HVAC - Furnace filter replacement

[ponyo]

did you clean the nozzle? Just replacing a filter is one thing, messing around with other parts? Not in my skill set, besides that basement gives me the creeps..shudder

Youtube University. You can learn how to do anything on Youtube.

 

[nakedfrog]

I always hear this from people.

I've rented a dozen or so apartments in my life and I have never even once paid out big deposits or bent over for things like credit checks/commision fee's. I laugh at potential landlords and hang up on their faces when they bring up that nonsense.

The trick is to deal with small landlords and private homes... makes for lower rent and also makes it possible to find a nice place in relatively "ritzy" areas. (you know, the ones where racist US zoning laws don't even allow rentals?)

I've personally done this successfully in multiple locations so I know for a fact that it can be done. (moving however IS exhausting!)

That's how it overwhelmingly was when I moved to the Seattle area last year, most places wanted first/last/security deposit, I think you only have a broker fee if you go through one. But I found a place where it was just first month, deposit, and credit check (at like $55, so that wasn't too bad). Second month had a pro-rated discount since I'd paid a full first month and moved in on the 12th.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

did you clean the nozzle? Just replacing a filter is one thing, messing around with other parts? Not in my skill set, besides that basement gives me the creeps..shudder

I would literally disassemble the entire unit and put it back together if necessary. All these appliances have (or at least should have) diagrams available online. I've torn apart our air conditioner, pellet stove, furnace, microwave and a few other things around the house for misc repairs and maintenance without issue.

I always hear this from people.

I've rented a dozen or so apartments in my life and I have never even once paid out big deposits or bent over for things like credit checks/commision fee's. I laugh at potential landlords and hang up on their faces when they bring up that nonsense.

The trick is to deal with small landlords and private homes... makes for lower rent and also makes it possible to find a nice place in relatively "ritzy" areas. (you know, the ones where racist US zoning laws don't even allow rentals?)

I've personally done this successfully in multiple locations so I know for a fact that it can be done. (moving however IS exhausting!)

Any reputable place is going to have a massive amount of money to get in to. You can go with a small outfit/homeowner but you're betting on that going without a hitch as well. Any reputable place will have problems fixed as fast as humanly possible, a homeowner, not as probable.

 

[Captante]

That's how it overwhelmingly was when I moved to the Seattle area last year, most places wanted first/last/security deposit, I think you only have a broker fee if you go through one. But I found a place where it was just first month, deposit, and credit check (at like $55, so that wasn't too bad). Second month had a pro-rated discount since I'd paid a full first month and moved in on the 12th.

Any reputable place is going to have a massive amount of money to get in to. You can go with a small outfit/homeowner but you're betting on that going without a hitch as well. Any reputable place will have problems fixed as fast as humanly possible, a homeowner, not as probable.

If you deal with big rental companies then no question about it you'll be paying through the nose.... there are plenty of those in my area.

Just because the vast majority think a lot like a Lemming heading for a cliff-dive doesn't mean that's the only way to get it done.




EDIT: Just because a rental company charges you out the a$$ does NOT in any way promise you will get great service. In reality big landlords tend not to give a rats a$$ about individual tenants.

Sorry but MOST people are suckers.

 

[Geekbabe]

I always hear this from people.

I've rented a dozen or so apartments in my life and I have never even once paid out big deposits or bent over for things like credit checks/commision fee's. I laugh at potential landlords and hang up on their faces when they bring up that nonsense.

The trick is to deal with small landlords and private homes... makes for lower rent and also makes it possible to find a nice place in relatively "ritzy" areas. (you know, the ones where racist US zoning laws don't even allow rentals?)

I've personally done this successfully in multiple locations so I know for a fact that it can be done. (moving however IS exhausting!)

I hear you…but this is Boston, always expensive and getting even more so as the older homeowners cash in on a hot market & sell.

Also our last private landlord who swore we were like “ family” decided to not pay the mortgage on the two family house we shared, he gladly took our rent payments though, last we saw of him, he & his family were stuffing their belongings into cars before the new owners showed up & gave us a notice to quit. Plus the auctioneer showed up to post the auction sign probably about an hour after they ran like rats from a sinking ship. That’s how close he cut it to selling the place …

We aren’t crazy about this place but after two months of looking & hearing “ no cats” we were relived to get a place with a lease, a property manager & our two cats also put on the lease.

 

[Captante]

I hear you…but this is Boston, always expensive and getting even more so as the older homeowners cash in on a hot market & sell.

Also our last private landlord who swore we were like “ family” decided to not pay the mortgage on the two family house we shared, he gladly took our rent payments though, last we saw of him, he & his family were stuffing their belongings into cars before the new owners showed up & gave us a notice to quit. Plus the auctioneer showed up to post the auction sino probably about an hour after they ran like rats from a sinking ship.

We aren’t crazy about this place but after two months of looking & hearing “ no cats” we were relived to get a place with a lease, a property manager & our two cats also put on the lease.

Sucks you got burned by that jerk but if you want to meet a bunch of greedy scumbags there's no better way to do it then attending a meeting of the local "Landlords association" here in New Haven.

(look up "Mandy Management" for example... freaking slumlords!)



But yeah cats in particular are a monkey-wrench in the gears no question for apartments.

LOTS of landlords big and small won't allow them even with extra security due the the damage their urine can cause. (the smell is next to impossible to get rid of)

 

[Geekbabe]

Also, cancer, taking a shower exhausts me, house hunting, trying to not look sick, packing & moving won’t be happening in the dead of winter

 

[Captante]

Also, cancer, taking a shower exhausts me, house hunting, trying to not look sick, packing & moving won’t be happening in the dead of winter

Moving in general is one of the most "traumatic" life events in and of itself too! (along with death of a loved one and job-loss)

Didn't mean to come across as critical to you at all btw sorry if I did!

