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Waste King L-8000 1 HP vs InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Garbage Disposal Side-by-Side Comparison

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Waste King L-8000 1 HP vs InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP

Overall Verdict

There was a time when the InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP and the Waste King L-8000 1 HP dominated the market. With one focusing on useful features while the other utilizing affordability as a strength, both ends of the market were pretty much covered. However, because of a much larger selection pool with more variables, the Waste King L-8000 is no longer the most sought-after affordable garbage disposal. 

It’s not that the L-8000’s stainless steel grinder and high-speed motor aren’t good anymore, but why wouldn’t you favor cheaper units with identical specifications and similar builds? Or a better-featured one that costs the same? The L-8000’s 20-year warranty is still very appealing, but the playing field now is more leveled, as you can imagine.

Meanwhile, the Evolution Compact’s values remain unchanged over the years. It’s mainly because the sound/vibration insulation technologies featured in the InSinkErator Evolution series are some of the most advanced in the market to this day. Performance-wise, the Compact is consistently solid and easily one of the best 3/4-hp garbage disposals you can buy right now. 

The two disposals yielded very comparable results in performance evaluation, with the InSinkErator scoring a little higher overall. Although Waste King L-8000 1 HP has a rougher build quality and a cheaper noise-damping solution in comparison, it costs much less money. But if you’re willing to invest a decent sum in your garbage disposal, the InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP shouldn’t disappoint.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Noise reduction
  • High torque 
  • High speed 
  • Stainless steel grinding components
  • Affordable
  • Noise cancelation
  • Vibration damping
  • High-torque motor
  • Strengthened chamber layout
  • High capacity
  • Stainless steel grinding components
  • Heavy build
  • Takes up a lot of space 
  • Can be loud
  • Heavy
  • Space-consuming
  • No power cord

Key Specs

Type of feed
Continuous
Continuous
Horsepower
1
3/4
Motor type
Permanent magnet
Induction
Averaged RPM
4149
1482
Family size
3-4 people
3-4 people
Dimensions
L5.5 x W8.4 x H16.2 inches
L6.1 x W8.6 x 12.4 inches

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$111.07
$203.01

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Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
6.9
6.9

Scrap Mix

8.1
6.9
8.11 ounces of visible fish pin bones in mess of ground assorted scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
Layer 1
8.11 ounces of visible fish pin bones in mess of ground assorted scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
12.56 ounces of ground assorted scraps, including dietary fibers, bones, etc., on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
0.15 ounces of shredded pieces of fish backbone and celery stalk, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
 InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Scrap Mix Test
11.03 ounces of fish pin bones in mess of assorted scraps from garbage disposal on digital scale on granite-looking top
20.52 ounces of ground products from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of assorted scraps, including fibers, bones, etc.
0.06 ounces of ground products from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Shredded fish vertebrae and pieces of dietary fiber.
Input Load
90.0 oz (2551 g)
90.0 oz (2551 g)
Time
2 min
1 min 49 sec
Layer 1
8.1 oz (230 g)
11.0 oz (313 g)
Layer 2
12.6 oz (356 g)
20.5 oz (582 g)
Leftovers
0.1 oz (4 g)
0.1 oz (2 g)

Raw Fish Scraps

6.7
7.3
5.71 ounces of visible pin bones among mess of raw fibrous tissue from fish scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
Layer 1
5.71 ounces of visible pin bones among mess of raw fibrous tissue from fish scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
2.47 ounces of shredded bones and fibrous tissue from fish scraps, on digital scale, placed on granite-looking top.
2.8 ounces of fish vertebrae among mess of shredded fish skin, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Raw Fish Scraps Test
5.56 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Few pin bones among a mess of raw fibrous tissue.
3.53 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of assorted shredded bones and raw fibrous tissue.
2.02 ounces of ground fish scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded fish backbone and skin.
Input Load
49.4 oz (1400 g)
49.4 oz (1400 g)
Time
3 min
3 min
Layer 1
5.7 oz (162 g)
5.6 oz (158 g)
Layer 2
2.5 oz (70 g)
3.5 oz (100 g)
Leftovers
2.8 oz (79 g)
2.0 oz (57 g)

Raw Chicken Scraps

4.6
6.6
1.44 ounces of fibrous soft tissue and few pieces of shredded chicken bones, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
Layer 1
1.44 ounces of fibrous soft tissue and few pieces of shredded chicken bones, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
1.79 ounces of shredded soft tissue and pieces of shredded chicken bones, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
0.91 ounces of shredded soft stringy tissue and cartilage from chicken scraps, on digital scale, on granite-looking top.
InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Raw Chicken Scraps Test
1.45 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded soft tissue and few pieces of shredded bones.
1.63 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded tendons and pieces of shredded bones.
0.37 ounces of ground chicken scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of soft tissue and pieces of shredded cartilage.
Input Load
7.4 oz (210 g)
7.4 oz (210 g)
Time
3 min
2 min 30 sec
Layer 1
1.4 oz (41 g)
1.4 oz (41 g)
Layer 2
1.8 oz (51 g)
1.6 oz (46 g)
Leftovers
0.9 oz (26 g)
0.4 oz (10 g)

Design

Overall Design Scoring
9.2
8.9

In the Box

L-8000, EZ Mount on top, its box, user manual, stopper, adapter kit, elbow tube, rubber gasket, flange, bolts, wire nuts.
InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP with 3-Bolt Mount assembly on top, next to its box, user manual, registration slip, sink stopper, hose clamp, elbow tube, straight tube, wrench, and bolts.

