Garbage disposal installation in Knoxville kitchens

New Disposal in an Existing Sink

Adding a disposal to a sink that never had one means replacing a basket strainer with a disposal flange, sealing it with plumber's putty, and hanging the unit on its mounting ring. The discharge tube connects to the trap, and if the disposal outlet sits lower than the trap arm, the drain assembly is rebuilt so it still falls toward the wall. On a double sink, the disposal usually goes on the side nearest the dishwasher. Power has to be there first: a switched outlet under the sink, or a hardwired connection.

Horsepower Sizing

Disposals are sold by horsepower, from about a third of a horsepower up to a full horsepower and beyond. More power grinds tougher scraps faster and jams less, and larger units usually run quieter because of better insulation. A household that cooks a lot, or a home on septic, benefits from a larger unit; a small household that rinses plates may do fine with a smaller one. Bigger units are also taller, so we check the clearance under the sink, especially where a drawer or filter system shares the space.

Air Switch Disposal

An air switch puts a button on the sink deck or counter that sends a pulse of air through a tube to a switch box under the sink, which turns the disposal on or off. There's no electricity at the button, which makes it safe to press with wet hands and handy on islands where a wall switch is far away. The button fits a spare sink hole or a small hole drilled in the counter and comes in finishes to match the faucet. The control box plugs into an outlet under the sink.