Maintenance Troubleshooting

Keep grease and cooking fat out of drains

Grease, oil, and cooking fat can harden inside pipes and contribute to blockages affecting your apartment or neighboring homes. Allow these materials to cool and dispose of them in the trash using a suitable container.

Flush only toilet paper

Wipes—including products labeled “flushable”—paper towels, hygiene products, and similar items do not break down like toilet paper and can cause serious plumbing problems.

Keep shower water inside the fixture

Use shower curtains and doors properly. Water escaping onto the floor can enter walls, neighboring apartments, or ceilings below before the resulting damage is visible.

Report small problems early

Slow drains, dripping fixtures, running toilets, and recurring moisture are often easier to address before they become larger maintenance concerns.

Active Water Leak

1. Move belongings away from the water and use towels or a container only if you can do so safely.
2. If the leak is from a sink or toilet and its nearby shutoff valve is visible and turns easily, turn it clockwise to stop the flow.
3. Contact the leasing office immediately and describe the source, location, and whether water is still running.

You cannot stop the water, the valve is stuck, water is near electrical equipment, the source is hidden, or water is entering a wall, floor, or ceiling. Do not force valves or enter restricted utility areas.

Clogged or Overflowing Toilet

1. Stop flushing immediately.
2. If the bowl is rising, close the accessible toilet shutoff valve if it turns easily.
3. For an ordinary clog with no object in the bowl, try several firm plunges with a toilet plunger.

The water continues rising, the clog remains, an object may be lodged in the toilet, more than one fixture is backing up, or water is leaking around the base.

Slow Sink or Shower Drain

Hair, soap buildup, or debris near the drain opening commonly causes slow drainage.

1. Remove visible hair or debris from the drain opening.
2. Use a plastic hair-removal tool or an appropriate plunger for a minor blockage.
3. Stop if the blockage does not improve.

Do not mix drain products or combine them with bleach, ammonia, or other cleaners. Harsh products may damage plumbing or create dangerous fumes. Contact the leasing office before using a chemical drain opener.

Partial Power Outage

Your apartment uses multiple electrical circuits. One tripped breaker can affect only certain lights, outlets, or appliances while the rest of the home retains power.

1. Unplug or switch off devices in the affected area.
2. With dry hands while standing on a dry surface, look for a breaker in the middle position or one that appears different from the others.
3. Move that breaker fully to “Off,” then back to “On” one time.

The breaker trips again, will not reset, the panel is damaged or hot, or you cannot identify the correct breaker. Do not remove the panel cover.

Outlet Is Not Working

1. Confirm the device works in another outlet.
2. Check the breaker panel for a tripped circuit.
3. In kitchens, bathrooms, or other moisture-prone areas, look for a nearby GFCI outlet and press “Reset” once if the outlet is dry and undamaged.

The GFCI or breaker will not reset, trips again, or the outlet is loose, discolored, cracked, hot, buzzing, or wet.

Light Is Not Working

1. Switch the light off and allow the bulb to cool.
2. Replace an accessible resident-serviceable bulb with the correct type and wattage.
3. Check whether a breaker or GFCI affects the same area.

The fixture is difficult to reach, damaged, loose, flickering repeatedly, buzzing, hot, or still does not work with a known-good bulb.

Reduced Heating or Cooling Performance

1. Confirm the thermostat is set to the intended mode and a reasonable temperature.
2. Make sure supply and return vents are open and not blocked by furniture or belongings.
3. If your system has a resident-serviceable filter, inspect it and replace it with the correct size when dirty.

Check filters approximately every one to three months. Homes with pets or more dust may require more frequent replacement.

Comfort does not improve, the equipment will not start, the breaker trips, you notice leaking water, ice, unusual noise, smoke, or a burning odor. Do not open equipment panels.

Blank Thermostat Display

1. If the thermostat has an accessible battery compartment, replace its AA or AAA batteries according to the manufacturer's markings.
2. Check whether the related breaker is tripped and reset it only once using the safe breaker steps above.

The display remains blank, the thermostat is loose or damaged, the breaker trips again, or you are unsure how the thermostat opens.