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So, as all we city dwellers are probably noticing it's getting hot. In an attempt to live comfortably in my abode I've been trying to get my super to install my AC unit, but the going is slow. My lease outlines that I am not allowed to install this myself, but I've come across some major issues, primarily 1. My super not calling me back and 2. I can't be home during his normal hours.
A week ago today I got an unexpected (and incredibly unpleasant) day to work from home. I had some issues with my window falling out of the frame so, of course, called my super. He responded promptly and was there to fix it in about an hour. While he was here I asked him if there were any regulations about putting in my AC unit and after about 10 minuets of dancing around the question he finally told me that he had to do it and needed to get the brackets. I showed him the unit, he said he'd be back, I waited eight hours and never heard back. Since I was pissed I decided not to call him back as I would likely have been quite impolite. The next day he called, apologized, and said he could stop by then. I explained that I work in New Jersey from 7am to 6pm Monday through Friday and was unable to take time off at this point (especially for something so trivial) so he agreed to come by on the weekend since he felt bad and it was an easy job. Come Saturday I gave him a call. Waited around all day. Never heard anything. Same deal Sunday. It began to cool down, however, so I figured I'd give it some time. But now it's a week later and it's back up to the mid 80's outside. I managed to finagle a way to get home early today and the second I walked into the building I called him (I've been informed that he won't come by if I'm not home). He didn't answer. I left a message. Called back at the very end of his hours, no answer. I'm getting frustrated. I haven't been here long nor have I had this particular job that long, so I feel like my power is limited. However, as an asthmatic who responds quite poorly to heat and humidity I really need a way to stay cool so I can, ya know, breathe... and as someone who works 11 hours a day five days a week I REALLY need to keep at least somewhat comfortable at night so I can get some sleep every now and then. I have fans. Their effectiveness is minimal at best.
So, my question is this - what options do I have? My lease DIRECTLY outlines that I'm not allowed to install an AC unit. Are there any work arounds? Is there something I can leverage to coerce him into showing up? If I just go out and buy my own damn brackets is there anything that the property can do? This is such a simple task that I don't understand why it's become such an issue...
For those reading, you can pretty much skip the entire giant second paragraph and get the point succinctly.
I don't know if you have any legal precedent to install it yourself since you're asthmatic. I would keep calling your super and make sure they're aware of that. Maybe that will motivate him to install it.
It seems to me that perhaps at this point you call the landlord or managing agent. Say politely that you're trying to be a good resident and abide by the lease, but your super is being unresponsive, and you'd like their advice. Don't ***** and don't coerce, because that may backfire.
If he works S-S, then you're okay, but otherwise you'll either have to take off work or ask a friend to sit in for you. It's unusual that a super won't come while you're not home, but maybe it's for self-protection.
1. Tell your super to come in while you're at work. The guy has a key to your place already. Who cares.
2. If you don't trust him, bribe him. My super's an alcoholic, so I use beer and Bacardi. Works like a charm.
3. I'm a DIY "rebel"... but that's a very risky solution. Installing even the smaller window units can lead to troubleshooting nightmares. My super knows I used to have his job title and the booze helps him look the other way.
1. Tell your super to come in while you're at work. The guy has a key to your place already. Who cares.
2. If you don't trust him, bribe him. My super's an alcoholic, so I use beer and Bacardi. Works like a charm.
3. I'm a DIY "rebel"... but that's a very risky solution. Installing even the smaller window units can lead to troubleshooting nightmares. My super knows I used to have his job title and the booze helps him look the other way.
Hold on a second. You give your super alcohol so you can do his job for him?
Choose a company that is insured and whose business is air conditioning. It will cost you more than you probably want to pay, but I didn't see you mention that money is a problem, more so time and asthma.
So that's what I would do, find a properly insured a/c installing company and pay for it.
P.S. My building is a coop and we were required to install properly using the right kind of brackets. I don't remember a prohibition against doing it ourselves, but I think if we hired someone, we had to make sure that person was properly insured. We were NOT allowed to hire the super, supposedly because since he was an employee of the corporation (the coop), it was somehow a conflict of interest.
Choose a company that is insured and whose business is air conditioning. It will cost you more than you probably want to pay, but I didn't see you mention that money is a problem, more so time and asthma.
So that's what I would do, find a properly insured a/c installing company and pay for it.
Have you used these guys before? Thinking about going ductless myself.
Have you used these guys before? Thinking about going ductless myself.
Yes, I did. All they did was install my window a/c and they were fine, although they were not very neat with applying the caulk around the window frame. See if they have any reviews on Yelp. They charged a lot, but I think all these companies charge what seems like "too much."
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