Is my landlord lying to me about our air conditioning?
A conversation with my landlord:
Initially, my landlord said that my apartment wasn't cooling because it took time for the water temperature to go down (in the Master Chiller) - and I was fine with that.
"You need to understand that the Master Chiller system is not like a conventional A/C System and when it turns on it automatically shoots up 55 degree temperatures."
Then, he said that my apartment wasn't cooling because one compressor was inoperable, but indicated that when it was fixed next week there would be more air, and colder air!
"Currently, our chiller system has two compressors and one is down as we are waiting for a part. That one should be up in running in the next week and the system should be pushing out more air at cooler temperatures."
I was fine with this, and willing to wait patiently until the second compressor was repaired (as he indicated would happen).
But today the landlord's "air conditioning specialist" told me that management just barely received a bid on that repair - and both the on site manager and the "AC specialist" told me that the second compressor won't even be turned on until it's "110". When I asked the landlord about this he then admitted that the second compressor won't even be used (or turned on) unless the temperature reaches 100 degrees!
"The second compressor is inoperable and yes, Dan is correct, it won't turn on until the temps reach 100. Regardless, if the second compressor is on, it won't make any difference as the compressor is what chills the water in the lines to 42 degrees."
Most importantly, he essentially said that the current unit (Master Chiller) is simply insufficient to cool all 39 units - no matter what!
"It has to chill hundreds of gallons of water and has to push ALL of that chilled water to 39 units in this complex, and lets say everybody wants the A/C on at one time, well, just like anything else--the more people trying to use, the less there is to go around. It's just not feasible for any Master Chiller System to do, no matter how old or new, no matter if the duct work has holes or not, no matter if its dirty or clean."
I can't help but think that this will be a serious problem when the temperatures are in the 80s, 90s, and 100s - when it's pretty much guaranteed that every tenant will want (and rightfully so) to use air conditioning.
I just don't see the purpose in having a cooling unit or system for a 39-unit apartment complex that is not capable of cooling a 39-unit apartment complex, particularly in Arizona.
The bottom line is that the chiller is not cooling my apartment. I woke up this morning in a pool of sweat, and discovered that it was cooler outside than inside (after having the AC on all night) - so turned the AC off and opened the windows instead.
The landlord's "air conditioning specialist" came by today at 10am (and he had no tools with him - zero - and looked like a homeless person), turned my fan on high, waved his hand in front of the vent, and told me that everything was working fine!
It is 78 degrees in my apartment right now. It's 83 outside. My AC has been on high for 7 hours, with all the lights off, blinds closed, and without using any heat producing appliances. And it's still 78 degrees INSIDE.
If the chiller can't cool my lower level apartment when the outside temperature is in the low 80s, what is going to happen when the temperature reaches the high 80s, or 90s, or 100s?
This is Phoenix! It's hot here! From May through October, it's going to be 90 degrees or above during the day - and in the months of June, July, August, and September, it's going to be over 100 degrees during the day!