When my wife and I were getting ready to renovate our kitchen one of the first things that we both agreed on was that we wanted a farmhouse sink. However, there was one thing that we were concerned about and that was whether or not a farmhouse sink could have a garbage disposal?
After doing some research, we found out that farmhouse sinks can have garbage disposals. While most garbage disposals will fit a farmhouse sink, the biggest problem that you might run into is having enough space underneath your sink for your disposal to fit. In most cases, as long as you have at least 18” inches of space, you should be good.
The garbage disposal that we decided on for our farmhouse sink was the InSinkErator Garbage Disposal, Evolution Excel, 1.0 HP Continuous Feed.
With a total height of 13 inches, this particular garbage disposal is well within the size limitations that come with having a farmhouse sink.
So, without going into all of the product details (you can check all of that stuff on Amazon), the main reasons that we decided to purchase this particular garbage disposal was due to its size, quitness, and components.
The InSinkErator Evolution Excel is extremely quiet! If you are used to the loud grinding sounds of cheaper models, the reduction in noise will come as a welcomed surprise.
We also really liked the fact that out of the garbage disposals that we were considering, it was the only one that was constructed with stainless steel components.
This and the fact that it has 5 Stars on Amazon really gave us some peace of mind in spending so much on a garbage disposal.
I know the price may be a little steep, especially compared to other garbage disposals on the market, but if you want a SUPER quiet garbage disposal that is built to last for many years to come, then you really can’t go wrong with the InSinkErator Evolution Excel garbage disposal.
Will The Garbage Disposal Will Fit Onto The Sink
The good news is that most sinks are pretty standard when it comes to their openings and flanges. A 3 ½ inch opening in most cases.
The chances that the sink opening and flanges will not fit are very uncommon!
This includes farmhouse sinks!
However, some farmhouse sinks are thicker than others, so a standard size flange may not fit.
In this case you may need to purchase an extended flange kit like the one here.
The biggest issue that you may run into is not whether or not the garbage disposal will fit the sink itself, but rather if you’ll have enough cabinet space underneath your sink to accommodate the disposal.
If you are installing new cabinetry, then this will not be a problem as you can custom order the size of your sink base to ensure that the garbage disposal will fit underneath your farmhouse sink.
Keep in mind though that farmhouse sinks require a special cabinet, so if you don’t already have a farmhouse sink, then it’s not as easy as just replacing the sink itself!
You will need to replace the cabinet too!
Best Size and HP for Farmhouse Sink Garbage Disposal
With most farmhouse sinks, you can expect to have roughly 18 inches of space to fit your garbage disposal.
There is a wide selection of really good garbage disposals that fit (no pun intended) into this size range.
Keep in mind that if you require any type of special plumbing or need to install an extended flange to your sink, this could affect the available space.
As far as horsepower goes, it’s not as important as grinding power! Let me explain….
The units of power per pound is what’s referred to as your grinding power and it’s the most important consideration when it comes to how strong your garbage disposal is.
Here’s an example:
Let’s say that you have a garbage disposal that is rated at 1 hp at 30 oz capacity. Would you say that is better or worse than one that’s rated at 1 hp at 50 oz capacity?
If you chose the 1 hp at 30 oz, you would be correct!
That’s because the 1 hp can apply more power per unit to the 30 oz than it can to the 50 oz.
Best Types of Garbage Disposals for Farmhouse Sinks
The best disposal for a farmhouse sink is a “continuous feed” garbage disposal! Not only are they much more convenient than their “batch feed” counterpart, but because they don’t need an extra large chamber, they are much smaller in size.
This makes them the perfect choice for farmhouse sinks, since the lack of space can create problems during install.
Here’s more on the two types of garbage disposals.
In general, there are two types of garbage disposals – batch feed and continuous feed.
In short, batch feed garbage disposals have a chamber that you fill in batches. Once you have a batch ready to process, you then place the stopper or plug onto the mouth of the garbage disposal.
Once in place, you press down and twist to activate the grinder. Once grinded, you then remove the stopper until you are ready to process your next batch of waste.
The most common type of garbage disposal is what’s called a continuous feed. These disposals are much more convenient than their counterparts in that you don’t have to fill in batches and apply a stopper in order to run them. In most cases, you simply flip a switch and they come on.
Some people don’t like them for this reason though as they do not shut off until you turn off the switch. This could potentially become a safety hazard!
Conclusion
Farmhouse sinks can be an upgrade to your usual boring sink and best of all, you can still have your garbage disposal.
Just keep in mind that while most garbage disposals will fit a farmhouse sink, the real problem may be whether or not your garbage disposal will fit underneath your sink.
However, this can be prevented by simply measuring the room you have underneath your sink and choosing a compact continuous running garbage disposal.
