Not all Handymen are created equal and a lesson learned

[John Underwood]

So our garbage disposal broke at our STR lake house.

I usually fix stuff like this, but am trying to do less.

I messaged 4 of my regular guys and ended going with a recommendation from someone in a local FB group.

$350 later it was done same day and he send me a video of it working. I paid him via Zelle.

The next guests said there was standing water in dishwasher on checkout day. Still got a 5 star review. Maybe 10 star on Vrbo?

The cleaners ran the dishwasher and still it was holding water in the bottom.

Anyone know the problem yet?

Well I have installed many garbage disposals and I didn't even think of what the problem was.

I drove an hour today to take the dishwasher apart and see if there was something caught in the pump impeller. Nothing.

Put it all back together.

I was on my way to Home Depot when I thought, did the guy take out the knockout plug so that the dishwasher hose could pump through the garbage disposal? I went back and sure enough the plug was still installed. 

I kocked out the plastic plug with a screwdriver and am waiting on  a cycle to complete to make sure that was the only problem.

I called the new to me handyman and he said there is a knockout plug?

He apologized and I said no big deal these things happen. I wasn't doing anything today anyway.

Fingers crossed all the water gets pumped out at the end of this cycle.

I just heard water trickling through the disposal so I think we are good!

[Steve K.]

Quote from @Laura Winters:

Quote from @John Underwood:

Quote from @Laura Winters:

Never put a garbage disposal in rental units. People will not book your place because you have a garbage disposal, nor you can increase your price because of having it yet it breaks frequently and requires a lot of maintenance. 

 "People will not book your place because you have a garbage disposal..."  That's absurd!

I can tell you that is definitely not true from personal experience.

 I am sorry but garbage disposal is one of the things that rental operator / developer continuously mention along with pocket doors and ventless dryers. I have garbage disposal for my house and I love it but it is just not suitable for rental properties. 

 Maybe not low-end rental properties but Class A/B tenants will expect them in my experience.