Your kitchen is, without question, one of the most important rooms in your entire home. From a purely financial standpoint, your home represents one of the focal points when it comes to determining your home’s overall value. From a purely functional standpoint, the room is naturally one of the most critical as well. For the savvy home decorator, few rooms are more integral to your entire decorating ethos than your kitchen. And yet, for all of that, trash compactors are far too often overlooked. That being said, your trash compactor is one of the most important factors in that kitchen setup. Here are a few things that you’ll want to look for among the leading models on the market.
1. Size Matters
First and foremost, you’re going to want to consider how large a trash compactor you want to take on. The last thing you want is to have to deal with a compactor that’s too large to fit in the space allotted or too small to get the job done. There are many different sizes available, with some of the most common on the market being:
- Widths which range from 12” to 15”
- Heights of around 34” to 35”
- Depths which typically hover around 24”
You’ll want to choose a compactor that’s large enough to take on the amount of waste you need compacted without being so large as to take up an inordinate amount of space.
2. Style Options
Aiding in this space-saving endeavour is the question of compactor style. There are a variety of different size types to consider, both in terms of freestanding compactors, as well as those which fit neatly under your kitchen sink area. Choosing a freestanding compactor is naturally going to allow you a bit more freedom in terms of different sizes, since you won’t have to worry about it fitting underneath that aforementioned sink area. On the one hand, choosing the latter option allows you to cut down on the amount of space taken up by a compactor. Straddling the line between the two options are convertible compactors, which can be used in either a freestanding fashion or under your sink, depending on how you choose to set them up.
Whatever you choose, you’re going to want to make sure that your compactor is optimized to fit in with your overall kitchen setup.
3. Compactor Features
In addition, there are many different compactor features that are enticing. Some of the most important such features to consider when choosing the right compactor for your needs include:
- The size of the motor
- The amount of compacting force which the compactor is able to exert upon the waste, with 2000lbs. of compacting force being the floor and 5000 the ceiling for domestic units
- The overall capacity of the compactor
- Anti-jam systems
- Tilt sensors
- Removable controls, which are useful for preventing any accidental operation of the unit
- Built-in air fresheners to combat any odour
- Noise insulation to cut down on the noisiness of the compacting process
- Attachable trash cans
4. Affordability Counts
No one should find themselves priced out of having a proper compactor in their kitchen. That’s why you’ll want to take the time to review different prices and make sure that you’re getting one that suits your budget. There are many compactors on the market which are highly affordable, costing just a few hundred dollars, so don’t be afraid to shop around.
All this and more can help you choose the right compactor for your kitchen.
