Quick Tip: Maintenance Request Response for Garbage Disposal Issues

11 Feb Quick Tip: Maintenance Request Response for Garbage Disposal Issues

We’ve all received that maintenance request from a tenant saying that their garbage disposal doesn’t work. The problem is that more times than not, it’s because something is jammed in the blades or the reset switch needs to be clicked. I finally got tired of sending a handyman out only to determine that it was something that the tenant could have easily handled themselves. While the fix may seem obvious to us, many tenants have absolutely no knowledge on garbage disposal basics and need a little guidance.

So as with everything that I find myself doing repeatedly, I created a template instructional email that I reply with anytime I have a garbage disposal maintenance request. I have found that this corrects the problem at least half the time and saves the owner a handyman charge, or me a trip out to do it myself.

Here is the email I send…

Hi Jamie,

I received the maintenance request you sent. I’m happy to send a maintenance technician out to correct this but before I do, could you try something for me that very well could fix the problem a whole lot faster than them having to schedule to come out there.

1. First, there is usually a small button on the underside of the garbage disposal in the cabinet under the sink (see photo attached and specifically the small red button near the top of the disposal pictured). That is a reset switch. Just press it and that will reset it if the unit has tripped. If the blades get jammed up, most garbage disposals will trip this switch to prevent it from burning up. It may still very well be jammed up even after you do this in which case you’ll hear it humming but not turning. It may also trip the reset switch again. In that case, try step 2.
2. In the attached photo in the very middle of the bottom of the garbage disposal, you’ll see a little hole to fit an allen wrench. This allows you to manually turn the blades inside the cylinder unit and will almost always free any jam. If you don’t have the wrench, you probably have a common flat head screw driver which works just as good usually. Give it a turn back and forth until you feel the blades moving. Then press the reset switch again and turn the disposal on at the normal wall switch. That usually does the trick.

If neither of those options work, please let me know and I’ll have our handyman call you to schedule a visit.

Ben, It works! No need for the handy man – Thanks for the detailed instructions.

Jamie

Ben Parham

Founder at Property Management Training Headquarters

Ben Parham is the Founder of Property Management Training Headquarters as well as the President and Managing Real Estate Broker of Integrity Realty & Management, Inc., a cutting edge real estate sales and property management brokerage operating throughout the Greater Denver Area. Ben served as the 2018 President of the Denver Chapter of the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM) and currently serves NARPM National as a Southwest RVP Ambassador. Ben is a U.S. Navy veteran where he was a Cryptologic Technician (Technical) and was awarded the Joint Service Achievement Medal, two Navy Achievement Medals, and a Good Conduct Medal. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and is licensed as a real estate broker in both Colorado and Florida.