Window air conditioner installs

Just like radiators, I’ve always thought window air conditioners get an unfairly bad wrap. They are relatively cheap (usually between $100 and $300 per unit), most models are efficient if properly installed and there is no need to install expensive ductwork throughout the building. Read more

Securing AC condensers

Nothing hurts a landlord’s pocketbook or pride like being the victim of theft or vandalism. The main security issue facing landlords in St. Louis and around the country is copper theft, but there are many other temping targets at any property. One particularly expensive and “easy to steal” component are AC condensers. Read more

Fancy radiators

Forced-air heat systems are really becoming the norm of our current era in this country. While they are not as efficient as some other forms of heat, the fact that a building can be cooled through the same ductwork system is very appealing. However, there are times when a forced-air furnace is not an option. In those cases, your best bet is usually to stick with radiator heating. Bulky, ugly radiators.

Thankfully you do have options. While radiators have been going the way of the dodo in the U.S, they have remained a popular choice in many places in Europe. With this demand, industrious European companies have created a plethora of unique radiator options. I was shocked at the variety of styles and sizes available. You can literally find something for any situation.

Unfortunately, locating these radiators in the U.S. can be a little more challenging. So far, I haven’t found any local dealers that carry the product. Of course, I haven’t done a ton of research on this yet either. I have come across a couple of interesting web dealers though:

Bisque Exports (United Kingdom)
Runtal Radiators (United States)

Personally, I am rather partial to the designs and variety offered by Bisque. Even though they are a British company, their website says they will ship internationally. Orders would probably be easier through Runtal though. They designs are a little less inspired, but they easily beat standard style radiators in the aesthetics department.

There are probably tons of other similar companies out there as well. If these radiators look like a good option for you, a little research would probably turn something up. If you do find any other dealers, please share in the comments section.

Backup heating and cooling

Nobody likes handling maintenance calls. Not only are they a pain, but they tend to cost money to fix. And no one likes to pay for unexpected expenses. One of the most frustrating issues a landlord can encounter is trouble with a property’s HVAC system. A downed heater or air conditioner at the wrong time can really put your tenants on edge. If its a holiday or weekend its going to be a pretty expensive fix too. That’s why keeping a backup around is a good idea. The goal is to placate the tenants long enough to get a repair man to the property during normal business hours.

For heating, buy a couple of space heaters at the hardware store and keep them around for emergencies. If you trust your tenants, you might even want to leave these backups in the basement. That way, if a furnace breakdown comes in the middle of the night you won’t have to jump out of bed and drive to the property to offer a temporary solution.

For air conditioning, its good to keep an old window unit somewhere around. Whether you find one on sale at the hardware store at the end of the summer, have an old unit from another apartment or buy a used one, it’s always good to have a backup. If you can offer your tenant some sort of temporary solution while you try to arrange for a repair man to come by it will make the situation much easier. It saves money, it makes the tenants happy and it makes the landlord happy. Gotta love the win-win-win scenario.

Don’t forget to clean out those furnace filters

Its so easy to do, but so many people don’t bother to do it. I can never understand it. When the filters in a furnace get clogged up with dust it lowers the efficiency of the heating and cooling system, by reducing the airflow. The harder the system has to work, the more costly the system is to run and the faster it with break down.

A once a month cleaning of the filter can really keep things running smoothly and save you a lot of hassles. Completely replacing the filter every month might be a bit of an overkill, so I recommend bringing a small vacuum cleaner along. Suck out all the dirt in the filter every month with the vacuum and replace the filter quarterly and you have yourself a happy furnace. If you’ve been slacking on this one the past few months, I suggest you get on it. And the best part is that it gives you a great excuse to pay a monthly visit on your tenants to make sure they aren’t putting holes in the walls. The half an hour it takes each month to do this is well worth it.