Dimensions

Waste King 1 HP with mount assembly, elbow tube. Showing 8.4-inch width, 14.6-inch height, 4.3-inch depth to dishwasher outlet, 7.4-inch depth to outlet, 5.4-inch distance to elbow tube.
InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4-hp food disposer with mount assembly and elbow tube. Dimensions show 8.6-inch width, 12.4-inch height, 3.4-inch depth to dishwasher outlet, 6.6-inch depth to outlet, 6.1-inch distance to elbow tube.
Length
5.5" (14.0 cm)
6.1" (15.5 cm)
Width
8.4" (21.3 cm)
8.6" (21.8 cm)
Height
16.2" (41.1 cm)
12.4" (31.5 cm)
Weight
12.7 lbs (5.8 kg)
16.0 lbs (7.3 kg)

Mount Assembly

EZ Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform with stopper in position.
EZ Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform with stopper in position.
Support ring, mounting ring, cushion mount, fiber gasket, rubber gasket, sink flange, stopper, removable sink splash guard.
3-Bolt Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform. “food waste disposer” and “InSinkErator” engraving on rim of sink flange. Sink stopper in position.
3-Bolt Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform. “food waste disposer” and “InSinkErator” engraving on rim of sink flange. Sink stopper in position.
Parts of 3-Bolts Mount assembly on platform, including backup flange, mounting ring, snap ring, fiber gasket, stopper, cushion mount, sink flange with “food waste disposer” and “InSinkErator” engravings, removable sink baffle, lower mounting ring.

Grind Chamber

8.5
8.5
Top view into chamber of Waste King L-8000 garbage disposal after testing, looking at layout of grinding components.
Top view into chamber of Waste King L-8000 garbage disposal after testing, looking at layout of grinding components.
Inside view of Waste King L-8000 garbage disposal, showing design of two-level grater/grinder ring and details on flywheel.
Inside view of Waste King L-8000 food disposer, showing design of impellers and details of flywheel and grater/grinder ring.
Top view through collar of InSinkErator Compact 3/4-hp garbage disposal into chamber after testing. Looking at layout of grinding components, showing swivel impellers, flywheel, and grater/grinder ring.
Top view through collar of InSinkErator Compact 3/4-hp garbage disposal into chamber after testing. Looking at layout of grinding components, showing swivel impellers, flywheel, and grater/grinder ring.
Inside view of Evolution Compact 3/4-hp garbage disposal, highlighting design of GrindShear grater ring by InSinkErator, partially showing details of flywheel.
Inside view of InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4-hp garbage disposal after testing, highlighting design of impellers, partially showing details of flywheel and grater/grinder ring.
Capacity
30.0 fl oz (887.2 ml)
32.0 fl oz (946.4 ml)
Verticality
6.8" (17.3 cm)
5.4" (13.7 cm)
Flywheel
4.4" (11.1 cm)
5.3" (13.3 cm)
Assembly Material
Intermediate
Stainless steel
Layout
Stainless steel
Strengthened

Motor

10
8.0
Horsepower
1
3/4
Speed
2800 RPM
1725 RPM
Real Speed
4149 RPM
1482 RPM
Voltage
115 V (60 Hz)
120 V (60 Hz)
Current
7 A
8.1 A
Wattage
805 W
972 W
Heat
n/a
N/A
Reverse
No
No

Power Cord

Bottom view of Waste King L-8000 1 HP corded garbage disposal with type-B power cord.
Bottom view of InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4-hp with two pre-cut electrical wires and no power cord. (Unscrewed) cover plate and screw to the sides.
Length
2.8 ft (0.9 m)
NaN" (NaN cm)
Type
3-prong (Type B)
 n/a

Accessories

Standard outlet/discharge set for garbage disposals on granite-looking top, showing elbow pipe, rubber gasket, flange, bolts
Hose clamp and elbow discharge/outlet tube for garbage disposals displayed on granite-looking top.
Width
3.3" (8.3 cm)
3.3" (8.3 cm)
Length
5.3" (13.3 cm)
5.3" (13.3 cm)
Material
PVC
PVC

Build Quality

9.0
10
Waste King Legend Series L-8000 1 HP Garbage Disposal, with EZ Mount assembly on top and outlet/discharge set installed.
InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal, with 3-Bolt Mount assembly on top and outlet/discharge set installed.
Noise Reduction
Yes
Yes
Vibration Reduction
No
Yes

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
7.3
8.2

Ease of Use

8.0
9.0

Installation

7.0
6.0

Smooth Operation

8.0
10

Unjam Mechanics

0.0
5.0
Inside view of permanent-magnet garbage disposal showing manual unjam mechanics with wooden stick in flywheel’s opening/gap.
Bottom view of InSinkErator Evolution Compact disposal, showing jam buster wrench in manual unjam slot.
External
No
Yes
Auto Unjam
No
No