Reno Rental AC and Heating Checklist

Reno rentals need working cooling in summer and working heat for months of freezing mornings, often from the same thermostat and ducts. Some also have evaporative coolers on the roof. This checklist helps tenants try the simple fixes, understand what's normal and report the right problems quickly.

Quick checks first

• Thermostat on Cool or Heat, set past the room temperature, fan on Auto
• New batteries if the screen is blank
• No tripped breaker for the furnace, air handler or outdoor unit
• Filter not gray and packed with dust (windy months clog filters fast)
• More steps: AC not cooling in Reno

Swamp coolers

• Open a window or vent a few inches so the cooled air has somewhere to go
• Report a musty smell, dripping from the ceiling below the cooler or no water flowing over the pads
• Switch the cooler off on smoky days, since it pulls in outside air
• Background: evaporative cooler or AC

Report right away

• Any smell of gas: leave first and contact the gas utility's emergency line from outside
• A carbon monoxide alarm sounding: get everyone out and contact emergency services
• No heat on a freezing night after the quick checks
• Water leaking from the ceiling, furnace or indoor unit
• Burning smells or a breaker that trips again

Smoke days

When wildfire smoke reaches the valley, keep windows closed, run the system fan if there is one and let the manager know if the filter needs changing afterward. See smoke days and your HVAC.

Winter habits

1. Keep the heat on at a steady setting when away for a few days.
2. Keep snow clear of furnace vent pipes on outside walls.
3. Don't block return grilles with furniture.
4. Report ice that stays on a heat pump's outdoor unit.

For property managers

A spring cooling check, a cooler start-up and a fall furnace check prevent most emergencies. For service, see AC repair, furnace repair and evaporative coolers.