Garbage disposals?

[Gardenarian]

Dh and I are purchasing a 3-unit house that we will be renting out as a vacation rental. There are no garbage disposals, and I was thinking of installing them, but a lot of people seem to think they are more trouble than they are worth.

Apparently, many people don't know how to use them and will just dump ALL food waste down the sink (half a pizza, bones, whatever.)

I think it's unrealistic to ask vacation renters to compost. We have a garbage disposal at home but just use it for those cleaning the sink and dishpan - those icky little bits of things that are hard to clean up. And, we use dishwater to run it, not clean water. (We compost most stuff.) (And we never have leftover pizza.)

The vacation rental is pretty fancy, but there is no dishwasher. Would you put in garbage disposals? Would you expect one?

[Miss Cellane]

I'm conflicted about this.

I would not expect a garbage disposal. But I would, in a fancy vacation rental, expect a dishwasher. Most newer dishwashers are designed to handle small bits of food easily--those icky little bits of things you mention.

So my concern would be that tenants who are accustomed to using dishwashers will not know to keep all the little bits of food from going down the sink drains.

My gut instinct would be to install dishwashers, but that's probably pretty expensive. But in a vacation rental, I would not want to spend time washing dishes. I'd want a vacation from daily household chores. But I think you'd get the biggest return from dishwashers.

The disposals? As you say, many people don't know how to use them, and even if you post instructions right over the sink, they will be ignored by a percentage of your tenants. So without the disposals, you run the risk of clogged drains. With the disposals, you run the risk of a blocked/malfunctioning disposal. I don't know how to figure out which would be the easiest to deal with.

[lessisbest]

I would NOT install garbage disposals - and a pox on the person who invented them.... They often seize-up if not used frequently, and if you ask a truthful friendly plumber, they totally dislike them because people don't know how to use them, but they totally love them because people don't know how to use them. Take Dr. "Dumb@$$" from next door.... He clogged his by trying to put a loaf of bread down his and asked if I could recommend a good plumber. I did, and I also showed him where his trash cart was.

[nswef]

We have a vacation rental property and I'd say no disposal...even though the one there has only been replaced twice in 30 years....But, the dishwasher doesn't seem to be used all the time, it depends on the renters. Ours isn't rented more than about 8 weeks out of the year and only to people we know, so that might make a difference. We're on septic so do not have a disposal at home- compost works great.

[SteveinMN]

Don't do it. Even people who have one in their own houses often will stuff any table waste down the drain. Unless the disposal strongly resembles a jet engine in shredding power, they'll find something that gums it up. Asking a variety of people you don't know -- with differing amounts of knowledge or concern (it's not theirs) -- to use a disposer properly is, IMHO, quite optimistic.

[ToomuchStuff]

Nnnnnnnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Do I seem unclear.
NNNnnnnnoooooooooooooooo.
I would agree that more will expect a dishwasher, unless it is less of a kitchen and more of a kitchenette. That doesn't mean that people even know how to use them (really more of a dish sanitizer then washer).

[razz]

Are you trying to impose your values on your renters? I ask this kindly.

Those who rent a vacation property are rarely interested in day to day concerns. It is their time to relax and indulge with styrofoam containers, prepared foods, take-ways etc. You are going to have garbage that you normally would not see.

A lovely vacation spot with a good dishwasher, laundry set, along with up-to-date kitchen appliances is what they are looking to rent. Set up in a defined location, recycling box with a sign indicating paper, bottles and a large bin for everything else that you cleanup on a pre-agreed routine.
Another no to a garbage disposal.

[JaneV2.0]

No to the disposal. I've never used one improperly, rarely use them at all, but I've had trouble. I prefer a sink that drains dependably.

I suppose people do want dishwashers; I think they're more trouble than they're worth, and I doubt I'd wash many dishes while on vacation, but I'll defer to you on that one.

[iris lilies]

Dont like the garbage disposal we have, but Im not allowed to use it anyway. Composting is required here in this household. No exceptions! EyeRoll. Now that ive been doing it for 27 years of marriage, I'm used to it.

DH says that a garbage disposal is necessary to hook the dishwasher into. Or something like that. I do like a dishwasher since we generate nearly a full load every day. DH is all over the kitchen, generating dirty implements.

