Six Garbage Room Warning Signs Your Staff Can Spot Early
Things a superintendent can notice on a normal walk through the building, what each one means, and what we check.
Each sign below matches an item we check on a maintenance visit. If your staff see one, it is worth a call before it turns into a breakdown.
A chute door won't close on its own
Chute doors are built to close and latch by themselves, so a door that stays open needs attention.
What we check: We check every chute door, floor by floor, and repair the hardware: handles, latches, gas-spring closers and hand-guard flaps.
Chute doors and repair →Residents notice a smell in the halls
Odour from the garbage room travels up the chute to the floors where residents live.
What we check: We check the odour control unit and its filters, and clean the chute.
Odour control →The compactor is slow, loud or leaking oil
The hydraulic oil powers the ram that packs the garbage, and the moving parts need grease so they don't wear out early.
What we check: We check the hydraulic oil, belts and grease.
Compactor stopped? 24-hour repair →Bins are hard to roll, rusted or leaking
Corrosion in bin bottoms is common, and worn wheels make a loaded bin hard to move.
What we check: We check for holes, rust, and worn wheels and casters, replace wheels and casters, and repair corroded bottoms.
Bin repair →The chute washdown doesn't run
The washdown system is there to sanitize the chute.
What we check: We check the washdown system on every maintenance visit.
Chute systems →A dirty garbage room, or pests
Garbage leaves a residue that breeds bacteria and holds odour, and a dirty room draws pests.
What we check: We clean and disinfect the room, bins, chute and compactor.
Garbage room cleaning →
Has the compactor stopped?
Call 613-539-8683. We offer 24-hour service for compactors, chutes and garbage rooms.
For everything a full visit should cover, see our garbage room maintenance checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What should we do if the compactor stops completely?
Keep everyone away from it and call 613-539-8683. WasteMind offers 24-hour service for compactors, chutes and garbage rooms.
Can our staff fix these problems themselves?
Staff can spot them, but the repairs are work for trained technicians. Compactors are locked out before anyone works on them, and chutes are confined spaces.
How do we catch these problems sooner?
A preventative maintenance plan checks every item on this list on an annual, semi-annual or quarterly schedule.
Need a quote, a service plan or an emergency repair?
Talk to a WasteMind specialist in Ottawa or the GTA. We offer 24-hour service and always provide a solution.