Update: Renters: What's a decent time frame to wait for maintenace?

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
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Update

Well now it is even worse. I am sick of waiting for them to come repair this thing that I decided to run the dishwasher since the mound of dishes smells. Well, now the damn dishwasher doesn't work. Even better is that it hasn't been used for months because we do all our dishes by hand.

/Update


Been five days since I reported our broken garbage disposal and no activity on management's part. It wouldn't be a big deal, except that our sink floods since the disposal does not work and it is the only drain. No, it is not clogged. Furthermore, we can't use the dishwasher so we are stuck with this.
 

Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
18,010
1
81
5 days is pushing it, especially if they haven't given you a committment to fix it by a certain day.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
How many times have you called them? I never have to wait for repairs...but then again I made sure I made friends with the maintanence guy.
 

Crusty

Lifer
Sep 30, 2001
12,684
2
81
Consider yourself lucky, it took my management 1 1/2 weeks to come fix water pouring out of my ceiling...:(

I would call and complain bigtime.
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
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Originally posted by: GoodDad
How many times have you called them? I never have to wait for repairs...but then again I made sure I made friends with the maintanence guy.

First complaint was made face to face with the maintenance guy, second was a phone call to management. No progress yet and I have about had it.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,124
779
126
3 days was our limit when I was a maintenance mechanic. But we usually got to it in a day. You didn't say what is wrong but have you tried moving the blades of the disposer with a tool (not your finger and be sure the power is off) or pushing the reset button on the bottom?
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
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Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
3 days was our limit when I was a maintenance mechanic. But we usually got to it in a day. You didn't say what is wrong but have you tried moving the blades of the disposer with a tool (not your finger and be sure the power is off) or pushing the reset button on the bottom?

Have tried both. All that happens when we turn it on is a loud buzzing sound.

There also is nothing jammed down there as I have checked.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,124
779
126
Originally posted by: minendo
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
3 days was our limit when I was a maintenance mechanic. But we usually got to it in a day. You didn't say what is wrong but have you tried moving the blades of the disposer with a tool (not your finger and be sure the power is off) or pushing the reset button on the bottom?

Have tried both. All that happens when we turn it on is a loud buzzing sound.

There also is nothing jammed down there as I have checked.
Were you able to spin the blades? Sounds like it is frozen up.

 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
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Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Originally posted by: minendo
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
3 days was our limit when I was a maintenance mechanic. But we usually got to it in a day. You didn't say what is wrong but have you tried moving the blades of the disposer with a tool (not your finger and be sure the power is off) or pushing the reset button on the bottom?

Have tried both. All that happens when we turn it on is a loud buzzing sound.

There also is nothing jammed down there as I have checked.
Were you able to spin the blades? Sounds like it is frozen up.

They were spinning to my knowledge. Will try again.
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
22
81
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Originally posted by: minendo
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
3 days was our limit when I was a maintenance mechanic. But we usually got to it in a day. You didn't say what is wrong but have you tried moving the blades of the disposer with a tool (not your finger and be sure the power is off) or pushing the reset button on the bottom?

Have tried both. All that happens when we turn it on is a loud buzzing sound.

There also is nothing jammed down there as I have checked.
Were you able to spin the blades? Sounds like it is frozen up.

Frozen up it is. Any easy way to fix this?
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,124
779
126
There may also be a spot to insert an allen wrench on the bottom of the unit. This will allow you to move the blades.
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
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Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt
Why does the sink flood if there's nothing in the disposal?

Honestly, I do not know why, but it has been this way in every apartment and house I have lived in.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,124
779
126
Originally posted by: minendo
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Originally posted by: minendo
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
3 days was our limit when I was a maintenance mechanic. But we usually got to it in a day. You didn't say what is wrong but have you tried moving the blades of the disposer with a tool (not your finger and be sure the power is off) or pushing the reset button on the bottom?

Have tried both. All that happens when we turn it on is a loud buzzing sound.

There also is nothing jammed down there as I have checked.
Were you able to spin the blades? Sounds like it is frozen up.

Frozen up it is. Any easy way to fix this?
Look at the bottom for a place to insert the allen wrench. Or take your hammer, insert the handle into the unit and force the blades to move. Try CC and CCW then take out what ever is binding it up.

 

ThisIsMatt

Banned
Aug 4, 2000
11,820
1
0
Originally posted by: minendo
Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt
Why does the sink flood if there's nothing in the disposal?

Honestly, I do not know why, but it has been this way in every apartment and house I have lived in.
Weird...I've never used a disposal that didn't freely allow water to flow regardless of being on or off.
 

TitanDiddly

Guest
Dec 8, 2003
12,696
1
0
Sounds jammed. Don't stick your hand down there, but you might get lucky and dislodge it with a screwdriver or such. Can you use drano on disposal-equipped sinks? That might help.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,124
779
126
Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
Sounds jammed. Don't stick your hand down there, but you might get lucky and dislodge it with a screwdriver or such. Can you use drano on disposal-equipped sinks? That might help.
Don't use draino. If you can't free it and unplug it, you have a clogged sink with draino in it.

 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
22
81
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Originally posted by: minendo
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Originally posted by: minendo
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
3 days was our limit when I was a maintenance mechanic. But we usually got to it in a day. You didn't say what is wrong but have you tried moving the blades of the disposer with a tool (not your finger and be sure the power is off) or pushing the reset button on the bottom?

Have tried both. All that happens when we turn it on is a loud buzzing sound.

There also is nothing jammed down there as I have checked.
Were you able to spin the blades? Sounds like it is frozen up.

Frozen up it is. Any easy way to fix this?
Look at the bottom for a place to insert the allen wrench. Or take your hammer, insert the handle into the unit and force the blades to move. Try CC and CCW then take out what ever is binding it up.
Just tried 15 different allen wrenches on the opening in the bottom. Will try prying the inside with a screwdriver now.
 

ThisIsMatt

Banned
Aug 4, 2000
11,820
1
0
Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
Sounds jammed. Don't stick your hand down there, but you might get lucky and dislodge it with a screwdriver or such. Can you use drano on disposal-equipped sinks? That might help.
That NEVER helps :D
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
22
81
Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt
Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
Sounds jammed. Don't stick your hand down there, but you might get lucky and dislodge it with a screwdriver or such. Can you use drano on disposal-equipped sinks? That might help.
That NEVER helps :D

The Works works wonders when mixed with aluminum foil.;)
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
22
81
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Did you fix it or will you be typing with fewer fingers?

No luck. Maintenance is supposed to be out this afternoon. Actually, they better be out this afternoon.
 

PanzerIV

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2002
6,875
1
0
Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt
Why does the sink flood if there's nothing in the disposal?

Mine was jammed up a couple of weeks ago and I had the same symptoms as Minendo. Turns out there was something tiny stuck in there but it still managed to make that sink unusable temporarily.
 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,758
603
126
In Vermont, if they don't get on it after 48 hours, you can call a 3rd party fix it guy and deduct his bill from your rent. You just have to attach an itemized bill with your rent check. I'm not making this up! Check your local laws, you can usually google it.

(I would only do this as a last resort though, don't really want to rock the boat if you don't have to.)