Does It Matter Which Side of the Sink The Garbage Disposal Goes On?
Garbage disposals are a great addition to many kitchens. They can help you quickly get rid of organic waste and avoid food scraps clogging up your drain. If you have a double sink in your kitchen, you might wonder where you should install your garbage disposal.
The garbage disposal can go on either side of the sink. Your style of dishwashing, the location of other appliances, and the size of each of your sinks can influence your choice. A general rule is to put the disposal on the more used side of the sink — right or left; it’s up to your preference.
In the rest of this article, I will explore these factors more in-depth in order to choose the best location for your garbage disposal.
I will also compare different-sized sinks and other kitchen setups to help you make the best possible decision for you and your kitchen. Keep reading…
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Where Does the Garbage Disposal Go in a Double Sink?
The garbage disposal can go on either side of a double sink. It’s best to place your garbage disposal on the side that’ll see more food waste. It’ll depend on your cleanup habits and kitchen layout. If your food waste usually goes on the right sink, try putting the garbage disposal on the right.
Personal factors such as how you like to do your dishes, which is your dominant hand, and what your usual kitchen routines are can factor in as well.
If you’re accustomed to using one side of the sink more than the other for heavy-duty meal cleanup, you might consider that side as the perfect place for your garbage disposal.
Garbage disposals can take up quite a bit of room, so consider how you’d like your under-the-sink space to be set up.
If there’s a place you’re accustomed to placing your trash can, you might consider placing your garbage disposal on the other side to make enough room. The location of any existing plumbing might also help you decide where your garbage disposal should go.
The location of your dishwasher can also contribute to your decision. Your dishwasher will be connected to your garbage disposal through its plumbing, so placing these closer together will make for an easier connection. The closer these two appliances are, the less piping you’ll need to connect the two of them securely.
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Which Side Does the Garbage Disposal Go on a 60/40 Sink?
A 60/40 sink is a double sink where one of the bowls is larger than the other. The larger bowl will often be deeper as well. If you have a double sink with this type of design, this can contribute to where you put your garbage disposal.
The garbage disposal goes on either side of a 60/40 sink. You may choose the side that’s more used and handles more food scraps. If space is an issue, you may choose to install the disposal on the smaller bowl since it’ll be more shallow.
Placing the garbage disposal on the side of the sink so that’ll be seeing more food scraps is the best practice. However, this will depend on you and your style when in the kitchen.
Some people refer to the small bowl of the 60/40 sink as the “veggie bowl” and is a prime location to wash and peel vegetables. Perhaps this could be the perfect place to put your garbage disposal as it’s ideal for disposing of vegetable scraps.
However, you may use the larger bowl of your 60/40 sink to do all the heavy-duty food scraping and pre-washing. If you find yourself dealing with lots of food scraps after the meal is over, you might want to place it on this side of the sink.
Think about how you prefer to use your kitchen setup most effectively and base your decision on your own personal preferences.
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Do Both Sides of the Sink Go to the Garbage Disposal?
Both sides of the sink do not go to the garbage disposal. Food scraps from the other side of the sink without the disposal won’t be ground up and disposed of. However, if the disposal gets backed up, it can impact the other side of the sink as well.
If you notice your other sink backing up when you attempt to run the garbage disposal, that means something is wrong.
Something has gotten stuck in your plumbing, and it’s time to clear the clog in order to get everything working the correct way again.
For some tips and tricks for unclogging garbage disposal and its piping, you can check out this informative video on YouTube:
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Should You Wash Dishes on the Disposal Side?
You should wash dishes on the disposal side. When it comes time to scrape plates after a meal and wash them, you’ll want to do this on the disposal side of your sink. Your disposal can then take care of any organic food waste that comes off in washing.
Remember to take care of what you’re putting down your garbage disposal. Not all organic food waste is suitable for your disposal. Potato skins are a famous example of food waste that can clog up your disposal.
Avoid these as well as other fibrous scraps. Items like coffee grounds, eggshells, and other hard-to-break-down food scraps like bones should be avoided as well.
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How Far Does A Garbage Disposal Need To Be From A Sink?
Garbage disposals are often built right into the kitchen sink or countertop, but there are advantages to installing a stand-alone unit away from the sink. For one thing, it allows for easier installation, because the disposal doesn’t have to be plumbed into the drain.
You also can put it in a more convenient location, such as under an island or on a countertop wall next to your range or oven. And if you ever sell your house, having garbage disposal outside of the kitchen makes it easier for the new owners to locate and remove it for their own use.
But all these advantages come at a price: Installing a garbage disposal at some distance from your sink means you’ll have to run a separate drain.
There are two factors that affect how far your garbage disposal should be from your sink drain: plumbing codes and the strength of your existing plumbing system.
It also depends on how powerful your garbage disposal is, but most plumbers agree that it should be at least 3 feet away from your sink. Some recommend even more distance, up to 4 feet. The reason is that leaking water can cause electrocution and other issues.
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Final Thoughts
No matter the proportions of your double sink, where you put your garbage disposal is ultimately up to you. You’ll likely want the disposal to be located on the side of the sink that sees more food scraps and waste.
Whether you want your garbage disposal on the right or left, it’s up to you, whichever that’s most convenient.
However, this could be either side or either sized bowl, depending on how you use your kitchen. Consider your ideal cleaning patterns in the kitchen to decide which side of the sink is right for you and your garbage disposal.
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Sources
- Absolute Granite: Selecting a Side for the Garbage Disposal
- ANO Sales: On Which Side of the Sink Do You Place the Garbage Disposal?
- Stack Exchange: Which side of a sink should I install a garbage disposal in?
- Pete the Plumber: What Not to Put in the Garbage Disposal
- YouTube: Clogged Kitchen Sink with Garbage Disposal?
You may also be interested in… Do You Need a Special Sink for Garbage Disposal? and How High Should Garbage Disposal Be?
