get used to.

I got the same one you linked. Pretty happy with it, and same reasons Helen posted. Me previous Insinkerator lasted ages, can't even remember when I got it.

Looks like everyone really likes their garbage disposal! Just going to get the ones I liked since there is a lot of support for it and Insinkerator. Thanks!

Dumb question, but I need air switches to go with these... would I just buy two of these: https://www.amazon.com/Insinkerator-STC-SN-Button-Satin-Nickel/dp/B0012QMXVU

or do I need something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/InSinkErator-STS-OOSN-Outlet-Sinktop-Switch/dp/B078YC6245

This is a part a big remodel so I am already paying an electrician & plumber to install 2 garbage disposals that I will provide.

I think the first one is just the button, you need the adapter too, to connect the garbage disposal cord there. Like the pic below

Btw there are other brands that have stainless steel finishes and other shapes, most air switches in amazon would work since it's just a matter of letting power flow to the disposer power cord. No need to get the insinkerator switch too. I wanted mine to match the faucet and soap dispenser finish.

I am personally not a big fan of air switches. They always feel flimsy. They keep getting stuck. And it's just another thing that can get grimy. I am installing a custom touch-sensor switch in an inconspicuous location instead. But I am not aware of any over-the-counter solution that does this. So, your only alternative in that case is a wall switch.

@M - an alternative would be a batch feed disposal which does not need a separate switch at all. I described it in a post upthread. It sounds like the OP wants a continuous feed disposal, and many people with those have the air switch and are happy. But maybe I can convince YOU to come over to "the other side" and get a batch feed disposal.

I have never had an air switch or a batch feed disposal...

I am concerned about the air switch getting grimy, but my designer said that they are easy to clean but now I am a bit concerned. Wall switching isn't really an option. At least the switch part is cheap enough where I could probably replace it every few years

With the batch feed, I would be concerned about the cover getting grimy or lost. I've always had a continuous feed disposals so I guess I feel more comfortable with them. I have always been happy with them when they are working, and it is pretty easy not to turn it on when you are fishing something out.

@Robinmorris - you make good points, and many people like the continuous feed, and many people like the batch feed style. There is no right or wrong choice, just personal preference.

Just to address your points about the cover for anyone else considering the batch feed disposal. I should have mentioned also that the batch feed disposal cover doubles as the sink drain stopper. When the cover is not pushed in to turn on the disposal it rests in the drain like any sink drain stopper so that the water can flow past it down the drain, or if you turn the cover, it stops the water, and you can fill up the sink. The cover will get grimy the way any stink stopper will, and you just clean it when you clean the sink. It won't get lost. No one walks away from the sink with the sink stopper in their hand. I've had batch feed disposals since I was growing up, and that is many decades, and the cover was never lost once.

I have an air switch for my prep sink in my island. I love it. Wish I would have done the same for my cleanup sink. The wall switch by my cleanup sink is further away than I would have liked but it had to be due to trim around window over sink. I have to stretch real far to turn it on.

I have a 1hp excel evolution hooked up with an air switch mounted in the cabinetry. The switch sits between the bottom of my farmhouse sink and the top of my under sink cabinet door. Inconspicuous, easy to press without leaning over or bending, and no issues with getting dirty.

I have the Kitchenaid 1 hp batch feed disposal KBDS100t. It is enormous. I love it. It is actually made by Insinkerator and rebadged to Kitchenaid. You have to speak with your plumber though to see if the plumbing lines are placed low enough under your sink for this model because it is tall. I can’t be bothered with switches haha it’s batch feed for me.

Kitchenaid KBDS100t

friedajune, maybe we are weird, but we don't use our drain stopper. Often it does get lost. Likely it gets put in a drawer somewhere never to be seen again.

Glad to hear people are happy with their air switch!

The 1/2 HP Badger 500 that I bought at HomeDepot has done a good job for me over the 2 years since I installed it. It has a 4.5 out of 5 stars average rating on Home Depot's website for nearly 6,000 owner reviews.

I also bought an under-sink, water tray to catch any potential drips or leaks. I don't have any drips right now, but I like having it there for peace of mind. Here's the link to the flexible rubberized plastic, water tray on Amazon in case you're interested in looking at it. They sell the tray in different sizes for various size cabinets. I have a wood support post in the middle of the cabinet frame where the cabinet doors close under my sink. The rubberized plastic tray was flexible enough so that I could fold it in half to fit it around the support post when installing it to protect the base of the cabinet under my sink.