Is Costco's Cheapest Garbage Disposal Worth Its Budget-Friendly Price Tag?
When buying a garbage disposal, there are a number of important features to look for in order to ensure that you choose a high-quality product. First, you should figure out how much space you have under your sink for a garbage disposal and what your budget is. Once you have these numbers, you can look at more technical factors, such as the size of the motor and grinding chamber, how loud the disposer is, whether the manufacturer offers a warranty and how long it is, and if the grind rings have anti-corrosion properties. On top of all of these, it is helpful to know how easy or difficult the disposer is to install and whether or not it has positive reviews.
For many people, the best place to shop on a budget is Costco. If you are trying to get the most out of your Costco membership with home improvement services, then your search for a garbage disposal has probably led you to the retailer, where there are multiple options available. The cheapest option is the American Slim-Line 1.25HP Garbage Disposer. But is it worth its budget-friendly price tag? At the time of writing, it is available for $89.99 on the Costco website, where it also boasts an impressive average review of 4.7 stars. There are pros and cons to this disposer, and examining the features and customer reviews in more detail will help you determine if it's a good fit for your home.
Advantages of the American Slim-Line Garbage Disposer
The American Standard Slim-Line Garbage Disposer has quite a few advantages that make it worth the price. It has a compact design and is meant to fit into tight spaces, which is ideal in some homes. Features like a splash guard and magnetic disposer protection can help keep your sink clean, and your garbage disposer protected from accidentally dropping in harmful objects. As for installation, the product has a three-bolt mount system that is meant to make it simple to install. Reviewers report easy installation, with one writing, "The install went as easy as can be." For a better idea of what the process might entail, learn how to install a garbage disposal without help from the pros. Another bonus is that most reviewers say it isn't too loud. "It is a huge improvement from my 1/3 horse without being any louder," wrote one customer. Costco's website states that the disposer comes with a 12-year warranty, which is reassuring.
On the more technical side, this garbage disposer advertises a 1.25 horsepower (HP) motor, which is suitable for large households and heavy-duty use. At the high end of the possible HP scale for garbage disposers, this is an impressive feature for a budget option. While the size of the grinding chamber is unclear, there is an antimicrobial chamber designed to prevent smells. The grind rings that break up the food in this model are stainless steel, which is typically resistant to corrosion, and the disposer comes with a lifetime warranty against corrosion. So, the product largely aligns with the criteria of things to look for when buying a garbage disposal.
Disadvantages of the American Slim-Line Garbage Disposer
This garbage disposal may sound too good to be true, but there are some cons you should be aware of before running over to your nearest Costco. First, you should compare some prices. Costco's most expensive model costs $165, and a typical price for garbage disposals in general is about $150. Model prices can also be as low as $62 or as high as over $300. At $89.99, the American Standard Slim-Line Garbage Disposer will save you some money compared to typical prices, but if your budget is a little bit flexible, it may be worth exploring other options and seeing if their features better align with your needs. For example, read what real reviews of Costco's best-selling garbage disposal are saying.
While the 1.25HP motor sounds great for the price, there is a disclaimer on the product that states that number does not indicate the motor output or the motor power used for processing, which may be important to some buyers. Also, note that two reviewers said that the disposer arrived broken. "Don't order from the website," wrote a reviewer who gave it one star. "Was broken."
Finally, although the unit is supposed to be easy to install, if you need someone to install it for you and are relying on Costco's services, you should know that garbage disposal installation is not on their website's list of home and installation services. Overall, if you are looking for a small but powerful garbage disposal with a few special features while sticking to a budget, then the American Slim-Line Garbage Disposer at Costco is a good choice for you.