Garbage disposals are tiny powerhouses nestled beneath your sink, with motors effortlessly grinding through food waste to help save room in your trash can and stretch the times between trash days.
These odorless, food-disposing devices are a staple in millions of kitchens nationwide, making them a go-to staple in new homes.
Key Points:
- Garbage disposals are becoming a staple in many households to help alleviate strains on waste management systems.
- The flange joins the disposal to the sink and may come with your new garbage disposal unit or need to be bought separately.
- Garbage Disposal flanges may be interchangeable between one manufacturer’s models, but it is still important to check specs before buying to make sure of compatibility with your own model.
But choosing a garbage disposal isn’t quite as simple as picking a model and installing it. Instead, you’ll need to consider multiple aspects, including the drain flange, as they’re not always universal.
Here’s what you need to know about garbage disposal flanges to ensure you pick the right size for your unit.
What Is A Garbage Disposal Flange?
The garbage disposal flange is an essential part of the installation. It’s the ring that connects the disposal and the sink, functioning as a gentle slope for uninterrupted water flow. The slight slope in the design ensures water flowing from the sink will smoothly enter the drain without an issue.
It’s somewhat like a mounting bracket for the disposal, as it joins the disposal to the sink. Some disposal flanges come with strainers or stoppers, which are ideal for capturing food particles that shouldn’t go into the garbage disposal.
Do Garbage Disposals Come With A Flange?
In most cases, new garbage disposals come with a flange. However, this might not be true for all models, so it’s important to check. The flange plays an essential role in the installation and function of the system, so you can’t skip it.
Generally, the disposer comes with a matching flange, usually complete with a stainless steel construction. However, you can find flanges in various colors and finishes to match your kitchen’s aesthetic. Here are a few standard finish options:
- Stainless steel
- Oil-rubbed bronze
- Black stainless
- Matte black
- Chrome
- Brushed nickel
- Antique copper
- Brushed brass
Are Garbage Disposal Flanges Interchangeable?
While most garbage disposal flanges are universal and interchangeable among one manufacturer, this isn’t always true when considering multiple manufacturers. For example, if you buy a Ruvati garbage disposal, all of Ruvati’s garbage disposal flanges are interchangeable with its models. So, regardless of which model you choose, any flange will work.
However, not every manufacturer offers universality among its disposal flanges. Some manufacturers have specific flanges designed for certain models, so they’re incompatible with every model in the manufacturer’s lineup. It all depends on the manufacturer and model.
Before you purchase a new garbage disposal flange, we recommend checking the specs on your garbage disposal. This way, you won’t end up with a flange that doesn’t work for your particular garbage disposal model. Although many flanges are universal, it’s better to check before purchasing one.
What Size Garbage Disposal Flange Do I Need?
To determine the correct flange size for your garbage disposal, you’ll need to know the size of your drain and your disposal. If you don’t know those measurements, you’ll have a tough time correctly determining the right size flange. While you could guess and check, that is time-consuming.
Owner’s Manual
So, if you don’t have the information you need, look it up in the owner’s manual. You can find the disposal information in the supporting documents that came with your disposal, and the same goes for your sink.
Generally, the information you need will be in the first few pages of the manual, along with other specifications of the model.
Online
You can find the information you need online if you didn’t save those documents or they’re long gone, lost in the junk drawer (we get it!).
You’ll need to know what sink and garbage disposal models you have, as you’ll need to look them up by name. Simply type the brand and model into the search engine, then click on a product listing from the results page. You can use the product listing from the brand’s website, but Home Depot and Lowe’s listings will work, too.
Once you click on the product listing, scroll down to the section with supporting documents. This section should contain PDFs of the owner’s manual, installation guides, and troubleshooting guides. Click on the owner’s manual to find the specs you need.
Measure
Alternatively, you can find the information you need by measuring yourself. This is usually the most straightforward option if you don’t have the owner’s manual and cannot remember the model or brand of each product.
Grab a measuring tape and measure the drain across its widest part inside the edge. The drain will usually measure between 3 and 4 inches, as this is pretty standard. Note the measurement.
Next, measure the depth of the drain, starting at the shallowest point next to the edge. Since most drains slope inward, this should give you a more accurate measurement. Note the measurement.
Pick A Flange
Once you obtain the proper information, look for a flange that is compatible with the measurements you found. Search for flanges by size, entering your measurements to ensure you get results that will work with your garbage disposal and sink.
In some cases, you might need an extended flange to work with your sink. This is fairly standard with thicker sinks, like those made of natural stone or fireclay. If your sink is between ¾ and 1 ¾ inches thick, you’ll likely need an extended flange. Extended flanges, as the name implies, are longer than a typical flange, which makes them compatible with thicker sinks.
You might find it easiest to search for flanges from the brand of your garbage disposal, as most brands offer an array of flanges that are compatible with several of their garbage disposal models.
Once you select a flange, you can pick the right size accessories to match the flange, as you’ll need those measurements for the accessories. Some flanges come with basket strainers or stoppers, but not all do, so you might have to pick out a few separate pieces to complete your garbage disposal setup.
If you plan on washing dishes with a sinkful of water, you’ll need something to stop the water, so don’t forget to grab a basket strainer or a stopper.