Firstly, we know that as a landlord or property owner you want to ensure your property is always in compliance with state and local laws. Subsequently, your legal obligation is a serious one and should not be overlooked–the ownership of your asset may very well depend on it.
In the state of Utah, housing regulations mainly fall under the Fit Premises Act of the state’s Real Estate Code. All owners should be familiar with these ordinances. They essentially give a basic breakdown of maintaining a safe and habitable environment, with HVAC playing a major role in that.
By maintaining a properly functioning system the chance of breakdown in extreme weather is significantly decreased. Plus, your tenants remain happy. This, along with maintaining proper air quality (that is, mold inspections throughout the ventilation system) you not only meet your legal obligation but will maintain good relations and avoid any hassles with the tenant. This can ensure a steady, stable rental payment for years to come.
Routine maintenance (often considered preventative maintenance) will keep your overall repair costs down in the long run. Think of it this way, a system that has been neglected or overlooked for years has a higher risk of catastrophic failure. This often happens at the worst times when temperatures are extreme and overtax the unit. A dirty system is overextending itself causing undue wear and tear on the individual parts such as the coils, blowers, and pumps.
A typical system that only has to be replaced every 15-20 years may now need to be replaced in under 10 because the proper precautions were not taken.
Research conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) demonstrates system cleaning–that includes vacuuming and dislodging debris from sensitive components–ultimately extends the life of the system. Additionally, this more efficient usage brings energy bills down significantly over the course of the year.
Pre-existing conditions of the tenant, or existing conditions within the system, can heighten and exacerbate smaller issues. All of these factors should be considered when either a new tenant takes possession of the property or deciding how often to schedule a cleaning.
Above all, as a landlord who wants to ensure you maintain the best quality your first call should be to Green Home, the air quality and mold removal specialist. Additionally, we have operated throughout the Salt Lake City region for over a decade and have a combined 30+ years of experience in the industry. Lastly, we are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau and maintain dozens of quality reviews on Google and Yelp.
