What
Is (and Isn't) a Maintenance Emergency - Draper and Kramer, Incorporated
When
something goes wrong in your apartment, is it a maintenance emergency? Or not?
If you
are in doubt about what constitutes an emergency, you’re not
alone. After all, many tenants live in their apartments for a long time
without experiencing a issue. As a result, there’s not always a great deal of
experience to draw from. But as the COVID-era continues on, and people
remain at home most of the time, plumbing and appliances will inevitably get
more use— and will require more maintenance as a result.
Read on
to learn the difference between a maintenance issue that is serious enough to
require immediate emergency assistance and one that is more suited to a typical
maintenance request.
What is
a Maintenance Emergency?
Let’s
begin by defining the term “maintenance emergency.” It is something that
requires immediate attention. If left unresolved, the problem could result in
injury, threaten one’s health, or cause serious property damage. For example, a
suspected gas leak is always an emergency. Sometimes, the context matters,
like a loss of air conditioning during a heat wave.
So, is it
a maintenance emergency? There are three possible answers: yes, no
and maybe.
YES, A MAINTENANCE EMERGENCY
Some
occurrences are definitely emergencies. Fires, floods, suspected gas leaks, or
a loss of power or water are examples. In many such situations, your first call
is often to someone other than your property manager. Let’s take a look at some
examples.
Fire
Open
flames or heavy smoke in your apartment require an immediate call to 911. Any
hesitation endangers tenants and others. Any delay may also increase damage to
your unit, adjacent units, or the entire building. The 911 dispatcher will
provide instructions specific to the threat.
Gas Leak
A natural gas leak is very dangerous,
even life-threatening. There’s the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning or
an explosion. Fortunately, utility companies add the chemical mercaptan to
natural gas to make it smell like rotten eggs or sulfur. In the event of a
suspected gas leak, turn off your appliances and/or the gas line. Immediately
evacuate the area and call 911. Avoid creating any spark or flame that could
cause an explosion.
Carbon Monoxide
Poisonous, odorless carbon monoxide (CO)
may infiltrate your living space in a variety of ways. A vehicle running inside
an attached garage is one source. Grills, snow-blocked dryer vents, and
blockages in wood-burning fireplaces are other sources. Malfunctioning gas
water heaters or furnaces may also increase CO levels.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
vary. Initial symptoms often include tightness across the forehead, a pounding
heart, or headache. Since exposure to concentrated CO can be fatal, it is vital
to act without delay. Vacate the premises and seek help. Open windows to
ventilate the unit, but only if you can do so safely.
Flooding
There are
different reasons for flooding in an apartment. Examples include a broken
water line or water overflowing from another apartment. A backed up
sanitary sewer or an overflowing storm sewer are other possibilities. If
you arrive at home and there’s flooding, it’s time for an emergency maintenance
request. Vacate the premises and contact management. Sometimes, flooding may
pose a threat of electrocution. Seek immediate help to reduce damage to
personal possessions, carpet, and drywall.
No Electricity
Widespread
loss of power may occur due to a windstorm, an ice storm or a blown
transformer. Contact your local utility to report an outage. Your local utility
will restore power as quickly as possible. Such power outages are
beyond the control of the property manager.
A loss of
power within an apartment building is different. Sometimes, an electrical
overload trips a circuit breaker. If it’s accessible, check the circuit breaker
to reset it. If not, seek management’s help. Sometimes, an overload trips a
ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) built into an electrical outlet.
Portable appliances like hair dryers draw significant power. To reset it, push
in the red horizontal button in the middle of the face plate.
No
Water
In all
cases, make management aware when fresh water does not flow to your apartment.
Loss of water is a maintenance emergency. Sometimes, a broken water main
is the culprit. The local water utility will try to complete a repair
as quickly as possible. It is also possible that the problem is on
the premises. The main water line may get clogged, for example. Or, there might
be a mechanical failure of a booster pump or a hydro-pneumatic storage tank.
NOT A MAINTENANCE EMERGENCY
Tenants
do encounter certain events that may feel like emergencies in the moment.
However, they are not considered maintenance emergencies.
Noisy
Neighbors
Noisy
parties or loud voices are not considered emergencies. Still, it can be helpful
to follow up with management during regular hours. Be sure to report suspected
criminal conduct to 911.
Locked
Out of the Apartment
Getting
locked out of an apartment requires a call to a local locksmith. However,
the locksmith must coordinate the re-keying with the property manager. It is
vital that the lock still works with the property’s master key. You might
wonder if your renter’s insurance covers the cost of a locksmith. It might, but
only in the event of a covered theft.
It’s
becoming increasingly common for properties managers to issue key fobs to
tenants instead of traditional metal keys. In the event that you’re locked out
of your apartment unit because you lost your key fob, the property manager will
be able to re-issue you a new one. Depending on the details of your lease, you
may be charged a fee for a re-issued key fob.
Possible
Maintenance Emergency
The
context in which a problem occurs is often important. The setting or the
situation may determine whether there’s a maintenance emergency. Consider these
examples.
No Heat
If it is
really cold outside, a loss of heat might be an emergency. Close doors and
windows to help keep the existing heat in the unit. At other times, it’s still
vital to submit a maintenance request.
No Air Conditioning
Loss of air conditioning is not usually
considered an emergency. Still, you’ll want to submit a maintenance request.
Today, many tenants live in buildings with central air conditioning. As a
result, management often learns of an issue right away. Still, you’ll want to
submit a maintenance request, particularly if it’s a window unit. In extreme
heat, the loss of air conditioning may be a maintenance emergency. In that
situation, contact management without delay.
Clogged
Plumbing
A clogged
sink or toilet is not an emergency. However, it is a maintenance emergency
if the whole plumbing system is clogged.
***REMEMBER: TENANTS SHOULD SUBMIT REQUESTS IN WRITING WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
