Any Ideas on Training Tenants?

[captwally]

I run a large Apartment complex and am open to some input here. The complex is 30 years old, but in very good condition, and I maintain it well. If an A/C unit dies or has major problems, I will replace it. If it is working I will let it keep on truckin'. How can I convince my tenants that cranking the thermostat down to 50 will not cool their apartments to 50? How can I convince them that if they leave their windows and doors open while the A/C is running they will continue to be plagued by warm air, and it is only increasing their electric bill and decreasing the life of the A/C unit? (not to mention dirty filters.)

The building is all CBS, with a flat roof, and granted, the insulation technology 30 years ago was not as good as it is today, but these 1.5 to 2 ton units are quite adequate for the one and two bedroom apartments in the complex.

Any Ideas?

[hiltontech]

I was a tech for an apartment complex and we had problems explaining to the tenants just what you are asking us here now, the only thing I could do to show them that the a\c was working fine was to take the temp coming from the register, I told them that the temp coming from the register should be around 58-61, after they saw the temp reading and it was indeed between 58-61 they seemed ok with that and understood that the a\c was doing all it could with the high temp outside.
I would also take the temp inside the apt. when I noticed a window or a door open then asked them to close the door or windows and I would come back about an hour or so and take another reading, I had to take baby steps with the tenants because some of them or like babies sometimes.
"Proof is in the pudding"

HiltonTech

[captwally]

I agree that it's the training thing and sometimes you have to treat them like children. It does tend to quiet them down when I stick a thermometer in the register and show them that it is, in fact, blowing out at 60degrees. But they still end up wanting to have it forty degrees in the place!

[hiltontech]

All I can say to you Wally is good luck my friend lol


HiltonTech

[captwally]

Isn't it curious, people who rent will abuse a system and contribute to its premature failure and then when they actually purchase a home they sudenly become responsible....

[mattison]

I can't even teach my own wife those things Capt. They do sell stats with setpoint limiting function. The old mechanical ones have screw in stops and the digital are programmed with password protection.

Another trick is to put the real stat in the return duct and give them a fake one on the wall.

[captwally]

I LIKE that Idea!!