Maintenance Requests

If you have a routine maintenance request, please stop in or call the office (651-455-1188) or use this form. A work order will be given to a maintenance technician and responded to promptly. Please do not ask the maintenance technician directly. Except in an emergency situation, the maintenance person must have a service request to enter your apartment.
If you have an after-hours emergency maintenance request, call 651-229-3470. If an emergency requires help from police, fire or ambulance, call 911!

See below for more information on routine, urgent and emergency requests as well as common maintenance tips.

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE REQUEST FORM

EMERGENCY SERVICE REQUESTS

What is an Emergency?

An emergency condition exists when there is an immediate threat to life or property such as a natural gas leak, a water line rupture, an activating smoke or carbon monoxide alarm.

What is an Urgent Service Order?

An urgent condition exists when there is no immediate threat to life or property, but if the problem is not corrected in a timely manner it may become an emergency condition. Examples are a clogged sink, a clogged toilet, stove burners not operating.

What is a Routine Service Order?

A routine service order is any task which does not meet the definition of emergency or urgent. Examples are loose door knobs, loose screws or hinges, torn window screens.
When calling the office after hours, you will hear a recorded message. Please stay on the line. It will give you further instructions which will lead you to the proper personnel in the event of an emergency. If your request is not an emergency, please leave a message. The after hours number can be reached directly by calling 651-395-7187.

Natural disaster – Call 911!
Fire or safety issue – Call 911!
No heat
Clogged toilet (in a 1-bath apartment only)
Plumbing leaks
Lockouts (there will be an additional charge for this service)
Significant Noise Complaints

COMMON MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND TIPS

LIGHT BULBS

Light bulbs will be furnished when you arrive. Residents are responsible for replacing burned out bulbs in their own homes. Please call the office if assistance in needed for installing replacement bulbs. Please use the wattage recommended for each fixture.

CIRCUIT BREAKERS

The circuit-breaker box is located in your unit. To reset a circuit breaker, push the switch to “ON” if it is off. If this action does not correct the problem, please submit a maintenance request.

BATHROOM OUTLETS

Your bathroom outlet was installed using a device called a GFI (ground-fault interrupter) and is a safety feature. If, for example, an electric razor, hair dryer or radio you are using drops into the sink, the electric current to the outlet would be immediately shut off, thereby eliminating any danger of shock. Before resetting the circuit breaker, first remove the appliance and unplug it. Then to reset, the switch in the circuit-breaker box must be flipped to “ON”. Then press the reset button on the outlet itself. We recommend you do not use that appliance again until you have it serviced and/or repaired by an authorized repair shop. You should not depend upon this feature to prevent injury. Please use care when handling electric appliances.

APPLIANCES

Your appliances should be cleaned regularly. Clean the outside of the stove, refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave with non-abrasive cleaning materials. The filter in the range hood should also be cleaned regularly.

COUNTERTOPS

Please do not use the countertops for cutting boards, hot plates or ashtrays. Use non-abrasive cleaning materials. You will be responsible for any damage to repair or replace countertops.

KITCHEN FLOORS

The kitchen floor is made of vinyl. We recommend the use of an easily strippable wax or a no wax cleaner. Please do not use mats or rugs with a rubber backing. The rubber causes marks on the vinyl or a yellowing that cannot be removed and could be charged to you for repair or replacement.

TRASH BAG DISPOSAL

We need your cooperation to keep all public areas as clean as possible. Please place all garbage in plastic bags and tie them shut before depositing them in the trash receptacle. Do not leave garbage or trash items in the hallway or your balcony/patio. All cartons and boxes are to be crushed before disposal.

AIR CONDITIONERS

In order to keep air conditioners running efficiently, please clean filters periodically. Use only soft brushes to clean. They can be sprayed with cleaner and run under hot water. Be sure filter is dry before reinserting into the unit.

DECORATING

All walls have been painted a neutral color that should coordinate with any color scheme. You must obtain prior permission from the Community Manger to do any painting or hanging of wall paper. Bathrooms and kitchens must remain the original color and cannot be painted. Mirror tiles or any adhesive backed stickers are prohibited since it can be costly to remove them and they damage the wall surface. You are responsible for the cost of repairing damage.

