[ag-before-rating]Review Summary:
The InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP garbage disposer can handle almost anything you throw at it. It is a powerful, well designed unit that runs very quiet and liquefies foods with an effective three stage grinding mechanism. One of the best on the market.
Pros: Great grinding performance, quiet, gobbles up everything, 7 year parts & labor warranty, made in the USA
Cons: Expensive, heavy, slow draining
[/ag-before-rating]
InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1 HP Review
The InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1 HP is one of the most powerful and well designed garbage disposal units on the market. It oozes quality right from the first unboxing and only gets more impressive once you install and start using it.
Is it worth the stiff price tag compared to competing products? Let’s take a look.
Installation
The Evolution Excel will be more difficult to install than lower end garbage disposals not because it has a difficult sink mount, but simply because it is heavy. At 23 pounds it takes a bit of muscle to effectively maneuver it in the limited space underneath a sink.
While it’s doable alone, a little help will make the installation easier. It’s not easy to hold this with one hand while bolting it up, so save yourself some dirty words and frustration and have someone around to help you steady it.
The stainless steel 3-bolt quick lock sink mount is no more difficult to use than any other mount you may have come across, so don’t expect too many problems getting this attached. As always, you may need some extra plumbing depending on what sink setup you had, or on your previous waste disposal if you are replacing one. There shouldn’t be any problems that a quick trip to the hardware store can’t fix.
This model is designed to be hard-wired, so no cord and plug is included. If you already had a hard-wired disposer installed, you can just disconnect that and reconnect the wires to the Evolution. If you are unsure about this, or would prefer using a plug, get an electrician to help. Doing it correctly and safely is worth it.
InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP In Action
Once up and running, the first thing that will strike you about the Evolution Excel is the absence of noise. This is a very quiet unit, even when chewing through bone and other tough garbage. If you are used to cheaper entry-level disposers, this unit will surprise you in many pleasant ways.
It doesn’t seem to have any trouble handling whatever food wastes you throw at it. Tricky garbage like celery, corn husks and artichokes are effectively disposed of by the Evolution Excel.
The fineness of the ground is impressive, and “liquefy” is the correct word for describing what happens to any waste unlucky enough to find its way into the Excel’s 3-stage grinding system (GrindShear ring, Tri-Action Lug system, and an Undercutter Disk). The drawback of this thorough system is that, while powerful, it is a little slower than simpler mechanisms.
Unfortunately, the baffle design which helps muffle the sound really slows down the draining from the sink. Since this is fixable by cutting the baffle open a little bit to allow more water through we’re not going to make too big a deal out of it, but this sort of thing should really be fixed at manufacturing level as it is a well-known complaint by now.
Here’s a quick video overview by Build.com, where you can hear how quiet this disposer is:
Get Pricing Here*paid link
Bottom Line: The InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP is one heck of a garbage disposal unit. None of its drawbacks are deal breaking, and the quiet performance by such a powerful unit is impressive. It is expensive compared to more mainstream brands, but you get value for your money. Get it if you want to stop worrying what you can or cannot put into the disposal and just want to get the job done quietly and efficiently.
Buying Advice: See Today’s Insinkerator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP Deal*paid link
Also consider: Waste King 9980 Legend Series 1 HP Garbage Disposer*paid link