Sink Waste Disposal Installation Cost Guide

Waste disposal units are common in the USA, but they're only just growing in popularity here in the UK. Want to be ahead of the curve? It’ll cost between £130-£550 to have a waste disposal unit fitted to your sink, but we'll break down the costs in this guide.

How much does it cost to get a sink waste disposal installed?

How much it costs to get a sink waste disposal unit installed mainly depends on the type of unit you choose and your location in the country, but these are the average costs:

Item	Average cost
Waste disposal unit	£80-£450
Waste disposal installation	£50 per hour

Plumbers and electricians can both fit waste disposals as long as they are Part P certified, and their hourly rates differ depending on where you live.

See further down the page for hourly and daily rates for tradespeople in your location for a more accurate idea of labour costs.

What do waste disposal units do?

Waste disposal units, sometimes called food waste disposers, get rid of your food scraps through your plumbing without causing blockages. When you put food down the unit, it grinds it up into tiny pieces and mixes it with water, so it can be safely flushed away down your drains.

Waste disposal units are fitted under your sink. Usually you switch them on at the wall near your sink while the tap is running then drop your food in.

Top sink waste disposal brands

While not that popular in the UK yet, there are still a few good brands of sink waste disposal units out there:

Brand	Price range
InSinkErator	£100-£550
McAlpine	£100-£160
WasteMaid	£120-£270
Maxmatic	£330-£500

What are the benefits of sink waste disposal?

There are plenty of benefits of a sink waste disposal unit:

Saves time: There’s no need to remember to take the food waste out every day, giving you some of your time back.

Reduces odours: Dispose of food scraps straight away rather than leaving them to rot in a food waste caddy or bin.

More hygienic: Food waste out of the house means there’s less chance of attracting flies and other pests into your kitchen.

Who can fit a waste disposal unit?

Plumbers and electricians can fit a waste disposal unit. To keep your costs down, you could try to find a plumber that is Part P certified so they are qualified to work safely with electrics and can self-certify that the electrical supply to the unit meets Part P of the building regulations.

We wouldn’t recommend fitting a waste disposal unit yourself. Water and electricity don’t mix, and if you install it incorrectly you could shock yourself or cause a fire hazard. It’s best to leave it to the professionals who will ensure the unit is safe and free of leaks.

Can you fit a waste disposal unit to any sink?

Yes, you can fit a waste disposal unit to most sinks. While it might be slightly more cost effective to fit a waste disposal unit at the same time as you’re replacing your sink, you can easily retro-fit a unit to your existing sink. An electrician or plumber will be able to recommend the best unit for you.

Is a sink waste disposal worth it?

Whether or not a sink waste disposal unit is worth it will depend on your situation. You’ll need to weigh up how much you value the added convenience and how much you want to save time and reduce kitchen smells. While waste disposals can be pricey, they do make your life easier – you just need to decide how much you'd be willing to spend.

How do I know if my sink disposal is broken?

There are a few signs that your sink disposal is broken and may need replacing:

Strange noises

Food disposal units will naturally be a little noisy, but if yours seems louder than usual it might be time for a new one. It’s also a sign that something could have accidentally dropped down there, like cutlery or other metal items.

Intermittent power

If you find that your waste disposal doesn’t always turn on, there could be a problem with the connection. Don’t try to fix this yourself – leave it to a qualified electrician.

Odd smells

A waste disposal unit should usually eliminate odours from your kitchen since it’s carrying food waste away, so if you notice a smell coming from your sink there could be a problem with your unit.

Leaks

If your food disposal is leaking, keep it switched off at the wall and don’t use it until a plumber has inspected it. If water gets near the electrics you could end up shocking yourself, so make sure you leave it to the professionals to check out.

Bad performance

If you can tell that your waste disposal unit isn’t grinding food properly or seems to take longer than usual, it might be a sign that your unit needs replacing. Food waste disposals could last up to ten years, but cheaper models may last about five before they need changing.

Are you supposed to empty a sink disposal?

While sink disposal units reduce a lot of work, they do still require some maintenance. Even if you use your food waste disposal exactly as directed, you may still end up with some food lodged in it.

You can run small pieces of lemon peel through your waste disposal once a week to try to loosen any stuck food and reduce odours. If that doesn’t work, you may need to empty your sink disposal. There are three methods you can try:

1. If you can see something stuck in your unit, like a utensil or large bone, you can carefully use kitchen tongs to reach in and pull it out. Make sure the unit is turned off first!
2. If there’s a food blockage in your waste disposal, try filling up the sink with some washing up liquid. Then run the disposal unit and drain the water. Hopefully, the pressure should help dislodge the blockage.
3. If those two methods don’t work, the last one you can try is using a plunger on the sink. The plunger should loosen the blockage and pass down, or you may be able to reach in to pull it out.

Post your job on HaMuch to get in touch with reliable tradespeople in your area who will be able to fit a new sink waste disposal for you.

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