Upkeeping the maintenance of an apartment community is a big undertaking. It can get costly and be very taxing on your labor resources. It’s normal for machines, systems, and appliances to break down at times. The need for routine maintenance is to be expected. Reducing the amount of work your team has to put into maintenance is nevertheless something you need to make a priority. Not only can it help reduce costs and keep them under control but it helps the property stay in better condition.
It can be hard to keep apartment maintenance demands under control when residents don’t cooperate. Many of the issues that arise are preventable, but only when residents are mindful of what to do and not do. Sometimes they simply are unaware of how their actions affect the care of the property. Any effort in raising resident awareness can therefore prove to be a sound investment. Here are some of the common maintenance issues that residents can help address and prevent:

Dirty Filters
Though replacing HVAC air filters is a normal part of routine maintenance, and the matter may seem beyond residents’ control, there’s a lot residents can do to help keep the filters cleaner for longer. Apartments that are left dusty can cause air filters to fill up faster. While there are many residents who keep their apartments clean, bringing their attention to the importance of routine deep cleaning may sway some to be more proactive. And it’s not just common surfaces like shelves, side tables, and knick knacks that are of concern, as curtains, blinds, and high areas are more often missed. Residents should also be instructed to monitor and clean vents so that the dust gets wiped away instead of left to build up in the filter. You may also want to encourage your residents to make use of indoor air purifiers.

Clogged Drains
Hair in drains is a top cause of clogs. While it may not be possible to prevent every single hair from entering a drain, there are measures your residents can take to reduce the problem. General resident awareness can go a long way in reducing the frequency of this issue, as it can make them think twice about purposefully pushing those clumps of hair down the drain while shaving or doing other forms of grooming. You can also teach them simple ways to keep drains free of hair, such as using hair traps and checking drains during routine cleaning.

Garbage Disposals
These mechanical machines are an excellent modern convenience, but many people still don’t understand how to use them properly. Misuse of garbage disposals can lead to frequent maintenance woes and no’s, which can especially become a big burden in larger communities. Teaching your residents the dos and don’ts of garbage disposals can help out a lot. For example, let them know not to put coffee grounds, grease and oils, and starchy foods like pasta, rice, and potato peels down the garbage disposal. Provide instructions on how to clean the garbage disposal regularly. Make sure residents are aware that these machines are not to be treated like trash cans.

Thermostats
There are a lot of thermostat dos and don’ts that your residents may or may not be aware of. Boosting resident awareness of how to handle these devices not only can reduce their energy costs, but can extend the life of the property’s HVAC units. If they find that their homes are either too hot or too cold, let them know that setting the thermostat to an extreme temperature isn’t going to cool or heat it faster. Instead, it can cause the system to overshoot and use up more energy. Likewise, constantly changing the temperature to force the system on and off puts additional wear and tear on the system. Encourage them to establish a set temperature within a reasonable range and leave it there.
Many of the most common apartment maintenance issues we at Occupancy Heroes have seen properties struggle with were 100 percent preventable with the cooperation of residents. The lack of investing in proper awareness leaves many property maintenance teams overburdened. That’s a serious issue considering how difficult it has become to find skilled workers to fill apartment maintenance positions. Our team of Maintenance Heroes fill in the gaps by identifying and helping to address many property management and maintenance woes. We can help you ensure residents have the information they need to help reduce maintenance demands, and we can repair any issues that may have arose from their not knowing.