[lmerullo]

I think if your rentals are to be competitive, and you NEED the rental income, then check out the competition on vrbo or air bnb just to make sure your amenities are in line with the rest. If this is just a casual income stream, then I would say no, it's neither necessary nor expected.

Another thing to consider is who will do the work, both the installs and the possible maintenance should issues arise. If you have to hire someone, then again, I would say it's not worth the expense.

[freshstart]

I wouldn't care if there was no garbage disposal on vacation but I would want a dishwasher since I use it for everything at home. It wouldn't stop me from renting a place that otherwise met all my needs but it would make me think twice about it, to be honest.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I use the garbage disposal all the time and have had one in every apartment and have seldom ever had a dishwasher. But I think people on vacation probably are much more careless than long term renters who actually have to live somewhere, so they may be more likely to mess it up. I like having one though. So on a long term rental I'd say yes, but on a vacation rental probably no.

[bae]

Another "no" vote on the disposal. Plumbing and maintenance nightmare. And horrid if you are on a septic system.

I also wouldn't impose any sort of fussy recycling/composting rules on my renters. Just point them at the trash and other options, and charge them accordingly.

[mschrisgo2]

I'd say "NO" to both the garbage disposal and the dishwasher. Disposals are fussy and dishwashers need to be used routinely, otherwise the seals dry up, then they leak.

More than once I've been involved in the renting of a vacation property, complete with lots of talk of cooking this and that together for dinner. But the reality was takeout and leftovers from huge restaurant meals. Breakfast and lunch didn't generate enough dishes to use the dishwasher, and those cups and bowls were hand washed.

Save yourself both the dollars and the drama.

[JaneV2.0]

I'd say "NO" to both the garbage disposal and the dishwasher. Disposals are fussy and dishwashers need to be used routinely, otherwise the seals dry up, then they leak.

More than once I've been involved in the renting of a vacation property, complete with lots of talk of cooking this and that together for dinner. But the reality was takeout and leftovers from huge restaurant meals. Breakfast and lunch didn't generate enough dishes to use the dishwasher, and those cups and bowls were hand washed.

Save yourself both the dollars and the drama.


For a lot of people (including moi), part of the charm of travel is sampling local restaurants--and not having to cook. I agree completely with your view.

[shadowmoss]

I have a sink garbage disposal. Several weeks ago I missed one of the small plastic tops to a water bottle I was washing to reuse and it went down with the dishwater. I run the disposal while I drain the dishwater. I couldn't find it. Today, the disposal seized and I can't figure out how to fix it. I found most of the bottle top when I first investigated, and I'd looked for it several times prior. So, since I'm getting ready to sell this place I will need to figure out how to get the rest of the plastic out or take out the disposal completely.

TL;DR No.

[JaneV2.0]

I have a sink garbage disposal. Several weeks ago I missed one of the small plastic tops to a water bottle I was washing to reuse and it went down with the dishwater. I run the disposal while I drain the dishwater. I couldn't find it. Today, the disposal seized and I can't figure out how to fix it. I found most of the bottle top when I first investigated, and I'd looked for it several times prior. So, since I'm getting ready to sell this place I will need to figure out how to get the rest of the plastic out or take out the disposal completely.

TL;DR No.

Have you tried the little reset button on the front of the unit?

[catherine]

Another no on the disposal. I was on vacation with the family and my MIL was one of those clueless souls who threw chicken bones in there and we broke it.

[Gardenarian]

Thanks for the feedback- no garbage disposals!

We will not be installing dishwashers. The rental is within walking distance of at least 50 restaurants, and we'd actually like to discourage cooking. (Less mess for us.)

It's kind of weird, when this place was remodelled they put in full kitchens, but with single sinks and no dishwashers...really makes washing up difficult.

[nswef]

Maybe they remodeled it for vacation tenants to discourage cooking.

[Gardnr]

I've never stayed in a vacation place that didn't have a disposal AND a dishwasher. And I have rented many vacation places. You'll need to manage them after each client (or your management company).

[shadowmoss]

No switch I can find on my disposal. Mom said stick a brook stick in and knock it loose. There is nothing I see to stick 'into', it is flat rotating disks with no discernable hole to put something in to knock it loose. I'll keep looking at it. It isn't the highest priority right now. However, before I list this place I'll have to do something.

