Central A/C When Must It Be Turned On? (Phoenix: apartment complexes, rental)

[RangerPHX]

I live in (City of Phoenix) a seventy (70+) plus unit complex that has Central heat and air conditioning {A/C} and they say they will not turn A/C on till its constantly above 90 degrees.

I know there is a Law, ARS, that states A/C has to be turned on when temperatures reach a lower number and even might address Inside highs.

I'm asking for help so I can serve Notice on the landlord quoting both ARSS & its Text.

[AZgarden]

I have never seen an actual number that mandates when the AC must be turned on. Reasonable accomodations are what I do see in the AZ state Landlord/tenant rules.

Maybe you could purchase a portable cooler to use when you think it's too hot??

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by RangerPHX

I live in (City of Phoenix) a seventy (70+) plus unit complex that has Central heat and air conditioning {A/C} and they say they will not turn A/C on till its constantly above 90 degrees.

I know there is a Law, ARS, that states A/C has to be turned on when temperatures reach a lower number and even might address Inside highs.

I'm asking for help so I can serve Notice on the landlord quoting both ARSS & its Text.

I use AC consistently from mid March to mid November

[observer53]

I don't think there is any such law. This is the language from A.R.S. Section 33-1324 (6): 6. Supply running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, reasonable heat and reasonable air-conditioning or cooling where such units are installed and offered, when required by seasonal weather conditions, except where the building that includes the dwelling unit is not required by law to be equipped for that purpose or the dwelling unit is so constructed that heat, air-conditioning, cooling or hot water is generated by an installation within the exclusive control of the tenant and supplied by a direct public utility connection


Get some good fans, and one of those portable A/C units from Home Depot or Lowe's.

[Bummer]

Nothing beats Good Ole Fresh Air, RangerPHX. Take advantage of the GREAT DESERT WEATHER for as long as possible. To put it mildly, there are millions "Up North" and/or "Back East" that are envious of our near perfect weather.

Temperatures in the low 90s with the humidity in the teens or lower are perfect with the windows and doors open plus possibly a fan circulating the air.

Once the temperature goes over 100 and the humidity goes up due to the Monsoons is when you want and need refrigerated air . . . definitely NOT this time of year.

[lmh182]

Wait. What? Are you not allowed to just turn on the AC in your unit whenever you want? Is this an Arizona thing? I've lived in 3 states and I've never heard of this.

[CodyW]

Originally Posted by lmh182

Wait. What? Are you not allowed to just turn on the AC in your unit whenever you want? Is this an Arizona thing? I've lived in 3 states and I've never heard of this.

A lot of the older apartment complexes have "chiller" systems that are centrally controlled for the entire complex, instead of individual air conditioning units.

[RenW]

I just did some research and discovered that Phoenix indeed does has a set temperature in their city code in reference to "reasonable air conditioning". (Apparently Scottsdale does as well but I didn't double check information in their specific code.)

Phoenix City Code

39-5 Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems; health and safety conditions.

...

39-5.B.1.b

b. Cooling requirements. Every rental housing unit where such systems are installed shall have cooling capable of safely cooling all habitable rooms, bathrooms and flushing toilet rooms to a temperature no greater than 86 degrees Fahrenheit, if cooled by evaporative cooling, or 82 degrees Fahrenheit, if cooled by air conditioning. Temperature measurements shall be taken at a distance three feet above the floor in the center of the room. Required cooling shall be provided by permanently installed cooling facilities. +1


I would call the City of Phoenix - Neighborhood Services Department for advice. Specifically I would look at the Landlord and Tenant Program.

"The Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) Landlord Tenant Program.... provides education to both landlords and tenants on their rights under the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act."

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by CodyW

A lot of the older apartment complexes have "chiller" systems that are centrally controlled for the entire complex, instead of individual air conditioning units.

Those chiller/boiler systems tend to be in cheaper places that have free electric. I looked at a few when searching for my first apartment years ago

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by RenW

I just did some research and discovered that Phoenix indeed does has a set temperature in their city code in reference to "reasonable air conditioning". (Apparently Scottsdale does as well but I didn't double check information in their specific code.)

Phoenix City Code

39-5 Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems; health and safety conditions.

...

39-5.B.1.b

b. Cooling requirements. Every rental housing unit where such systems are installed shall have cooling capable of safely cooling all habitable rooms, bathrooms and flushing toilet rooms to a temperature no greater than 86 degrees Fahrenheit, if cooled by evaporative cooling, or 82 degrees Fahrenheit, if cooled by air conditioning. Temperature measurements shall be taken at a distance three feet above the floor in the center of the room. Required cooling shall be provided by permanently installed cooling facilities. +1


I would call the City of Phoenix - Neighborhood Services Department for advice. Specifically I would look at the Landlord and Tenant Program.

"The Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) Landlord Tenant Program.... provides education to both landlords and tenants on their rights under the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act."

"Capable of cooling to" is different than - "always turned on at" - if you've got an *indoor* temp of over 86 degrees on a *sustained* basis & the "free" a/c isn't on, you've got something to grumble about, but I'd bet a nickel there's info in the lease specifying when that "free" a/c gets turned on & it's probably not the first day the outdoor temp reaches 87 degrees.

The OP already said the complex specified a sustained outdoor temp of 90, which will correlate pretty well to an indoor temp of 86. I wouldn't be comfortable at that temp, but the law isn't about "comfort", it's about "habitable" - huge difference. The city isn't going to be any help on this issue.