Contractor 333 or a Badger? What I Tell People in Studio City

Most of the time my honest answer is no. But sometimes it's yes, and the kitchen in these photos was one of those times.

The kitchen in the photo

This was a house off Ventura, south of the boulevard. Granite counters, a deep sink, and a family that actually cooks. The old disposal was a cheap unit somebody put in years ago. It jammed every couple of weeks, and it was loud enough that you couldn't talk in the kitchen while it ran.

They asked me to put in something that would just work and stop being a problem. I put in an InSinkErator Contractor 333.

Badger vs Contractor, in plain words

The Badger line is the basic one. A Badger 5 is fine for a couple or a small family that mostly rinses plates. It's cheaper, it fits almost any cabinet, and I install a lot of them.

The Contractor 333 is a step up. Bigger motor, so it doesn't bog down on peels and leftovers. It has more sound insulation, so it's quieter. And the grinding parts are stainless, so it holds up longer when you use it every day.

It's not a fancy top-of-the-line model. It's a solid middle unit that handles a real family kitchen.

When I go with the Contractor 333

I suggest it when:

• You cook at home most nights, not just reheat.
• There are four or more people in the house.
• The old unit kept jamming even though you weren't putting anything crazy in it.
• The kitchen is open to the living room and noise bothers you.

If none of that sounds like you, a Badger is enough and I'll tell you that. I'd rather you spend less and call me back when you move than sell you something you don't need.

What I check before I swap it

Before I put in a bigger unit, I look at the space under the sink. The Contractor is a little taller than a Badger, so sometimes the drain line has to be cut or moved to line up. I also check the outlet or the switch, the dishwasher hose, and whether the old mounting ring can stay or needs to go.

In this kitchen the plug and outlet were already there, so it was a clean swap. When the pipes don't line up, I tell you before I start.

What it costs

The trip is $75, always. Replacement work is $249, and you pay for the disposal itself on top of that. If the old drain pipe is cracked or won't line up with the new unit, new piping is $99 extra. If your disposal just needs a repair, like a jam or a reset, that's $99 plus the trip.

No surprise charges at the end. You hear the price before I pick up a tool.

Studio City and nearby

I work all over Studio City, from the flats near Ventura up into the hills, and over to Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood, and Valley Village. If your disposal is humming, leaking, or just too loud to live with, call or text me at (213) 293-0752 and tell me what it's doing. If you can send a photo of what's under your sink, even better.

- Igor