Moving into a Condo can be equally exciting and daunting at the same time. You have packed, you have booked the elevators and checked off the other 50 things on your to-do list and now it is move-in day! You have arrived, loaded the elevators, and managed to get your belongings into your new home. You start the tedious task of unpacking when you discover a panel door on your wall and think, wait. What does that do? If you stop what you are doing right now (granted that you are inside your unit) and take a good look around, you are going to see a few access panels inside your closets or on the ceiling and, even on the wall. The locations will vary depending on the layout of the Condo that you are living in, but every unit is equipped with each of the following.
It is behind the long and vented, metal panel on the wall. Your fan coil is what supplies heat and cooling to your Condo and is controlled by the thermostat that is also located on the wall. Again, the location of both the Fan coil unit itself as well as the thermostat depends on the layout of the Condo. Here are a couple of quick tips when it comes to operating and maintaining your fan coil.
- Resetting the unit can be done by removing the thermostat from its housing and then putting/pushing it back in. You will see a thumb groove at the top of the thermostat. Gently remove the thermostat by pulling with your thumb on the groove and your index finger bracing the bottom. Once it is out of its housing, the screen will be blank. Do a quick check to see if there are batteries inside. This thermostat is hard-wired and does not require batteries at all. The only thing that the batteries do is keep your schedule settings, should a power outage occur. I usually recommend removing them. When putting the thermostat back into the housing, make sure that your line up the pins and gently push it back into the cradle. The screen should restore, and you can once again, set and control your fan coil unit.
- Something as simple as a dirty filter (located beneath the long, vented metal
panel cover) can stop your heat or cooling from working properly. Air must be able to pass through the filter,
so if the filter is caked with dust, pet hair, or dirt of any kind, it may be
time to replace it. Replacements can be
purchased from the building. If you wish
to extend the life of your filter, it is possible to vacuum them at least twice
before needing to replace them. You will
need a vacuum cleaner with a decent brush attachment to accomplish this task.
- If you need to shut off the fan coil for any reason, this can be done by switching off breaker #10 inside the breaker box. See below for the details on the Breaker Panel.
2. Breaker box panel
It is a medium-small, square metal panel located on a wall inside the unit. Inside are the electrical breakers to the lighting, appliances, and mechanical equipment located throughout the Condo. If a device overloads, it will trip the breaker as a safety feature to prevent electrical fires or further issues.
- A tripped breaker will appear to be set in the middle of the on and off sides of the box. To reset a tripped breaker, push the switch from the middle position to all the way off until it clicks and then move it, all the way on until it clicks. If everything is okay electrically, the breaker will reset and electricity to that area will be restored. If the breaker immediately trips again, either the device associated with the breaker is damaged and needs to be repaired or replaced, or the there is an electrical problem that requires a licensed electrician to investigate and repair.
3. E.R.V (Energy Recovery Ventilator)
The E.R.V unit can be found behind a large metal ceiling hatch panel. This in most cases is in a washroom but some layouts do differ. What does it do? E.R.V’s draw clean, fresh air into a home, through the vents and HVAC system and removes stale air from your Condo.
- It is important to note, that the E.R.V vents at the top (inside, behind the
cover) of your fan coil unit. Sometimes
people have mistaken the sound of the fan and air coming through as the fan coil
continuously running. This is how the
HVAC is set up inside the building to make sure that airflow is constant
inside your Condo.
- You can also use the E.R.V to ventilate washrooms. Inside your washroom(s), you will see a timer on the wall. It has settings of 20 minutes, 40 minutes, and 60 minutes.
4.
Communications Panel
This is where your internet/network provider will hook up their equipment. The communications panel is in a closet, behind a plastic, vented panel cover that is latched and on hinges. It is vented so that the equipment inside gets air and does not overheat.
- It is a good idea not to cover or block the vent slits on the panel door.
- It is also a good idea not to store anything, but the communication equipment provided inside the panel.
5. Supplemental Lint Trap and Dryer Exhaust Panels
There is a small panel above your dryer that accesses the supplemental lint trap that captures excess lint going out of the duct. There is also an access ceiling panel, usually close by the washer/dryer unit or in an adjacent closet, that provides access to the Dryer exhaust fan.
- You can access the supplemental lint trap and use a vacuum cleaner (wand extension) to clean out the trapped lint. Please be careful when you perform this task. The access is up high and in a slightly awkward position. You will need a decent ladder and a vacuum that can reach.
6. In-Suite Water Shut-Off Panel
Finally and perhaps the most important is the in-suite water shut-off location. Under the vanity in the washroom or in some cases, under the kitchen sink, is an easily removed access panel. Behind it are the water shut-off valves for the domestic cold and hot water to the entire Condo.
- In the event of a water emergency, shutting off these valves will stop
domestic hot and cold water at the manifold.
That means that the bathroom sink, toilet (once you flush), and shower
will not get water. The kitchen sink,
dishwasher, and washer will not get water.
- One suggestion I have is for residents to get some kind of container/organizer that can easily be taken out from under the bathroom vanity or kitchen sink, so that if there is an emergency and the water valves need to be shut-off, there is not anything blocking/preventing the opening of the access panel.
It
is a good idea to search and find everything mentioned above. Do not be afraid to open the panels and take
a peek to discover what’s inside. The
more familiar that you are with the equipment inside your Condo, the easier it
will be to maintain and to respond appropriately should an emergency or unusual
situation occur!
Quick Mentions:
- The
local shut-off valves for the Laundry are two toggles on the wall beside the
machine. If you are having an issue with
your Washer or are having it serviced, shut them off just to be safe.
- Under the Kitchen sink, there are two valves and a tap. The valves are the local hot and cold water shutoffs for the kitchen and the tap is the shut-off for the dishwasher.
