PHOENIX - It's already getting too hot outside to have a broken ac unit.But just because your air stops blowing doesn't mean you need to spend cash… you just need to know what to look for. Mike Donley, with Donley Service Center, took us around a viewer’s home to show us the simple things to look for before you spend cash on a repair call.First he says check your thermostat for batteries. It can be as simple as that. He says a good rule of thumb is to replace the batteries every spring.Speaking of the thermostat, Mike says set it and forget it.  You won’t conserve energy by constantly changing it so Mike says set it at the highest comfortable level and leave it.And try to keep lamps, TVs and other appliances away from the thermostat.  The thermostat can pick up the heat from those appliances and that will cause your AC unit to run more than it needs.Next, check your filters. They should be changed at least once per month and even though many of us already know this, we sometimes forget.

Forgetting is costing you money because Mike says a slightly dirty filter can affect your utility bill five to 10 percent..  He adds that you’ll need to change it more in the summer because of the dry, dusty climate.Also check your breaker.  If it has been tripped, you should call a repair company.And even though the national standard for A/C units is to last 15 to 20 years, Mike says that’s not the case in Arizona.  He says we generally experience a shorter life span – closer to 12 – 15 years.  Proper maintenance will help make the unit last longer though.So the next time your A/C seems to be down, go through these simple checks to make sure you aren't wasting your cash. It could save you from having to spend money on a service call.33-1364. Wrongful failure to supply heat, air conditioning, cooling, water, hot water or essential A. If contrary to the rental agreement or section 33-1324 the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply running water, gas or electrical service, or both if

applicable, and reasonable amounts of hot water or heat, air-conditioning or cooling, where such units are installed and offered, or essential services, the tenant may give reasonable notice to the landlord specifying the breach and may do one of the following: 1. Procure reasonable amounts of hot water, running water, heat and essential services during the period of the landlord's noncompliance and deduct their actual reasonable cost from the rent. If the landlord has failed to provide any of the utility services specified in this section due to nonpayment of the landlord's utility bill for the premises, and if there is no separate utility meter for each tenant in the premises such that the tenant could avoid a utility shutoff by arranging to have services transferred to the tenant's name, the tenant may either individually or collectively with other tenants arrange with the utility company to pay the utility bill after written notice to the landlord of the tenant's intent to do so.

With the utility company's approval the tenant or tenants may pay the landlord's delinquent utility bill and deduct from any rent owed to the landlord the actual cost of the payment the tenant made toThe tenant or tenants may continue to make such payments to the utility company until the landlord has provided adequate assurances to the tenant that the above utility services will be maintained.window air conditioner no filter 2. Recover damages based upon the diminution in the fair rental value of thehome heating cooling units 3. Procure reasonable substitute housing during the period of the landlord'sair conditioning package units sale noncompliance, in which case the tenant is excused from paying rent for the period of the

In the event the periodic cost of such substitute housing exceeds the amount of the periodic rent, upon delivery by tenant of proof of payment for such substitute housing, tenant may recover from landlord such excess costs up to an amount not to exceed twenty-five per cent of the periodic rent which has been excused pursuant to this paragraph. B. A landlord shall provide all utilities and services specified in the lease C. A landlord shall not terminate utility services as specified in subsection A of this section which are provided to the tenant as part of the rental agreement, except as necessary to make needed repairs or as provided in section 33-1368. execution of the rental agreement, a landlord may not transfer the responsibility for payment of such utility services to the tenant without the tenant's written consent. D. If a landlord is in violation of subsection C of this section, the tenant may recover damages, costs and reasonable attorneys fees and obtain injunctive

Nothing in this section shall preclude a tenant's right to recover damages as specified in section 33-1367. E. A lease agreement shall not contain any terms contrary to this section. F. In addition to the remedy provided in paragraph 3 of subsection A of this section, in the event the landlord's noncompliance is deliberate, the tenant may recover the actual and reasonable cost or fair and reasonable value of the substitute housing not in excess of an amount equal to the periodic rent. G. If the tenant proceeds under this section, he may not proceed under section 33-1361 or section 33-1363 as to that breach, except as to damages which occur prior to the tenant proceeding under subsection A or B of this section. H. The rights under this section do not arise until the tenant has given notice to the landlord and such rights do not include the right to repair. Such rights do not arise if the condition was caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the