Insect and Pest Control
A huge benefit of of living here is that you do not have to deal with certain elements of owning a house, and one of the benefits provided by the Association is insect and pest control.
The Association has an agreement with McInerney Pest Control of 21014 St Gertrude St, St Clair Shores, MI 48081. They visit the property on a monthly basis and treat the exterior of each building, from ground level to approximately 8 feet high.
If you find you have insects or pests nesting in or around your unit please call McInerney Pest Control directly at (586)-773-7217.
Maintaining Your Air Conditioner
The Board of Directors highly recommends contacting a local HVAC servicing company to perform routine semi— annual maintenance on your unit.
Please DO NOT attempt to repair your machine if it is broken, please contact a trained professional. The machines are highly technical and there is gas running through them.
There are a few things you should also be aware of and maintain as necessary:
- The machine was designed to use a filter made of thick hair— like strands glued together. This filter, or any filter for that matter, is only effective when it is cleaned. The factory installed filter requires a wash and rinse every 3 months.
- If you opt to use disposable filters, these also need to be changed every 3 months before your machine will begin experiencing diminished performance.
- Prior to turning your air conditioner on for the first time each season, it is vital to clean the hose which travels from the condensation pan to the drain. It is very simple to remove the hose, clean it, and replace it back onto the machine. Failing to clean the hose could cause a flood and any resulting repairs wold be your financial responsibility.
Cleaning the air conditioning tube step by step PDF
- During the summer months, it is common for pollen to build up in the outside air intake grates, which can be accessed from your balcony. The machine will quickly lose performance when this is clogged, so use a vacuum with a brush attachment and clean it out as needed. There should be no obstructions for air to enter the machine.
Winter Preparation and Maintenance
Prior experience suggests the following actions should be taken to avoid freezing/bursting pipes in the winter:
(Co-owners/residents leaving the unit for any length of time greater than 24 hours during the winter when the temperature is expected to be below 40⁰ Fahrenheit must do the following prior to leaving):
- Set the thermostat to a reasonable level (66⁰ Fahrenheit is recommended) to avoid freezing pipes.
- Open all lower kitchen cabinets along the wall of your kitchen sink. Also open the door to the closet which contains your hot water tank, as well as the closet which contains your furnace.
- In extreme cold temperatures, you may consider turning on the cold water in your kitchen sink to the point that a steady drip is flowing out. Running water is an excellent preventative measure to keep a pipe from freezing. Pipes most susceptible to freezing are those which are located along an outside wall of the unit.
- For those who are not going to be at their unit for more than 48-72 hours, it is highly suggested having a friend, family member or emergency contact check on your unit periodically. You should request them to test your faucets and ensure the water is not frozen in the pipes by turning on the water and letting it run for 15 seconds.
- If pipes are frozen, immediately call AMI, 800-821-8808. Frozen pipes do constitute an emergency, so call any time and follow the prompts to reach the Emergency Answering Service if it is after-hours. While awaiting service, it is highly recommended you set your thermostat to at least 80⁰ Fahrenheit in an attempt to warm up the pipes in the wall.
- For situations like pipe bursts, water leaks and/or fires, the Association always requires the contact information for at least one person who can assist in the event of an emergency if the Co-owner or tenant is unavailable. If no contact person is available and an emergency occurs, the Association has the legal right to enter the unit to address the emergency situation. Costs associated with damages to doors or locks to gain entry will be the Co- owner’s responsibility for repair in these types of situations.