The best protection against more expensive and significant HVAC issues is preventative maintenance. Keeping your renters satisfied while prolonging the course of your system should be a top focus for landlords. For an affordable price, a lot of HVAC providers offer practical service plans that make maintenance hassle-free and automatic.
Heating, airflow, and air conditioning are the three essential components of the complete system.
When discussing a heating element, the HVAC technician will often refer to a boiler or possibly a furnace. If you have an air conditioning system, it also has ductwork or a network of pipes for the fluid that carries the heat. Natural or forced ventilation can be used as the ventilation component, with forced circulation being more efficient.
As most people are aware, the absolute last and last part of a climate control system is the cooling of air, which is just the opposite of heating. Its main objective is to remove the interior heat from the building.
For keeping your HVAC system operating efficiently during the summer, look through the standard maintenance methods listed below.
- Examine or swap out filters and batteries.
- Clean the evaporator and condenser coils.
- Clean drain lines to ensure adequate flow and remove any standing water from drain pans to prevent overflows.
- Replace any soiled belts and pulleys.
- Check the ductwork for dirt, dust, and mold.
- Verify the refrigerant charge.
- Test the controls on the thermostat.
- Examine the connections, fan motor, and electrical systems.
- To guarantee appropriate airflow, inspect the blowers and blades.
- Lubricate all components that move.
- Examine the cabinet door for a secure fit and examine the cabinet for leaks.
- Look for debris surrounding the outside unit.
Who is in charge of HVAC repair and upkeep?
In a rental, maintenance fixes are inevitable, but who is responsible for what? To minimize misunderstandings, your lease should include maintenance obligations and expectations up front. A good rule of thumb is any major repair requiring AC repair by West Chester, OH experts would be the property owners responsibility, while general upkeep is the tenant.
Typical HVAC upkeep
- Replace air filters (at least) every three months
- Routine HVAC Maintenance Checks
- Thermostat battery replacement
- HVAC fixes
Tenant is accountable for routine HVAC maintenance
Replace Air Filters
Changing or washing the air filter is a quick procedure that may provide significant savings. To keep the system operating well, it may be a good idea to change this every quarter, depending on the system. Usually, the renter is responsible for this and is responsible for the associated costs.
Thermostat Battery Replacement
Another simple but important job a renter may do on their own is changing the batteries (https://informinc.org/ac-troubleshooting/how-to-change-trane-thermostat-battery/) in the thermostat. Low thermostat batteries make it harder for the HVAC to get the signal to turn on. To speed up the battery-changing process, always provide the renter the thermostat’s instruction booklet.
Checks for routine HVAC maintenance
Regular HVAC inspections by a licensed expert may significantly increase the lifespan of your HVAC equipment. At least twice a year, when the unit switches from heating to cooling demands, the landlord is normally responsible for doing this. With a nearby HVAC supplier, take into account a regular maintenance program.
HVAC fixes
Parts may nonetheless malfunction and fail suddenly even with routine maintenance.
Once they do, it becomes the landlord’s responsibility to perform the required repairs. As renters may “repair and deduct,” in certain areas, these repairs must be made right away.
This indicates that the tenant will make repairs and subtract the expenses from the rent if the landlord does nothing. However, the renter is financially liable for the repairs if they are required as a result of improper use or abuse of the rental unit.
Is air conditioning a requirement for landlords?
Despite the fact that most tenants believe air conditioning to be a necessity, landlords are often not obligated to offer it. Even though local and state legislation might differ, climate control is an amenity rather than a need. Landlords must provide tenants a broad understanding of
Landlords are required to offer a general standard of livability, which means the house must be secure, clean, and safe. The following elements are frequently mentioned when discussing habitability:
Predicted Habitability
- Plumbing, gas, heat, electricity, and other operational systems
- Operational fixtures might be a tub or shower, a toilet, or a sink.
- available hot water
- Roofs without leaks and without water damage
- Locking doors provide a secure entrance.
- Absent any significant health risks like asbestos, lead, or mold. Click here for more on asbestos.
- Containers for properly disposing of trash
- Egress as required by the local building code
- CO and smoke detectors that are operational
What if an amenity included is air conditioning?
While not necessary, numerous landlords do have air conditioning in their rental properties. If provided as a convenience with the unit, the landlord is in charge of maintaining the system if it is provided with the rental property as an amenity. HVAC takes the same level of care and consideration that you would give to replacing or repairing an incorporated item.