 

[Geekbabe]

Yeah cats in particular are a monkey-wrench in the gears no question.

LOTS of landlords big and small won't allow them even with extra security due the the damage their urine can cause. (the smell is next to impossible to get rid of)

I get it but oldest cat is now 17, we are all she has ever known, I wasn’t going to dump her & my lovely Grayson in some shelter. The older cat is so neurotic she is unadoptable lol.

 

[Geekbabe]

Moving in general is one of the most "traumatic" life events in and of itself too! (along with death of a loved one and job-loss)

Didn't mean to come across as critical to you at all btw sorry if I did!

Oh no worries about that! It’s just that each area of the country is different. Also with Covid a lot of landlords are gun shy, so are tenants, we are in a first floor unit in a four unit building. Everyone in the building has been vaccinated & tends to look out for each other while also minding their business.

 

[BoomerD]

I don't know about cleaning the nozzle...oil heat? But...

How to Change Your HVAC Furnance Filter

<p><span class="body-generic">Regular maintenance of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system will improve its operation and extend its life. It will also help you regulate temperatures in your house—and save you money... </span></p>

www.masssave.com

There's no fckn way that kind of maintenance should be on the tenant.

 

[Geekbabe]

I don't know about cleaning the nozzle...oil heat? But...

How to Change Your HVAC Furnance Filter

<p><span class="body-generic">Regular maintenance of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system will improve its operation and extend its life. It will also help you regulate temperatures in your house—and save you money... </span></p>

www.masssave.com

There's no fckn way that kind of maintenance should be on the tenant.

Boomer, I agree with you! I get nervous just thinking about messing with a furnace. plus that basement is creepy as hell. I don’t belong down there & would probably be afraid of falling on the stairs.

 

[Captante]

Working on your own furnace isn't actually all that difficult BUT the downside of getting it wrong might prove severe.... like carbon monoxide poisoning, a fire or even a potential explosion severe!

Unless fully confident in your abilities I suggest calling in a professional.

 

[BoomerD]

Boomer, I agree with you! I get nervous just thinking about messing with a furnace. plus that basement is creepy as hell. I don’t belong down there & would probably be afraid of falling on the stairs.

Get RedDawn to do it...he's gotta be good for SOMETHING!

 

[Geekbabe]

Get RedDawn to do it...he's gotta be good for SOMETHING!

We don’t own this house, other unrelated ( innocent people) live here. Red will not be fixing anything that could explode, lol I am calling professionals in the area.

 

[BoomerD]

We don’t own this house, other unrelated ( innocent people) live here. Red will not be fixing anything that could explode, lol I am calling professionals in the area.

The owner/property manager should be responsible for anything related to the furnace beyond changing a simple filter. I was suggesting that Red change the filter.

 

[BoomerD]

Home heating help for tenants

HEATING LAWS FOR RENTERS You have a right to be comfortable in the winter. If you're a tenant, your landlord must:

www.boston.gov

 

[Captante]

We don’t own this house, other unrelated ( innocent people) live here. Red will not be fixing anything that could explode, lol I am calling professionals in the area.

Shens.... no one over the age of 2 is innocent!

I would make sure the landlord doesn't have a contract with anyone prior to spending your own money on what I also feel should be his/her job not yours. It's possible the company he signed with is doing a crappy negligent job and simply needs to be "encouraged" to do the right thing!

Bad news is that if you want this info without calling the landlord you'll need to venture down to the basement with a flashlight to look for a service label of some kind on/near the furnace itself. (hopefully with a phone number)

 

[BoomerD]

Shens.... no one over the age of 2 is innocent!

I would make sure the landlord doesn't have a contract with anyone prior to spending your own money on what I also feel should be his/her job not yours. It's possible the company he signed with is doing a crappy negligent job and simply needs to be "encouraged" to do the right thing!

Bad news is that if you want this info without calling the landlord you'll need to venture down to the basement with a flashlight to look for a service label of some kind on/near the furnace itself. (hopefully with a phone number)

Olds has significant basement expertise...and he's (relatively) close...

 

[pete6032]

Changing a filter is extremely easy. On my furnace there isn't even a cover to remove to get to the filter. The filter just slides in and out of a slit in the vent. You can get a multipack of filters from Home Depot for $10 or less. I replace mine once per month. I have never heard of cleaning a nozzle before.

 

[bbhaag]

Thing is, here in MA, consumers aren’t allowed to change filters, they have to be done professionally.

 

[Red Squirrel]

That's a messed up law. Overreaching governments piss me off. I would just do it anyway, seems it would be very hard to prove this sort of thing and you'd just be doing everyone a favour anyway.

Which reminds me, I'm probably due to change mine.

 

[Geekbabe]

There are a couple local companies that are a lot cheaper than the one that gave me an outrageous price. If they change the filter, clean whatever nozzle needs cleaned & look the furnace over paying them is probably my wisest choice because if we do it ourselves & anything goes wrong at all with another tenants heat, we will be in a heap of crap.

 

[Charmonium]

I have a forced air furnace and I'm trying to figure out how yours has a single heat exchanger but multiple systems of ducts, each with their own filter. I can sort of imagine it, but I don't see the point.

Let's say your thermostat is set to 68 while mine is at 72. The furnace is going to fire up whenever one our thermostats tells it to. So how does that work? Is it like zone heating where any given zone (apartment in your case) is automatically blocked off until the thermostat tells it otherwise?

But even then, all you actually need is a single filter. Why have 4 filters when any given filter is superfluous until that zone's duct system is opened - at which point, a single filter before the heat exchanger is a much, much better idea. It doesn't compute.

 

[Charmonium]

Sorry for the double post, but is there any chance that this is just an excuse to charge you more? Now THAT would make sense.