Avoid Overage Fees When Renting a Dumpster

7 Ways to Avoid Overage Fees When Renting a Dumpster

Most of the time the dumpster quote is generally what you will pay at the end of your project. However, other fees can occur when the container is overfilled, exceeds the weight allowance, or has been on site longer than the amount of free rental days included in your price. Extra fees can easily be avoided with a little bit of research prior to calling to order your dumpster and a little bit of care while completing your project. The first step is to know the type and amount of stuff you will be disposing of. Once you know that it’s time to call and set up your order. These tips will help make sure you aren’t caught off guard by any charges after your project is over.

  1. Choosing the proper dumpster size.

This is perhaps the easiest way to avoid extra dumpster charges. Any time you have to get a second dumpster instead of going with the larger size to start it is going to cost you more money. The best rule for deciding which dumpster size to get is if you’re on the fence, or close to it, go with the larger size. The larger size will give you more weight included in your price and more room to finish your job. Renting one that is too small can cause you to have to rent a second dumpster, or even worse, dispose of it yourself. Not to mention the wasted time waiting for another dumpster to be delivered. If you’re confused about which size you might need, check out our blog on choosing the right dumpster size.

  1. Avoid “dry run fees”.

One thing you can control as far as extra charges is making sure to avoid dry run fees. A dry run fee occurs when the dumpster is filled past “water level” and we are unable to safely transport the dumpster, a dumpster is blocked in so we are unable to pick it up, or because a container is too heavy for our trucks to pick it up (this generally only occurs if you fill a 30 yard with dirt, concrete or asphalt). So, in other words make sure your all materials are in your dumpster, not overflowing, and that nothing is blocking in your container and you can avoid these unnecessary charges.

  1. Cover your debris when it’s raining.

Dumpsters will weigh more when they are wet, especially items like upholstered furniture and other items that will soak in and retain the water. If the weatherman is calling for a downpour, it may be in your best interest to tarp your dumpster when not in use. These can be easily found at any hardware store such as Home Depot or Lowe’s.

  1. Schedule your dumpster removal a few days in advance.

Scheduling your dumpster removal a few days in advance can guarantee your dumpster will be picked up when you are done with it. This is important because you don’t want to call to have your dumpster picked up the day you finish and risk not being able to get put on the schedule. For example, lets say you finish your project on a Thursday evening but don’t call in until Friday for removal. There is a good chance you wont be able to get on the schedule until Monday meaning your dumpster will sit there over the weekend, potentially getting filled with items your neighbors have had sitting in their garage for a bit too long.

  1. Avoid long term rentals.

In many cases the longer you have your dumpster on site the heavier it will become as neighbors fill it up, and as water seeps in to the materials. In addition to that daily rental fees will start to accumulate after a certain amount of free days included with your dumpster rental. Avoid these fees by planning your projects around time you will actually use the dumpster and make sure to schedule your pickup date when you are done with the project. We will not automatically pick up the dumpster until we are called to do so.

  1. Share the costs with a neighbor.

If you are planning on cleaning out a house, garage, shed, or some yard debris it might make sense to ask a neighbor if they want to split the costs. This way you can both throw away what you have and save a little money too.

  1. Give away or donate.

Consider donating furniture, clothing, bikes, and other household items to Goodwill or another charitable organization of your choice. Many times, these organizations will pick the items up for you and you can use it as a write off on your taxes. Additionally, this will free up space in your dumpster for items you can’t give away.

With a little bit of planning avoiding overage fees on your dumpster rental is easy. It also benefits you to work with someone like us who is local, knowledgably, and experienced who can answer any questions you may have. Give us a call today or order online if we can help.

11 Replies to “7 Ways to Avoid Overage Fees When Renting a Dumpster”

  1. It really helped when you said to split the costs with a neighbor and you can both use it for debris. I’m planning to redo my basement and need to get rid of all the junk and waste from it. I’ll have to find a good dumpster rental service to get the job done.

    1. If you’re in the SC Lowcountry we’re your guys! If not, make sure to go with somebody local, they will be your best bet!

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  5. That is a very good tip especially to those fresh to the biosphere. Simple but very precise info… Many thanks for sharing this one.

    A must read post!

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