The power of the garbage disposal and how much insulation is built in to reduce its noise can be a noticeable price factor. Furthermore, if a garbage disposal has never been installed in a home before, plumbing or electrical costs can increase its total cost. Finally, these machines are more common in some regions of the world than others, which can also affect how much they cost.
The cost of a garbage disposal often depends heavily on its motor power. Garbage disposals for households typically have anywhere from 0.25 to one horsepower. The more power the motor has, the more food waste it can process per second.
In general, garbage disposals are loud machines when operating. Some manufacturers provide some degree of sound proofing, which can significantly affect the cost of a garbage disposal. Generally, more powerful and therefore more expensive motors have the potential to be extremely loud, so manufacturers are more likely to include sound proofing with these machines.
If the home the garbage disposal is to be installed in has never had a garbage disposal before, complications can arise during installation. Generally, even if the installation goes smoothly, adding a garbage disposal to a home can be very expensive. This cost can include things most people do not immediately think of, like the cost of accidentally voiding the warranty on a septic tank by installing such a machine. The tank might also need to be pumped out more often after the installation of a garbage disposal.
The installation can affect the total cost of a garbage disposal both positively and negatively. If someone needs to be hired for the installation, this can make the machine more expensive, but if this can be avoided it can be considerably cheaper. Also, when the plumbing of the home is not already properly set up to handle a garbage disposal, a plumber may have to be hired to fix this. Likewise, if the electrical wiring is not prepared to handle the installation of a garbage disposal, an electrician may need to be hired in order to complete the installation.
Lastly, region can affect the cost of a garbage disposal. These machines are uncommon in some parts of the world, even if their use is encouraged by the local government. For example, the price can be relatively inexpensive in North America, where they are commonly installed in homes as a standard of living.