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Paradise by the Sea

Rental Property User Guide

Tenants are typically responsible for ensuring their property stays sanitary, clean, and in good repair. Your lease requires you to take the first steps to deal with any maintenance problems. This guide will help you understand some simple troubleshooting steps that will make this easier.

Below are troubleshooting guidelines to help you resolve common issues. If you continue to have a problem, please submit a maintenance request on our portal and include a photograph of the problem.

Alarms

Smoke or CO detectors going off with a consistent alarm: Call 911 immediately.

Smoke Alarm: If the smoke alarm is beeping intermittently, the battery needs changing. Replace it with a brand-new battery. If the problem persists, notify us immediately.

Security Alarm: If you come home and the alarm is flashing or beeping, this may indicate a power surge. Disarm your alarm and wait 20 seconds, then recode it. This should stop the flashing and beeping. If beeping continues, the battery needs replacing.

Furnace and Air Conditioner

  • Check that the batteries in the thermostat are working and the display panel functions properly. If not, change the battery.
  • Check that the switch next to the furnace is on.
  • Check that the pilot light is lit.
  • Check that the furnace cover is fitting securely.
  • Check that the circuit breaker is on.
  • Change the filter 4 times a year (tenant responsibility).
  • Do not set the air conditioning abnormally low. Anything below 20 degrees lower than the outside temperature may cause the unit to freeze up and become less efficient. If the fan is running but the air is not very cold, turn the unit off overnight and let it thaw out.
  • The heat must be on all winter. If you go on an extended vacation, leave the heat on at least 60 degrees and open sink cabinet doors to prevent pipes from freezing. Also turn off the water.

Faulty Switches or Fans

Do not attempt to fix or use switches or outlets that are malfunctioning. Locate the circuit breaker for that device and turn it off. Please submit a maintenance request.

Electric Garage Door Not Opening

The remote may need new batteries. If new batteries do not fix the issue, the remote may need replacing. If the garage door is not opening by remote or wall button, the property may have experienced a power surge.

To reset the garage door:

  • Go to the breaker box and turn all switches to the OFF position.
  • Flip all breaker switches back ON.
  • Try the button on the wall or the remote; this should open the door.

To open the door manually: Convert the garage from automatic to manual by using the pulley above the light. Push the door up while in manual position.

No Power

Most often, loss of power to a concentrated area is due to a tripped GFCI or breaker.

No lights and power points:

  • Does a light bulb need replacing? Light bulbs are tenant responsibility. If not, check that a GFCI outlet has not been tripped. Press the RESET button on any nearby GFCI outlets (they may be in the next room).
  • Check your fuse box for a tripped breaker switch. If there has been an overload, the safety switch may need resetting. A tripped breaker is not always obvious—the switch may not throw all the way to the off position. Run your fingers down the line of breakers to feel for a tripped one.
  • Reset the breaker by moving it to the full "off" position and then back to "on."
  • Check appliances. Unplug all of them in the unit, reset the breaker, then plug in one appliance at a time to find the faulty one.
  • Contact your power company to inquire if there are power outages in your neighborhood.

No Hot Water

  • Check to see if the hot water tank is leaking.
  • Check the fuse box for a tripped breaker switch.
  • If it's a gas water heater, check to see if the pilot light is out. If you can't turn it on, call your gas provider for instructions.
  • Basic electrical troubleshooting

Garbage Disposal Not Working

  • Reset the safety switch underneath the bottom of the disposal unit in the sink cabinet.
  • Check for blockage in the sink around the blades. Before putting your hands or a utensil down the sink, make sure the unit is turned off. Never put these items down the disposal: chicken bones, onion peels, potato skins, and corn husk.
  • How to unjam a garbage disposal

Clogged or Slow Sink

Without using harsh chemical drain cleaners:

  • Pour a pot of boiling water down the drain, then pour in ½ cup baking soda. Let it sit for a few minutes. Pour a mixture of 1 cup white vinegar and 1 cup hot water and let it sit for 5–10 minutes. Flush one more time with a pot of boiling water.
  • How to unclog a kitchen sink using baking soda and vinegar
  • Sink drains are easy to disassemble and clean. The plastic ones can be unscrewed by hand, allowing you to remove and clean out the p-trap. Be sure to have a bucket and towels handy. Video guide

Clogged Bathtub and Shower Drains

Clogged Toilet

  • Use a plunger with short, quick motions. You may need rubber gloves; it can get messy.
  • Pour a bucket of water to clear it out.

Water Leaks

  • Turn off the water. There is probably a valve near the sink or toilet. If that doesn't stop the leak, turn off the main water line.
  • If water is leaking from a sink drain, it's often because it is clogged. See the section on clogs.
  • Detach hoses from outside faucets in the winter. If you don't, that faucet will probably freeze and leak when you use it next summer. Repairs to outside faucets are always tenant responsibility.
  • Water leaks can be expensive to repair. Get help if you can't get it to stop.

Sewer Backup

The lowest drain in the house is often the basement floor drain. If sewer is coming out of this drain, you probably have a clog between the house and the street. Stop using the water immediately and call a plumber right away. This usually costs around $100 for a main line cleanout, which is typically tenant responsibility as it usually backs up because items that don't belong have been put down the drain. Never put grease, paper towels, trash, kitty litter, or anything but toilet paper down the drains.

Sometimes there is a systemic problem like tree roots or city sewer problems. In these situations, we will reimburse the $100 main-line cleanout and pay up to $140 for camera and locate.

Washing Machine Not Working Properly or Not at All

  • Check whether the washing machine taps are turned on at the wall.
  • Check if the appliance at the wall is turned on.
  • Check if the lid is closing properly.
  • Check if the settings knob is pointed directly on the desired settings.
  • If the machine has stopped halfway through a cycle, you may have overloaded it and caused it to be out of balance. Try redistributing the wash evenly in the drum.
  • Don't overload the machine.
  • Only use laundry detergent; never use dishwashing detergent.
  • Troubleshooting common washing machine problems

Dryer Not Working

Check whether the filter needs to be cleaned out. The dryer can automatically shut down due to overload of lint in the filter. Remember to always clean the filter. Failure to clean the dryer is the leading cause of dryer fires. 2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year, causing deaths, injuries, and millions of dollars in property loss.

Refrigerator Not Staying Cool or Freezing

  • Check the thermostat to make sure it hasn't been turned way down by mistake.
  • Be sure the vents on the back of the freezer compartment aren't blocked by boxes of ice cream or frozen food packages. The vents must be clear for cold air to circulate.
  • Vacuum the coils under or behind the fridge. Clogged coils can cause poor cooling.
  • Clean the seals around the refrigerator doors to keep cool air from escaping.
  • How to defrost your fridge