During repairs, this renter wants to be there
Question: I don’t like calling my landlord for repairs, since I enjoy my privacy. Any suggestions?
Answer: Quite a few renters prefer to be around when repair work is done, but the landlord can’t know unless you specify that fact. Put your detailed repair request in writing, asking that the appointment be scheduled directly with you.
If that is not possible, offer a window of time when you can be home to meet the repair person. For most landlords, the issue is simply a matter of convenience, since repair people tend to come during a broad band of time.
Keep in mind that in an emergency, landlords in many locales are allowed to enter a rental without notice.
*
Landlords need to know the details
Question: My dishwasher is broken, but my landlord is slow to have it repaired. How can I get a prompt response?
Answer: Saying merely that something is broken is frustrating to some landlords, because they have no idea what the exact problem is and therefore don’t know whom to call. Would you take your car to a mechanic and simply say it is broken? Save frustration for yourself and your landlord by being precise in describing any problem.
For a dishwasher: Is water leaking when you run the machine? Are the dishes not coming out clean? Is the appliance not activating when you turn the dial?
Don’t be wishy-washy when it comes to repair requests, and when you call your landlord be as specific as possible.
*
Garbage disposal suddenly quits
Question: Our garbage disposal suddenly stopped. It doesn’t even make a sound when we flip the switch. What happened?
Answer: Kitchen garbage disposals seem like a nifty idea until they stop working. Don’t panic, because most modern garbage disposals automatically shut off when something gets jammed or stuck under the blades. Much like a ground fault interrupter, or GFI, outlet, the disposal shuts off until reset. Resetting isn’t complicated, but most landlords would prefer tenants not tinker with sharp objects and instead call the landlord for repairs.
The following disposal do’s and don’ts may help avoid disposal shutdown trouble:
* Do turn on the cold water first, letting a stream of water run with the waste until the sound of just the whirring motor indicates “all clear.”
* Feed items such as vegetable peels into the disposal gradually. Allowing debris to accumulate in the sink and then shoving it down invites a clog.
* Run a sink full of water and baking soda through the disposal weekly.
* Don’t throw anything with grease, oil or fat into the disposal. This includes fish.
* Don’t put fibrous foods, such as corn husks, into the disposal.
* Don’t run the disposal with hot water, only cold.
*
Some toilets clog more easily
Question: I just moved into a newer building, and the bathroom toilet clogs regularly. My older place didn’t have this problem. What’s the difference, and how do I unclog the new one?
Answer: New water-saving toilets are becoming commonplace in most apartments and homes. Part of the new wave of conservation law, these 1 1/2 -gallon models were designed to use less water than their 5- to 7-gallon ancestors. Unfortunately, some of these newer models have less power when it comes to flushing.
“Plumbing is one of the largest maintenance issues we have,” said Jim Stilton, who manages more than 500 rental units in Los Angeles.
If a clog is beyond simple plunging, call your landlord, as professional help may be needed. Never use chemical drain openers in a toilet, because a toxic splash may damage the porcelain or your skin.
*
H. May Spitz is a Los Angeles- based freelance writer. Reader comments may be sent to hmayspitz@aol.com.
