An AC which breaks in the boiling summer months (Phoenix: rental homes, credit)

[john3232]

This week an AC unit (which is serviced before the start of summer each year) went out in one of my rental homes.

A part needed to be order from out of state which may take up to 10 days to deliver.

The tenants were given the option to break the lease and leave or received a daily substitute housing credit until the unit is fixed. They decided to stay.

Question: The Phoenix area is extremely hot 4 months. Don't people prepare for such AC emergency?

After I relocate to Phoenix one of the first things I'll get are fans which I can store in case the AC is to suddenly go out.

[DetroitN8V]

Fans? That's hardly a viable substitute.

[jdahunt]

if that happened to me I would put in a window unit or a portable.

[elcajones]

Originally Posted by jdahunt

if that happened to me I would put in a window unit or a portable.

Yup and set it up in a bedroom or somewhere else you could enclose or separate from large open areas. That's the hang out spot in such a situation.

[sandy6879]

Fans won't cut it. Portable AC units might. Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen one of those here....I haven't looked though.

Windows (at least mine and most that I've seen) here aren't standard size and I wouldn't trust them to hold an AC in place. We've had to replace something in each of our AC units - thankfully it was able to be fixed in a day. But to answer your question -- no, I don't even own another option. We'd need to do a very quick Home Depot or Lowe's run if that was to happen.

[JGMotorsport64]

I used to use a Port A Cool in my garage. Check those out not too bad in price and did a decent job.

[Finger Laker]

Hotels are cheap and abundant in the summer .... I've bolted a couple of times when the AC went out .... If gets hit quick, i think everyone here had fans but they dont help pushing around 88 degree air

[Bummer]

Murphy's Law . . . Air Conditioners rarely "croak" during the Winter months.

Just one question, John . . . where is this part coming from? Call me a little naive or maybe even crazy but I would think expedited / overnight shipping would be far cheaper than your "Plan B's".

[Roger427]

I find it hard to believe that the part is not available in metro area for an a/c. I'd get a different contractor.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Roger427

I find it hard to believe that the part is not available in metro area for an a/c. I'd get a different contractor.

Maybe it is an older unit or a Trane.