A landlord’s year
What to do each season in Indiana
A cold-winter, hot-summer calendar for rental buildings. The months move with the weather; the order does not.
- 01Fall
Step 1: August to September
The tune-up window. Furnaces are easy to reach and nobody needs them yet.
We: tune up furnaces, street by street
You: send us any new units and key changes
- 02Fall
Step 2: October
The first cold nights. Filters, thermostats and pilot-free ignition checks.
We: swap filters; the priority line opens
You: remind tenants to set thermostats to heat
- 03Winter
Step 3: November to March
Heating season. No-heat calls come first from account holders.
We: answer the priority line every day, 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
You: keep the access note current
- 04Spring
Step 4: April
The changeover. Heat is off, cooling is not yet on.
We: turnover checks and air-conditioner start-ups
You: check for units that turned over
- 05Spring
Step 5: May to June
Air-conditioner tune-ups before the first hot week.
We: rinse coils, clear drains, test capacitors
You: let us know about window units you want replaced
- 06Summer
Step 6: July to August
The hot weeks. Cooling calls are by appointment.
We: repair, and plan next fall’s list
You: review the year’s reports for old units
Why fall
Fall is when the account pays for itself
A furnace that has been checked in September rarely fails in January.
We cannot promise a furnace will not fail. We can promise it was looked at, the filter was changed and the file says what to watch. When a no-heat call does come, the file is the first thing we open.
One tune-up per furnace, before the first cold night
A report you can forward to your insurer or lender
The file shows which units are oldest
Put your units on the fall list
Send the addresses by the end of August.