3 Common Appliances That Go Bad

Landlords will oftentimes provide tenants with appliances in order to have their rental stand out making it easier to find a tenant, while justifying higher rental price. Tenants may see this and be grateful which can lead to happy tenants, which leads to renewed leases, and a more consistent monthly income.

Below we’ve gathered the 3 most common appliances that go bad, and how to get ahead of them.



Garbage Disposal

Although garbage disposal units are generally robust machines, they are susceptible to misuse and time. Some of the most common ways a garbage disposal goes bad includes, your tenant putting the wrong items down it such as bones, grease, or stringy foods that jam the up the motor which can lead it to eventually break. Overheating caused by overuse can also damage the unit, this is caused when the garbage disposal is running for too long which can put enough stress on it to burn out, especially if it continues to jam. Over time, even if well taken care of connections, and seals my corrode, and once it leaks repairs are difficult and usually require a replacement.

Alternatively there can be electrical problems that may result in the garbage disposal unit shutting off. For example, in modern kitchens, the garbage disposal circuit is meant to be dedicated and used only by the garbage disposal. This means that if the breaker trips nothing else will turn off, this can happen even when not in use and a tenant may even assume it's broken.

Fridge and Stove

A new California law went into effect at the beginning of this year stating that for new, renewed or amended leases after the 1st of January will require most rental units to come with a working refrigerator and stove supplied by the landlord as part of basic habitability standards. This can affect your income in the short term though it's also an opportunity to gain good will by providing tenants with high quality appliances. This is because landlords will be responsible for maintaining and fixing these appliances, though this law does not apply retroactively to existing leases that are not renewed or amended after Jan 1, 2026.

The saying “you get what you pay for” is true for these appliances, since landlords will be responsible for repairs, replacements and responding for recalls within specific timeframes you should consider investing in quality products with either warranty or service and repairability in mind. While initially this may cost more, durable appliances tend to last longer, meaning you’ll likely need to repair or replace these items less frequently.

HVAC

While your HVAC may not go bad as common as a blender, it is a significantly expensive repair when they do. However they don't always need to be completely replaced. Many tenants will notice that it takes longer to cool or heat their homes, or perhaps the heat is fine while the air conditioning isn’t functioning properly. A tenant will likely state that their AC “went bad”. There are many components to the HVAC system and when one of them isn't working correctly, it can affect the entire system. Sometimes simply replacing the filters is enough to get the HVAC system working properly again, though sometimes you’ll need to bring in a professional to take a look. Sometimes it's as simple as flipping the beaker in the electrical panel, though this can also be a sign of other issues with the electrical system. This is why it's important not to defer repairs and to get someone to look at issues before they become incredibly expensive.

Sometimes the repair isn’t as involved as your tenant may expect, however it's important to respond quickly and not ignore your tenant even if it was a five minute fix.  If you’re looking to invest in new appliances or if you need help managing your Beach City rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or complete our Owner Application online.