Landlords changing charcoal air filters in over-the-range microwaves (Austin: apartments, renters)

[liz renter]

Did you know there is a charcoal air filter inside your over-the-range microwaves over if it does not vent to the outside?
#1) I am trying to find out if renters know that this filter exists and needs to be replace every 6 months.
#2) Are there any Austin laws requiring landlords to replace air filter?

The charcoal filter needs to be changed every 6 months or you are breathing in focused dirty air. My landlord management company at first said there is no filter, so I gave then the info from Whirlpool explaining the filter. After going back and forth for 5 months, they finally said that if I buy the filter, they would replace the old one. Just for me, not all the tenants.

[Kthnry]

How many people actually cook these days? I have two rental units, both with hoods that vent to the outside, but the filters are always squeaky-clean from lack of use when the tenants move out. If you cook enough to crust up the filter, instead of trying to start a movement, it might be easier to just do it yourself.

[Kthnry]

Lowe's has a universal filter for $17.97. Maybe just spend the $40/year and get on with your life.

And I did know that the filters need changing, but I like to cook. I wouldn't live in a place with a recirculating fan. (Or I'd try really hard not to.)

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by liz renter

Did you know there is a charcoal air filter inside your over-the-range microwaves over if it does not vent to the outside?
#1) I am trying to find out if renters know that this filter exists and needs to be replace every 6 months.
#2) Are there any Austin laws requiring landlords to replace air filter?

The charcoal filter needs to be changed every 6 months or you are breathing in focused dirty air. My landlord management company at first said there is no filter, so I gave then the info from Whirlpool explaining the filter. After going back and forth for 5 months, they finally said that if I buy the filter, they would replace the old one. Just for me, not all the tenants.

it takes like 5 minutes and is like a light bulb. You should request a new one on move in, but should be responsible for replacing during your tenancy.

[10scoachrick]

NOT a charcoal filter but a washable one in many OTR microwaves. If you cook/fry a lot with greasy foods; run it through the dishwasher from time to time.

I REALLY don't thing they do much in terms of cleaning the air.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by Kthnry

Lowe's has a universal filter for $17.97. Maybe just spend the $40/year and get on with your life.

And I did know that the filters need changing, but I like to cook. I wouldn't live in a place with a recirculating fan. (Or I'd try really hard not to.)

Given the wide variety of cooking "customs" in any apartment/condo complex; it's probably a good thing that cooking odors are NOT exhausted to the outside...just sayin'.

[CptnRn]

The lease agreements I'm familiar with made it the responsibility of the tenant to change air filters. No there is no law requiring the landlord do this.

As a landlord for 12 years, after the first few years I changed the filters myself, because they protected my HVAC equipment and I found that tenants were totally unreliable at doing this, regardless of my efforts to educate them regarding the need.

It probably has become more common for kitchen hoods in apartments to use recirculating hoods, as its cheaper to build these in.

[Need4Camaro]

I have spurts where I cook alot and spurts where I eat out alot.

TBH as a single the cost difference isnt really that great. It costs me just as much to cook as it does to eat out when factoring in all the necessary ingredients, spices, sauces and side dishes. Unfortunately after eating some of the food here, just throwing a chicken in the oven doesn't quite do it for me ... When my elders comes here to visit me though, its much cheaper to cook.