Scaffolding went up at the beginning of June, with boards running over the a.c. bracket. The work on the building was finished in a week, but the scaffolding remains. I have called/emailed management, with a copy to the board, several times. Management assures me, each time, that the scaffolding is coming down soon, naming dates, and when those dates pass they say they’re calling the company... [more]
Scaffolding went up at the beginning of June, with boards running over the a.c. bracket. The work on the building was finished in a week, but the scaffolding remains. I have called/emailed management, with a copy to the board, several times. Management assures me, each time, that the scaffolding is coming down soon, naming dates, and when those dates pass they say they’re calling the company again. From the beginning I've told them they shouldn't wait for the scaffold to come down, but should tell the company to adjust a plank so I can install a.c.
Any suggestions on how to proceed? Does this affect the habitability warranty, if my health and safety is jeopardized because of the heat? And even so, what's my recourse?
I'm new to this modest co-op building and want to be a good citizen, but am reaching the end of my rope.
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Response by lad
over 14 years ago
Posts: 707
Member since: Apr 2009
Can you buy a portable air conditioner -- the kind that vents out the window with a hose? The $400 or so it will cost may be worth the time and aggravation.
Co-op boards and contractors both move at glacial speed. I normally try to control whatever parts of the situation I can, even if costs me money I shouldn't have to spend. I would say it's a part of co-op life, but I've dealt with this in condos and fee-simple properties, too, so maybe it's just a part of life, period.
Rivergate had very uneconomical a/c units that use to run my bill $500/$600 a month in the summer.
I bought one of those "portable" vent hose out the window units and cut my bill to $325 a summer month for my last 3 years there.
Cost at the time ...$600
June/July/August savings @$250 per month times 3= $750.
Times 3 years = $2250
Minus Cost -$600
Portable A/C saved me $1650
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Response by Bill7284
over 14 years ago
Posts: 631
Member since: Feb 2009
The best thing about the portable is; when summer goes, so does the unit into a closet and not like some rusted thing jutting out of a window. It wouldn't work in Miami, but in this part of the country where the hot season is at the most three months, why not? I used to have the GE Carry Cool (light weight window unit with handle) that got taken out of the window by September which was most efficient and old as it was, it still worked when I gave it away.
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Response by truthskr10
over 14 years ago
Posts: 4088
Member since: Jul 2009
This was my unit.
I believe this model advertises 500 square foot room cooling but it did the job in my 1000 feet.
Just keep all the bathroom and closet doors closed.
Maybe those people who defaulted on their contract and never got the deposit back should have considered one of those units...
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Response by alanhart
over 14 years ago
Posts: 12397
Member since: Feb 2007
I, for one, simply can't wait to go shopping at the new Saks Fifth Avenue in Kazakhstan.
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Response by romary
over 14 years ago
Posts: 443
Member since: Aug 2008
concur lad
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Response by abcat
over 14 years ago
Posts: 12
Member since: May 2010
Thanks, everybody. The portable might be the best option in any case, though I had considered the circular saw option. It's been helpful to turn away from being enraged at board/management to actually solving the problem.
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Response by needsadvice
over 14 years ago
Posts: 607
Member since: Jul 2010
Some of the portables are REALLY noisy (Delonghi, I'm talking to you!) Look for a Sharp Library Quiet model, they work well and you won't feel like you're sleeping next to a jet taking off;
I made the mistake of buying the Delonghi from Costco last year and returned them this year and got the Sharp. Much better.
The hoses give off a lot of heat, though. Wrap them with a quilt and get some insulation for the flimsy plastic window thingy. Poor engineering.
Best part is the dehumidify mode, it makes all the difference.
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Response by alanhart
over 14 years ago
Posts: 12397
Member since: Feb 2007
I like loud white noise, as long as it's constant.
I believe some portables evaporate all the moisture out the window (sounds good), while others collect it in a reservoir that needs to be emptied periodically (sounds like a PITA).
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Response by Wbottom
over 14 years ago
Posts: 2142
Member since: May 2010
get a small windoe unit which you can easily put in and remove yourself, and store the thing during the 9 months of the year you dont need it
the portables are crap--dont work nearly as well as much smaller window units, take up floor space, hose space, still require a duct for the window and oft have condnesation issues requiring emptying water trays etc
i had one like this a few years ago--great is also that teh window need not be so blocked with this design--takes < 5 minute to install, and not so heavy, little risk of dropping to the street---something you might want to avoid ...300 bux
needs advise;
that's the same unit as mine just 10,000 btu instead of 13,000.
But it wasn't that quiet....though I don't mind some noise as long as it's (as Ahart points out) constant.
Agree with the exhaust apparatus criticisms.There's always some solution at home Depot.
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Response by huntersburg
over 14 years ago
Posts: 11329
Member since: Nov 2010
Oh look, Wbuttocks is a handy"man". Who knew?