[catherine]

I've never stayed in a vacation place that didn't have a disposal AND a dishwasher. And I have rented many vacation places. You'll need to manage them after each client (or your management company).

I've stayed in many vacation rentals also, and never found them to be a "must have." I admit, a dishwasher is another thing. That's pretty important because we rent homes so we DON'T have to go to restaurants every night, but a garbage disposal? I've lived 64 years without one in my own home, so they factor very, very low on the list of amenities I look for in a vacation rental.

[SteveinMN]

No switch I can find on my disposal. Mom said stick a brook stick in and knock it loose. There is nothing I see to stick 'into', it is flat rotating disks with no discernable hole to put something in to knock it loose.
The reset switch often is a button and it can do a pretty good job of hiding. Look all around the disposer (if you haven't already). We had one in which the reset was a small red button; I don't even remember where on the disposer body it was located.

The broomstick is used to jostle the flat disks loose on the idea that something is jammed underneath the disks. Don't forget to unplug the disposal before inserting the broomstick.

[JaneV2.0]

A reset button on one of mine was on the bottom of the unit. Another one was actually visible on the front.

[ToomuchStuff]

Thanks for the feedback- no garbage disposals!

We will not be installing dishwashers. The rental is within walking distance of at least 50 restaurants, and we'd actually like to discourage cooking. (Less mess for us.)

It's kind of weird, when this place was remodelled they put in full kitchens, but with single sinks and no dishwashers...really makes washing up difficult.


That would depend on how wide and deep the sink (and faucet), is. Growing up with a single sink with built in drainboard, we typically replaced the rubbermaid sink dish pan every few years. They soaked in it and were rinsed beside it.

On the disposal, on most of them I have seen the button down below it. On a couple (think it may have been brand specific), the red button was surrounded so you couldn't see it, unless you were looking straight at it. It was effectively in a tube, and their reasoning was so someone couldn't accidentally hit it.

[Gardnr]

I've stayed in many vacation rentals also, and never found them to be a "must have." I admit, a dishwasher is another thing. That's pretty important because we rent homes so we DON'T have to go to restaurants every night, but a garbage disposal? I've lived 64 years without one in my own home, so they factor very, very low on the list of amenities I look for in a vacation rental.

I don't specify I must have one. I'm saying I've never rented a vacation home that didn't have both. Tells me it's a norm and not a fluke.

[iris lilies]

... Another one was actually visible on the front.
What a poorly engineered piece of crap. Haha.

[JaneV2.0]

I tend to stay in hotels; never have had so much as a hot plate. Never missed kitchen equipment and don't see the lure of B&B's at all. Surely there are some of us left.

[Tammy]

I like hotels or rental homes - as long as the whole space is mine and I don't have to interact with anyone. For me, a bed and breakfast is a nightmare. Forced to live with a stranger and chat and meet them for breakfast. ugh!!!

[iris lilies]

I like hotels or rental homes - as long as the whole space is mine and I don't have to interact with anyone. For me, a bed and breakfast is a nightmare. Forced to live with a stranger and chat and meet them for breakfast. ugh!!!
I know the feeling, yet the trade off is that you get to experience great old architcture.

it has been years since I stayed in a B & B, but when we did, most were very interesting with a real stamp of uniqueness. also th neighborhood where these old houses sit are fascinating.

And there is a point in one's travels with a spouse that its nice to talk to someone else.

[nswef]

Tammy, I get that B&B ick. I keep wanting to like it and when we first traveled in Canada I remember bursting into tears as my husband and I were looking for a place to stay- we were winging it for the first time so we would have freedom to go as far as we wanted each day...I just could not bring myself to pay good money to stay in someone's house...better an anonymous hotel than to have to be social. Yet, I am very sociable, know how to chat and converse. I discovered on that trip that 1. we must find a place to stay by 3 or 4pm. before dinner but after a snack so I am not hungry and without a place to stay the night 2. we need nothing very fancy, but without people in my face 3. we CAN wing it and not fall apart. We've done 2 B&B's and still not a fan at all. We have continued to travel winging it sometimes and I am much better about it than that first time.