Contact Paper is not permitted inside kitchen or bathroom cabinets or walls as the sticky surface attracts pests and can damage the cabinetry. We suggest a reusable, washable shelf liner. Rubbermaid makes a very good, inexpensive liner that comes in a variety of colors and designs.

All windows have been installed with blinds. Any additional window treatments must show white from the outside.

EXTERIOR STORAGE

City Code restricts what residents can store outside on residential property. The city prohibits the outside storage of items such as pails, barrels, lumber, scrap wood, rubble, recyclable materials, vehicle parts, inoperable machinery, equipment parts, brush, pipes, scrap metal, appliances, household furniture, building materials, junk and similar items. You are also not allowed to accumulate any refuse, garbage, litter, yard wastes, animal feces or hazardous wastes on your property.

TOILETS

Any solid matter that you put down the toilet has the potential to cause blockages in both the public sewer and your own private drain. To eliminate this from happening, please use the toilet for the disposal of human waste materials only. In order to prevent blockages, please refrain from putting the following items down your toilet:

Tampons
Sanitary Towels (baby wipes)
Food Waste
Oils or grease
Condoms
Bags
Cellophane wrappings
Paper
Cardboard
Disposable toilet cleaning pads

In the event that your toilet is plugged, turn off the water immediately. Please take a minute to familiarize yourself with the water shut off valve on your toilet. It should be located right behind the toilet and looks like a regular faucet knob. Follow these steps to clear the problem prior to calling the office for maintenance:

Flush only once. It it’s not flushing the first time, don’t flush again. This will cause more water to be pumped into the toilet bowl. If you let the water in the bowl sit for a while, it will usually drain at least a little bit, although it may be very slow.
Make sure the water supply to the toilet is off. This will prevent the bathroom from flooding.
Find a plunger. Insert the plunger into the bowl and press down firmly but slowly the first time making sure you’re covering the hole completely. The plunger should be submerged in water to be effective. It is important to be pushing and pulling with water and not air. Add water to the bowl if necessary. Sharply pull up on the plunger to create suction in the drain then push in to create pressure. It is the suction then the pressure rocking back and forth that disturbs the clog and will gradually cause it to be loosened.
When the water seems to drain okay, turn on the water to the toilet to make sure it’s working properly and to flush any remaining debris into the sewer.

Most drain cleaners available in retail stores for home use are not appropriate for toilets. DO NOT USE DRAIN CLEANERS IN THE TOILETS OR THE DRAINS. CALL THE OFFICE AND PLACE A WORK ORDER IF YOUR TOILET REMAINS CLOGGED AFTER COMPLETING THE AFOREMENTIONED STEPS. If the clog happens after office hours and you have only one toilet, call the on-call caretaker for assistance.

DRAIN CARE

Sluggish drains can be an agitating problem. Taking a few precautions when using sinks or tubs can keep the problem from occurring. Do not pour grease down drains; pour liquid grease from cooking into an empty tin can and set in the refrigerator until solidified; put the can into a plastic bag closing tightly, wrap in newspaper and put into the trash. In sinks or tubs where hair is washed, use a plastic or metal “hair catcher” to catch hair before it gets into the drain. Call the office if you wish to have these installed. To keep drains clear, flush daily with scalding water. To avoid burns from boiling water, hold water container close to drain and pour slowly and directly into the drain. DO NOT USE DRAIN CLEANERS!

Many drain cleaners cause damage to pipes. Please call in a work order to the leasing office for plugged or slow running drains.

SINK CARE

Stainless Steel sinks are very durable and are compatible with any décor.

Clean stainless steel with a household cleanser and a soft towel.
Rinse your sink after each use.
Use a soapy water or ammonia-based cleaner.
Dry sink with a soft towel to avoid water marks and mineral deposits.
Avoid exposing sink to strong chemicals, such as paint removers, oven cleaners, etc. If contact occurs, quickly flush the surface with water.

DON’T

Use your sink as a cutting board or chopping block.
Set hot pans directly into sinks.
Allow liquid soap or other household cleansers to dry on the surface of the sink since most contain chemical additives which will affect the finish.
Use products that contain sulphuric or hydrochloric acid.
Use rubber mats or dishpans in the sink to protect the finish. Leaving rubber mats or dishpans in the sink can lead to surface rust or possible pitting.