Keeping cool at home can become a challenge at least on some days and in some parts of Ontario. Excessive heat is not just a matter of comfort but can be a danger to people's health and even their lives.Here are some of the legal issues that tenants can face when trying to stay cool.If the apartment has air conditioning Although landlords everywhere in Ontario must provide working heating equipment, there are normally no such rules about cooling. Usually a tenant is entitled to air conditioning only if their rental agreement includes it.This doesn't always mean it has to be written into the agreement. The air conditioner is probably part of what the tenant is paying for if: If the landlord provides air conditioning equipment, they're responsible for repairing or replacing it if it isn't working properly. Some apartments in houses or in newer buildings have central air conditioning systems controlled by the landlord. In this case, there may be local rules about when the landlord must turn on the system and how effective it has to be.

For example, Toronto's property standards bylaw says that an air conditioning system that the landlord controls must: If a tenant rented a place with no air conditioning, they can agree to a rent increase in exchange for the landlord adding an air conditioner. how to buy window ac unitsThis agreement must follow certain rules, including that the amount of the rent increase cannot be more than the cost to the landlord.heating and cooling window units pricesThe government of Canada website has a tool for estimating the cost.ac power supply replacement In rental units that don't come with air conditioning, tenants often want to buy and install their own air conditioners. These usually fit in a window or are portable units with a hose that vents the warm air out a window.

Unless the rental agreement says they can't, most tenants have the right to use their own air conditioner, as long as they: If electricity is already included in the rent, it's usually illegal for the landlord to charge for "extra" electricity used by a tenant's air conditioner.But the landlord may be allowed to charge extra if the rental agreement makes it clear that electricity for an air conditioner is not included.Most landlords are limited to raising the rent once per year by no more than the provincial rent guideline. The guideline for 2015 is 1.6% and for 2016 it will be 2%.Landlords who want a bigger rent increase to cover higher electricity costs can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board. Other ways to reduce indoor heat include: Tenants may be able to take some of these steps themselves. But some steps are up to the landlord.Tenants should get legal advice if their homes are too hot for comfort and health, and their landlord will not co-operate or take action.

For legal help or advice, tenants can contact their local community legal clinic. 195 posts, read 485,411 times 28,459 posts, read 44,439,670 times Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81 According to instructions, "Avoid fire hazard or electric shock. Do not use an extension cord or an adaptor plug." Have you actually ever had your AC power supply cord connected to an extension cord? If so, ever had any problems? 29,041 posts, read 27,163,992 times Originally Posted by PacificWest Standard warning to prevent lawsuits, too many people hooking them up to little extension cords that might be OK for a single light. You need a heavy duty extension cord. 107,588 posts, read 39,577,952 times 14,718 posts, read 15,190,421 times Big hefty heavy duty extension cords, but extension cords nonetheless. This is the easier explanation of #6. Problem is most people don't use heavyduty extension cords. Which in turn cause the extension cord to heat up then melt and most likely start a fire even before the breaker finally pops.

5,058 posts, read 10,689,021 times Yes, the extension cord I use is about 2 feet long and about a half inch in diameter, made expressly for window AC units; I don't know the gauge. I've never had any problems. My other window units are plugged into the wall. At some point soon, though, I'll be having an outlet installed directly under the window for the AC. The "temporary" fix is now seven years old, and I imagine previous owners did the same. 224 posts, read 584,752 times Quick Tip: Buy and Install a Room Air Conditioner Make your measurements and energy calculations before you buy. What to Look for Room air conditioners are rated by the number of BTUs, or British thermal units, of heat that they can remove per hour. Contrary to what you might think, it doesn’t make sense to run out and buy the most powerful unit you can find. You could wind up spending much more than you need to. Upgrading to the highest efficiency you can afford, however, is a good investment.

In very hot climates you need an efficiency rating of 10, but 9 will do in milder climates. To calculate the number of BTUs you need, measure the room you’re cooling and multiply by 35. A room that is 12 x 12, or 144 square feet, for instance, needs a unit with a capacity of around 5,000 BTUs to keep it cool. If you’ve got a shady window to install the unit, you can lower that number by 10 percent. For a sunny window, add 10 percent. If it’s in the kitchen, add 4,000 BTUs. And if it’s a room used by more than two people during cooling hours, add 600 BTUs per person. Plugging in Your Air Conditioner Most room air conditioners can be plugged into a standard 110V 15- or 20-amp circuit as long as it’s not shared with any other major appliance. Larger 7.5-amp units need their own dedicated circuit. Make sure to measure the window you’re installing in before you buy. While it should come with expandable filler panels, you’ll need weather stripping and tape to seal the unit to the window and keep heat from leaking in.