[Float On]

I was just watching a life in Japan video on youtube. I loved the sink! And it had a double catch removable thing in the drain to catch the food bits. No disposal. That's what I would try to find if I replaced my sink. I always feel guilty using the disposal but miss having something that catches the food bits when I use my mom's sink with no disposal.

[Tammy]

In Arizona there is much public land that one can just drive the jeep a few miles off the highway on a dirt road and set up camp for the night. We've winged it a few times like that when we were out in boondocks later in the day. As long as you have some blankets, water, toilet paper, and reclining lawn chairs, you're good to go. :)

[ToomuchStuff]

I was just watching a life in Japan video on youtube. I loved the sink! And it had a double catch removable thing in the drain to catch the food bits. No disposal. That's what I would try to find if I replaced my sink. I always feel guilty using the disposal but miss having something that catches the food bits when I use my mom's sink with no disposal.


Thanks for not sharing a link or photo of it, as that allows us to wildly speculate and go through lots of video's on Japan!:doh:

[Float On]

Thanks for not sharing a link or photo of it, as that allows us to wildly speculate and go through lots of video's on Japan!:doh:

Ah! I'm so sorry. Did you find them. There is a family living there, I think the dad is from Canada and married to a native. They show all sorts of things about life in Japan. Doing laundry, tours of a typical bathroom (3 separate rooms so 3 people can do 3 different things), how they shower before baths because you use the water from the bath for the first cycle in the washer, etc.) Anyway, here is the one that shows the sink. The little girl is doing dishes (note you soap everything up and scrub it before using any rinse water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6W8PpZxa7E

[shadowmoss]

Found the little red button. Accent on 'little'. Pushed it. No bueno. Disposal just humms. Don't even recognize the tune (jumping there before anyone else does...). Broke loose the plates with a large plastic handle. Still no bueno. I really don't want to take the thing apart. I may just take it out and put a regular drain on it.

[ToomuchStuff]

I hadn't seen that one yet (there were lots of video's that came up with that search term).
Here, we have wire mesh strainers that go over the drains. Their buckets however, look to be the size of a garbage disposal and would make composting seeminingly eaiser (instead of scraping the plates, just wash).
I noticed at the end, he showed her the dishpan. Although she said Japan doesn't have dishwashers, she didn't have a mirror handy to see one.;) (that was part of our job as kids at grandma's house)

When you said her father was from Canada, I thought you might be talking about Stu in Tokyo. He is on some and has been on many of the woodworking forums, as his "dungeon" is rather famous.
http://ablett.jp/wordpress_index/

[Float On]

Their buckets however, look to be the size of a garbage disposal and would make composting seeminingly eaiser (instead of scraping the plates, just wash). Wasn't her expression cute pulling the bucket out, she really didn't want to see food bits!
I noticed at the end, he showed her the dishpan. Although she said Japan doesn't have dishwashers, she didn't have a mirror handy to see one.;) (that was part of our job as kids at grandma's house)

When you said her father was from Canada, I thought you might be talking about Stu in Tokyo. He is on some and has been on many of the woodworking forums, as his "dungeon" is rather famous.Interesting, I watched his $10 survival kit video
http://ablett.jp/wordpress_index/

Shadowmoss...the hum doesn't sound like good news. I think that's what mine did when the motor burned up and I had to replace it.

[SteveinMN]

Still no bueno. I really don't want to take the thing apart. I may just take it out and put a regular drain on it.
At this point, that's what I would do. Forestalls every future disposal problem....

[creaker]

I would say "no" to garbage disposal - but I'd also warn any renters. Just so they don't dump a lot of dead food into the sink like they might do at home and then figure out they have to dig it all back out.

[ToomuchStuff]

I would say "no" to garbage disposal - but I'd also warn any renters. Just so they don't dump a lot of dead food into the sink like they might do at home and then figure out they have to dig it all back out.

Wow.
Can't say I have ever seen a sink that doesn't have only garbage disposals. All the ones I have seen, had at least one regular drain, with the typical drain guard that comes on them. I figure if people are too stupid to notice that, and the lack of the power switch for it, they are probably also too stupid to know what a contract is, and won't make it as far as renting.

Thenn again, I have met someone who google gave them our number and they dialed it and after arriving at their similar named place. wondered why their order wasn't ready and where were we. The area code or city by the phone number, weren't clues.