The Property Manager Knows Best

Property management knows that it is important to save money in any way possible. With summertime on its way, now is a good time for them to check into taking care of the air conditioner for each rental unit. 

There are several things that property management can do to save electricity, and therefore money, in a rental space that has a window air conditioning unit. First, the unit needs to be located near the center of the room or rooms that it is going to cool. The outside of the AC should be placed in a shady area, to help keep the sun off of the unit and therefore help it to run more efficiently. And the gaps around the air conditioning unit and the window need to be filled with foam weaterstripping, to keep the cool air indoors and the warm air out.

Central air conditioning units can run more efficiently in much the same way as a window unit. The condenser needs to be in a shady area and should be surrounded by a screen or a lattice or some type of foliage to help keep it cooler. The air flow, however, should not be impeded or this will cause the condenser to overwork. If a new unit is being installed it should be placed on the north side of the building if possible.

For the air conditioner to work at its best property management needs to install a programmable thermostat needs to be installed. These are available at any hardware or big box store, and are relatively easy to put in. This will allow the tenant in the rental apartment to turn off the air conditioner when they are not at home, thus saving money. Plus the thermostat will help to keep the temperatures fairly consistent and comfortable while the tenant is home. 

The use of fans is a very economical way to keep a home cool and to help the air conditioner along. Ceiling, oscillating, and box fans all use far less electricity than an air conditioner and are a great way to circulate the air and make it feel even cooler.

Buying an oversized air conditioning unit is not a good way to save money. For one thing, these cost quite a bit more upfront than a smaller unit. But there are also several other reasons why this is not a good investment for property management to make. If the AC unit is too big, it will cycle on and off more often. This reduces efficiency and causes the indoor temperatures to fluctuate more. Too much cycling also reduces moisture removal, which can make the air feel muggier, and is hard on the air conditioning unit itself.

A great way to reduce the need for air conditioning is to improve the energy efficiency of the rental units. If possible, all of the windows should be replaced with far more efficient vinyl ones. This can be an expensive project, but it will save money in the long run. Otherwise, insulating around all of the doors and windows, as will as the attic and crawl space, will help cut down on unwanted drafts.

The air conditioning unit can be a money pit if not properly cared for. Regular maintenance on it can save money for both property management and the tenant living in the rental unit.

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Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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