Are you having a Maintenance Emergency at your home managed by S&D Real Estate?
Sometimes a maintenance emergency is obvious – your heater has gone out in your rental home and the temperature outside is 35 degrees. Before you pick up the phone to call our after-hours maintenance emergency line, there are some things you should consider. Is this truly an emergency? Can the situation wait until the next business day without causing harm to me or the property?
My air conditioning is not cooling
This is perhaps the most frequent emergency call made. Temps outside are reaching near or over 100 degrees. With the high humidity contributing to already high temps, most air conditioning systems simply cannot cool to the temperature we often would like them to. Expecting the system to cool your home to 68 degrees when it is 98 outside, is expecting the impossible. During the day, the thermostat should be set at 76-78 degrees. During the evening and overnight, turn it down to 72 and allow the home to cool down a bit more while there is less pull on the system. This will also save you a few pennies every month. If you have the system set at an appropriate temperature and your thermostat is still reading 5 degrees or more over that, there could be an issue. Call the maintenance department when you first notice the problem, and a weekend call is okay. However, asking for service after 8 p.m. may result in the repair being done the next day.
My air conditioner is leaking
This is one call that preventive maintenance will prevent in most cases. Keep the filter clean by changing it at least once a month and also keep the drain lines clear. Pour a cup of bleach into the drain lines once a month and use your shop vac or air compressor to clear the lines periodically. If you do notice a leak after hours, try to locate the leak and place a bucket under it to catch the water and call maintenance the next day. If you cannot locate the leak and/or there is a significant amount of water soaking into a carpeted area, call it in immediately.
I have a plumbing leak
A leak is an important issue to resolve quickly. Not only does it result in higher water bills, there can often be secondary damage to the property. If a faucet has a slow drip, this is not an emergency and can be resolved during business hours. Most faucets have a shut off valve that is accessible under the sink. If a pipe bursts and/or there is flooding in the property, this should be called in immediately.
My refrigerator is not cooling or my oven isn't working
When you are cooking a big meal or fill your refrigerator with a week’s worth of groceries, it can become frustrating to have these appliances fail. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything that can be done outside of business hours. A repair to these appliances often requires parts that are not readily available after hours or on the weekend. You should place the work order with the maintenance department as soon as you recognize the problem during normal business hours.