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Response by truthskr10
over 14 years ago
Posts: 4088
Member since: Jul 2009
Been having temperature control issues in my new place that has HVAC.
Recently discovered what a difference a dehumidifier makes, cant believe I spent this much life in NY without one. Can keep thermostat at least 3 degrees higher and be comfortable.
Also leaving the blower on ON instead of AUTO.(high ceilings) I think the extra juice used from the dehumidifier and leaving the blower on so much more is cancelled out by the less use of the compressor.
Will find out next month.
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Response by alanhart
over 14 years ago
Posts: 12397
Member since: Feb 2007
in-out window unit routine gets much more taxing as BTUs go up.
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Can you buy a portable air conditioner -- the kind that vents out the window with a hose? The $400 or so it will cost may be worth the time and aggravation.
Co-op boards and contractors both move at glacial speed. I normally try to control whatever parts of the situation I can, even if costs me money I shouldn't have to spend. I would say it's a part of co-op life, but I've dealt with this in condos and fee-simple properties, too, so maybe it's just a part of life, period.
http://newyork.craigslist.org/search/zip/mnh?query=portable+air&catAbb=app&srchType=A&minAsk=&maxAsk=&hasPic=1
"Can you buy a portable air conditioner?"
A circular saw is much cheaper.
Rivergate had very uneconomical a/c units that use to run my bill $500/$600 a month in the summer.
I bought one of those "portable" vent hose out the window units and cut my bill to $325 a summer month for my last 3 years there.
Cost at the time ...$600
June/July/August savings @$250 per month times 3= $750.
Times 3 years = $2250
Minus Cost -$600
Portable A/C saved me $1650
The best thing about the portable is; when summer goes, so does the unit into a closet and not like some rusted thing jutting out of a window. It wouldn't work in Miami, but in this part of the country where the hot season is at the most three months, why not? I used to have the GE Carry Cool (light weight window unit with handle) that got taken out of the window by September which was most efficient and old as it was, it still worked when I gave it away.
This was my unit.
I believe this model advertises 500 square foot room cooling but it did the job in my 1000 feet.
Just keep all the bathroom and closet doors closed.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&biw=1024&bih=572&q=sharp+portable+air+conditioner&safe=on&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=3523627430329358861&sa=X&ei=gWgTTs3LBvS50AHVwOn3Aw&ved=0CHwQ8wIwBw#
Maybe those people who defaulted on their contract and never got the deposit back should have considered one of those units...
I, for one, simply can't wait to go shopping at the new Saks Fifth Avenue in Kazakhstan.
concur lad
Thanks, everybody. The portable might be the best option in any case, though I had considered the circular saw option. It's been helpful to turn away from being enraged at board/management to actually solving the problem.
Some of the portables are REALLY noisy (Delonghi, I'm talking to you!) Look for a Sharp Library Quiet model, they work well and you won't feel like you're sleeping next to a jet taking off;
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11630283&search=sharp&Mo=36&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=sharp&Ntt=sharp&No=28&Ntx=mode matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1
I made the mistake of buying the Delonghi from Costco last year and returned them this year and got the Sharp. Much better.
The hoses give off a lot of heat, though. Wrap them with a quilt and get some insulation for the flimsy plastic window thingy. Poor engineering.
Best part is the dehumidify mode, it makes all the difference.
I like loud white noise, as long as it's constant.
I believe some portables evaporate all the moisture out the window (sounds good), while others collect it in a reservoir that needs to be emptied periodically (sounds like a PITA).
get a small windoe unit which you can easily put in and remove yourself, and store the thing during the 9 months of the year you dont need it
the portables are crap--dont work nearly as well as much smaller window units, take up floor space, hose space, still require a duct for the window and oft have condnesation issues requiring emptying water trays etc
i had one like this a few years ago--great is also that teh window need not be so blocked with this design--takes < 5 minute to install, and not so heavy, little risk of dropping to the street---something you might want to avoid ...300 bux
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=202675107&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=202675107&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D29X-_-202675107&locStoreNum=6175
needs advise;
that's the same unit as mine just 10,000 btu instead of 13,000.
But it wasn't that quiet....though I don't mind some noise as long as it's (as Ahart points out) constant.
Agree with the exhaust apparatus criticisms.There's always some solution at home Depot.
Oh look, Wbuttocks is a handy"man". Who knew?
Been having temperature control issues in my new place that has HVAC.
Recently discovered what a difference a dehumidifier makes, cant believe I spent this much life in NY without one. Can keep thermostat at least 3 degrees higher and be comfortable.
Also leaving the blower on ON instead of AUTO.(high ceilings) I think the extra juice used from the dehumidifier and leaving the blower on so much more is cancelled out by the less use of the compressor.
Will find out next month.
in-out window unit routine gets much more taxing as BTUs go up.