Air Conditioner Gripes

der_kluge · May 10, 2005

Just walk around naked. I'm sure that'll get attention. Maybe not the kind of attention you *want*, but attention nonetheless.

nakia · May 10, 2005

Queen_Dopplepopolis said:
I've spoken with people in the complex that have had to stay in a hotel for this very reason. But, to quote the stupid apartment lady, "Air conditioning is a luxury. Heat is a necessity."

*spits*

Well, I kinda agree (despite my really bad allergies). I am one of those "won't turn the AC on until it's pretty damn hot" people. And I guess it it within your complex's right to turn on the AC whenever they feel like it.

But it's not right to deceive you as to when it's getting turned on. And I still find it odd they told you the county won't let them turn it on until the 15th. That sounds fishy. How can the county tell someone when they can use their AC?

Crothian · May 10, 2005

Queen_Dopplepopolis said:
We've seriously tried everything that we can, but it does no good to involve a lawyer because they aren't violating any laws (unless the 15th rolls around and they don't turn it on).

Ya, but the people that you are talkign to don't know this. It's a bluff, your just trying to get answers and results.

Queen_Dopplepopolis · May 10, 2005

nakia said:
Well, I kinda agree (despite my really bad allergies). I am one of those "won't turn the AC on until it's pretty damn hot" people. And I guess it it within your complex's right to turn on the AC whenever they feel like it.

But it's not right to deceive you as to when it's getting turned on. And I still find it odd they told you the county won't let them turn it on until the 15th. That sounds fishy. How can the county tell someone when they can use their AC?

There's a VA State mandate that all apartment community/dormatory/etc ACs need to be turned on by May 15th... all heat has to be turned on by October 15th...

However, I highly doubt that the county said, "Bad apartment complex! Don't try to turn your heat on now!" My guess is, they're just trying to save a buck.

I'm just flustered b/c it's going to get pretty damn hot here in the next two days (and it's unseasonably cool here in DC at 78 F in May)... should see temps above 80, but for some reason, if it drops below 60, we all may freeze to death.

nakia · May 10, 2005

Well, you could just hang out in the (presumably air conditioned) rental office a whole lot. If they ask what you are doing, just tell them it's cooler in the office than your apartment.

DaveStebbins · May 11, 2005

My apartment complex solves the problem by giving everyone control over their own heat and A/C, and also making everyone pay their own electric bill.

But then, living next to a Great Lake which hasn't quite yet reached 50 degrees, this is the first week all year when we've hit 60 for a daytime high three days in a row. We're still worried about frost at night (but not tonight).

Anyway, I can certainly understand being cheesed off at the complex. When I locked myself out of my place and called the emergency number the guy on call wanted me to pay $50 for him to let me in and, oh by the way, I'd have had to wait three hours because he had a class that evening. A locksmith got me inside in 15 minutes and charged me $30. Apartment complexes will do the absolute minimum required by law where ever possible.

-Dave

Vraille Darkfang · May 11, 2005

Some counties do regulate when the AC can be turned on and off, but......

This is the first I've ever heard of 'The County won't let us turn it on yet'. It usually in place like California in the middle of summer where electrical demand surges & expensive gas-turbine generators have to turned on, and even then you still might have rolling brown outs.

I'd find out who provides electricity to your area (the city or an independent power company) and contact them. Trust me, they have someone there (if not an entire department) dedicated to knowing every rule & law as it relates to power consumption. They might tell you "Yea, there is this obscure law created back in 1955, but never taken off the books" or "Guy's full of it, what's his name, so we can contact him?"

I also guess you live in an utlities paid apartment? If not, why not turn on the AC? It's not like the apartment complex is paying for it.

Also, read over your lease & any other documentation they gave you when you moved in. It might have a loop hole you can use (or show the loop hole they're using).

Just bought first house a month ago with cieling fans everywhere,

nakia · May 11, 2005

In solidarity, I won't turn on my AC until the 15th, either. ENWorlders of the world, unite!

(not that this does any good whatsoever, but hey).

Queen_Dopplepopolis · May 11, 2005

nakia said:
In solidarity, I won't turn on my AC until the 15th, either. ENWorlders of the world, unite!

(not that this does any good whatsoever, but hey).

HUZZAH!!!

DaveStebbins · May 12, 2005

nakia said:
In solidarity, I won't turn on my AC until the 15th, either. ENWorlders of the world, unite!

Me either. Stand tall, stand together.

OK, actually, I've turned off the heat instead. The high today was 65 (went for a bicycle ride after work!) and the low tonight is supposed to be in the low forties, so that seemed a more appropriate show of solidarity.

-Dave
(who actually turned off the heat several days ago and won't turn on the A/C for a month or two but, hey, you take your solidarity where you can get it, right?)