Odd question but are garbage disposals just not really a thing here or is a coincidence I just don't see any on pretty much any rentals I look at?

Submitted by Sunfish-Studio t3_11dgm7u in pittsburgh

I don't just mean apartments, I kind of expect them to not have garbage disposals, but I've toured in person or virtually over a dozen houses and townhouses within the past month and many more virtually before moving here last year and I don't think I've seen a single house with one? Meanwhile I don't know a house, however cheap, that doesn't have one in east TN. Is it a regional thing that most people here just don't have one or is this a complete coincidence?

I don't even really need one it's just got me curious

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mmphoto412 t1_ja8rmmd wrote

If I was a landlord, I definitely would not install them. People, tend use them to dump all of their food waste down a drain, leaving a costly plumbing clog for someone else to clean up.

Edit, I have a friend who is a master plumber, according to him you would be amazed at what people dump down a disposal without a second thought.

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Aggravating_Foot_528 t1_ja8guck wrote

Every place I've lived here in Pittsburgh have had them. I think it's just a biased sample on your part, or you may be looking at/living in older rental properties where they were never installed.

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Sunfish-Studio OP t1_ja8t3k7 wrote

Must be! There was one in my off campus apartment in college (which is funny bc that place was so cheap the fridge door literally couldn't open all the way because kitchen was so small, like a sub 300 Sq foot apartment) back in TN but that must be an outlier. Most of the places I'm looking at now aren't particularly nice or new, I just never really associated it with being something fancy

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Showerbeerz413 t1_ja9q01i wrote

I've lived in 7 different place in and around Pittsburgh and I think 1 had a disposal. i just don't think it's a priority for people here

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CARLEtheCamry t1_jaa1cx5 wrote

All the the apartments in complexes I have rented have had them.

None of the private units though.

I suspect it's an amenity that isn't a big deal for a big complex with a dedicated inventory of spares and a full time maintenance staff.

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WattOnWheels t1_ja8l3hl wrote

Garbage disposal totally exist. But it is another thing to be used wrong and break for a rental unit. Also, if it's an older property, I doubt there is an electrical outlet or wiring near the sink base.
I wouldn't expect to see one in a rental unit unless it's a new building.

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burritoace t1_ja8oa8i wrote

They also really don't provide much improvement in convenience, IMO. Not really worth going to the trouble to install one for most people.

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Basic-Lawfulness6974 t1_ja91ruz wrote

As someone who rented a lot of places wo them, I respectfully disagree here.

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burritoace t1_ja9exk0 wrote

I'd rather intercept food waste and put it where it belongs than chop it up and pray it goes down the drain without an issue. If you think about it the whole approach is kind of absurd. Imagine chopping up your leftover vegetable waste and stuffing it down the drain rather than just putting it in the compost/trash.

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James19991 t1_ja8lpd3 wrote

They're uncommon in older homes and apartments around here from my experience.

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ForgottenZodiac t1_ja8mxnu wrote

There decently uncommon around here. With a lot of old construction there isn’t room under the sinks for them. If you redo your kitchen or it’s a newer model more sinks are designed to fit them.

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Floopydoodler t1_ja932x4 wrote

My house is 100+ yrs old and until I had my house rewired, there was no disposal. When I rewired, I had them add one.

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steelforgedstudios t1_ja9wqq2 wrote

Just in older rentals cause of the cost to repair and the fact the majority of people don't know what actually does and doesn't go in them.

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matt_1060 t1_ja9o09y wrote

Most definitely not going to see them in a rental.

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lutzcody t1_ja9szd1 wrote

Costello managements newer renovated rentals definitely have them. I know bc I live in one right now with one.

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412beekeeper t1_jaa87cv wrote

I have one but we do not use it. Its hard on the water treatment facility to put food down the drain.

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BluePinkertonGreen t1_ja9vc4n wrote

Painter in many apartment complexes here: they are standard in every unit.

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nsairwinpa t1_jaa1fo4 wrote

I know people that put mop water and plant dirt in their sinks so nope.

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Ambitious-Intern-928 t1_jaa3nas wrote

Wait, so what are you supposed to do with mop water?? Dump water full of chemicals/soap outside? And I'm a homeowner but I still get plant dirt into my sink sometimes, it happens when watering houseplants? Been in this house 3 years now and my ancient main sewer hasn't imploded yet, nor have I had any other plumbing issues. Seems dramatic.

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StreetPedaler t1_ja8p689 wrote

Privilege showing bwahaha!

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Sunfish-Studio OP t1_ja8siiv wrote

Ah sick I have privelege now? Does that mean I can afford to repair my car? Wish someone would have told me 😔

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