Once upon a time, having an electronic air conditioner at home was considered a luxury, something only for wealthy people. Since then, a lot has changed. The price of air conditioners has dropped while the need for them has surged.
Climate change has led to cities worldwide breaking their single-day records for hottest temperature recorded during summer. Each year it feels like cities break the records they established in the previous summer.
While it’s extra important for children and seniors, people of all ages need their home to stay at a comfortable temperature consistently, or it could be unsafe.
Landlords Need to Ensure Units Are Cool
The increased frequency and severity of heatwaves have changed perceptions about what landlords’ legal obligations towards tenants should be. Under Ontario law, if a tenant rents a unit with a working air conditioner, the landlord is financial responsible for maintenance and repairs at their own cost.
If you’re a landlord looking to ensure you comply with the law or a person simply looking to stay cool in scorching summer temperatures, you may need emergency air conditioner repair. Look for a locally-owned, small business that offers repairs and installations.
They should take pride in offering quick, convenient services for day-to-day jobs, as well as emergency 24-hour emergency repairs for A/C and HVAC systems.
To confirm what your legal obligations are to renters, look for the most up-to-date information for your locale, as laws may change or differ where you live.
Energy-Efficient Cooling is Important
One of the ironies about air conditioning is that old, inefficient systems contribute to global warming, meaning that the very thing that keeps you comfortable in a heatwave helps to increase the problem. Thankfully, newer machines and systems are more energy efficient, and keep your home a safe, comfortable temperature while shrinking your carbon footprint.
In case you need another reason for energy efficient machines, they will also shrink your hydro bill. Whether you’re motivated to conserve energy for financial or environmental reasons, modern air conditioners are excellent.
Vulnerable People Need A/C Most
Everybody wants to remain at a comfortable temperature, and nobody likes sweating during summer. However, seniors, babies, and sick people can’t stay in overheated spaces for long. Reports indicate that while a majority of Canadians had air conditioning systems in their homes (61%) in 2017, this number decreased drastically for people with less than a high school education, lived alone, or didn’t own their homes.
The medical journal The Lancet found that this divide is even sharper in countries like China, especially among people more than 65yearsold who live in rural areas. In Canada, landlords in regions like British Columbia have warned residents that older buildings don’t have sufficient electrical capacity for each unit to install A/C.
Historically, B.C. had milder temperatures during summer. Climate change has altered that, as August is high time for forest fires as conditions are hotter and dryer.
The days when people went to the movies in summer because they were the only air-conditioned place in town are long over. Consider getting a modern A/C unit to keep your unit, or your tenants’, at a comfortable temperature.
