Trying to book emergency AC repairs for your rental unit during the peak of summer can be a stressful experience. When your tenants are without AC, and temperatures outside are well into the triple digits, AC repairs aren’t just a matter of comfort; they are essential for the safety of your tenants. While it is impossible to fully prevent all types of AC breakdowns and outages, there are some steps you can take to make these issues much less likely. In turn, you can keep your tenants happy and keep your stress low.
Cool Breeze Comfort Solutions provides comprehensive commercial HVAC service for all types of rental properties in Southern Arizona, from apartments and townhouses to single family homes. If you are a landlord in Tucson, follow these tips for reducing the risk of an AC outage during the peak summer months.
Plan for Unit Upgrades Every 10-15 Years
While many homeowners will wait until their AC unit fully dies to replace it, landlords should be more proactive about AC upgrades. The average air conditioner has a lifespan of 10-15 years, so plan to upgrade the units in your rentals every decade or so. Upgrading to a newer, more energy-efficient unit is a strong investment for your rental property, as reliable air conditioning with lower energy bills can attract more prospective renters and increase the overall value of your property.
Schedule Routine Maintenance (and Notify Tenants Accordingly)
Routine HVAC maintenance is a must for preventing breakdowns. Air conditioning maintenance includes a full system inspection, lubrication of moving parts, cleaning of key components, and replacement of any worn-out belts or hoses. These steps ensure that your unit is working at full efficiency and reduce the chances of something going wrong when the unit is running at peak capacity throughout the summer months.
When you schedule HVAC maintenance, you should provide your tenants with written notice at least 48 hours prior to the maintenance visit. While emergency HVAC repairs will waive the 48-hour notice requirement, routine maintenance is not considered an emergency, so planning ahead is necessary.
Encourage Tenant Communication
Because you will not spend time in your rental unit every day, you must rely on your tenants to let you know if AC repair or replacement becomes necessary. Encourage tenants to alert you of any unexpected changes to their electric bills, which could indicate a decline in the efficiency of the HVAC system. You should also encourage them to communicate about any issues like poor cooling, uneven temperatures throughout the home, or excessive noise coming from the AC unit. Create clear guidelines for submitting repair and maintenance requests in the lease and provide an immediate response to all tenant requests.
Partner with Cool Breeze Comfort Solutions to make AC repair and maintenance simple and easy for your rental property. Our certified HVAC technicians offer prompt, friendly service, and we offer reliable expertise you can count on to keep your rental property comfortable and safe for your tenants. Contact us today to set up a maintenance contract for your properties.
