Dealing with Apartment Problems

Life outside the parental nest can be pretty blissful: parties, walking around naked, drinking beer for breakfast. Until, that is, a furry little head pokes out from behind the fridge, the fire alarm goes off, and the sink overflows. The trade-off for fabulous freedom is that when the you-know-what hits the fan (or floods the bathroom, as the case may be), the ’rents aren’t around to handle the situation. So, on this long road to adulthood, it’s nice to know where to turn when things go south. From rats and roaches to leaks and breaks, read on for tips on handling apartment problems yourselves, or hiring a pro.

Attack of the Vermin: Infestations

Everything is gravy until a rat scurries across your floor with a family of cockroaches in tow. (Probably because you dropped actual gravy on the floor and never cleaned it up.) Hopefully these unwelcome guests scurried into a hole and they’re out of your life for the moment. If not, there’s not much more you can do other than use a broomstick to shoo them out of your place. At that point, however, it’s time to react with aggressive preemptive measure. Scout out your place for any holes, nooks, and crannies. These critters can spread diseases (hello, Black Death!), contaminate your food, and can even cause allergies, so even if you’re not grossed out by roaches in your sock drawer, it’s worth taking care of the problem. Always remember that the super is there to help—learn to be a good tenant to ensure that the he’s got your back

Do It Yourself

• Keep spaces dry and clutter-free and keep all food cleanly stored.
• Keep areas, including alleys and yards, clean and trash-free so that critters have no place to hide. Try using small trash bags and taking out the garbage every day.
• Make sure that all holes in the apartment are filled with both steel wool and covered in plaster to prevent roaches and rats from entering through infested walls.
• Control cockroaches by cleaning with disinfectant, vacuuming, and using roach gel and roach baits. Most hardware stores carry all these things.

Call A Pro

• Many apartment buildings also have free extermination. A sign-up sheet is usually placed in the lobby of the building or the elevator along with the date of service. If not, call the managing agent and ask for the extermination schedule.
• Experts at Pro Service Pest Control in New York suggest calling professionals the minute you find evidence of infestation. Even if you don’t hire them, they can offer advice on where and how to set the traps.
• Companies like Orkin or the National Pest Management Association provide easy access through their web sites: try PestWorld or Orkin.

Electric Break-Down: When Appliances Stop Working

Electrical problems aren’t that prevalent, but it’s helpful to know how to nip them in the bud, and how to react when they happen. As a proactive measure, never plug too many appliances through a single outlet. A good rule of thumb is that you should only be using one multi-outlet surge protector per wall outlet. This helps to prevent electrical fires, especially in older buildings and homes. Other than that, just use common sense. Since fixing electrical issues can be very dangerous, we suggest that you talk to a super regarding any problems, ranging from lights not working to the landlord-supplied refrigerator going warm. The one quick fix we do feel comfortable sharing is using the circuit breaker. If an appliance isn’t working or the lights aren’t turning on, check your circuit breaker. But once again, if you don’t know what that is or how to use it, defer to the super. Here are some tips for specific electricity-related problems.

Do It Yourself

Appliances

Prevention

• To prevent electrical appliances from breaking, keep them in top shape. Here is a check-list for caring for those little items that make our lives so much easier.

Dealing With It

• Check the circuit breaker–it might just be a blown fuse.
• Unplug the appliances.
• Most appliances come with an instruction booklet with the manufacturer’s number should you get stuck.
• Many websites offer advice and how-to guides catered to each appliance, from microwaves to air-conditioning. Check out Repair Clinic and Appliance 411.