Budget Buster - Is there anything we can do about it?

[Mrs. Bob Loblaw]

My husband and I moved into a new apartment in January. Our gas bill was higher than expected, but we cut back and got through it. I'm from San Francisco and have NO tolerance for heat, so during the recent heatwave, we decided to turn on the a/c for the first time. We're in a duplex and we were told we have separate meters for everything, which is true. The problem is, our a/c has a vent in the laundry room in the basement and another in the indoor stairway, cooling 3 floors, in addition to the laundry room. Even when we close the vents, more cool air comes out down there than up in our apartment. It's going to cost us a fortune if we have to cool our apartment, plus all that extra space (not to mention laundry rooms are typically HOT). Is there anything we can do about it? We plan to talk to our landlord soon, but we have a feeling she'll tell us there's nothing she can do about it.

 

[ilovemk76]

Take the source and return covers off in the laundry room, hall and any othe room you don't want to cool. Cut cardboard to cover the inside and then put them back in place. This will prevent most of the cold air from going out and will proven the hot air from being sucked back into the system.

 

[Sarahlovy]

You can also buy magnetic covers at anywhere like Lowe's or Home Depot for a few bucks each that work really well.

 

[tlh0726]

Are you sure you are not heating these space as well?

The landlord should have advise you of this before you signed the lease.
I would be talking to them immediately.
Good luck.

 

[Mrs. Bob Loblaw]

Thanks, I think I'll do double duty and try cardboard and magnetic covers! We're pretty sure we were heating the space, too, which explains the high gas bills. We just didn't realize until the a/c was on and I felt the cool blast coming from the ceiling down there.

Thanks for the help! At least there's something I can do to improve the situation, but I'll be talking with the landlord about this, too.

 

[seashoreCM]

I wonder -- should you not talk to the landlord but just close off the vents and returns as described? If you don't tell anyone then your covering up the vents won't be noticed as easily.

I would not use magnetic covers over the outside that anyone can see.

By the way, check the laundry room and hall vents from time to time to be sure no one removes the covers.

The return duct sucks air in. YOu need to be sure that the cardboard cover you put inside can't get sucked down into the systme.

 

[Kellydelly]

nevermind

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Why should they be concerned if it is visible that they are covering up the vents or returns? The heating and cooling is for their their side only, they are not messing with anyone's airflow except their own . It's not like it is something illegal or anything.

I agree. It's really just a matter of redirecting the airflow through their own space.