How to Install Garbage Disposer/Complete Instructional Video

I am wagering you have never installed a garbage disposer before so let's start off with some basics...

In this video course VideoJoe will show you how to install a new garbage disposer & will be installing it on a new stainless steel sink so of course that means that there was never a garbage disposer there in the first place.

In your case you might however be installing a new garbage disposer which will be replacing your old garbage disposer meaning you will need to remove the old garbage disposer & unfortunately VideoJoe's video here will not show you how to remove your existing garbage disposer.

If this is the case the very first thing to do is unplug the old garbage disposer & remember which plug area you are unplugging at....the top or bottom one, since you will need to plug the new garbage disposer back into the same location at the duplex electrical outlet. Sounds pretty straight forward I know but you would be amazed at how many people forget this!

Here's something else to remember...if you are removing an old garbage disposer, take a look at the electrical pigtail cord & see what type of condition it's in. If the cord looks to be in great condition then my advice would be to remove the existing garbage disposer extension cord so you can reuse on the new garbage disposer. Just the cord alone could set you back around $15 at the hardware store & lots of new garbage disposers do not include an extension cord so check the garbage disposer you end up getting & read the box to see if a cord is included or not.

Which garbage disposer should you get at the hardware store....that's a laugh...or is it? Did you know there are several sizes of garbage disposals you can choose from?

Before I go into that take a look at your existing garbage disposal (if you are replacing your old one) to see what size horsepower the garbage disposal is. If your garbage disposer is a really old one then chances are it's a 1/2 horsepower garbage disposer.

Yes you could get the same size one at the store but they have them in 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 1, & even 1 1/4 horse power too. I would not go with a 1/2 horsepower only because that's the cheapest one out there & may not last as long as a better one plus if you use your garbage disposer often then why not get a bit of an upgraded one is what I would suggest.

Of course once you go up in size then each garbage disposer size upgrade is going to cost a bit more than the next so choose one that will fit in your budget. I would get not the cheapest yet not the most expensive maybe mid road one like anywhere from the 5/8 to 1 horsepower.

As I have mentioned prior if you are removing an old garbage disposer then take a look at the cord & see if it's in good enough condition to remove from the old garbage disposer so you can reuse & install on the new garbage disposer as a new extension/pigtail cord may set you back apprx. $15 or more so save that money if you can.

You could look on the box that the new garbage disposer comes in but the last time I checked, most garbage disposers do not included the extension cord go figure!