Things You Should Know About Your Apartment

As a renter, it can be easy to overlook certain things about your apartment because you are not a homeowner. However, knowing how to handle even minor home emergencies can reduce stress and protect your belongings in case of a leak or kitchen fire. Keep reading to find out a few essential things you should know about your Mountain View apartment for improved safety and comfort at home.

Where to Shut Off Your Water

Leaks and clogs can occur even in new construction due to a variety of reasons. Knowing where and how to shut off the water to a problematic faucet or appliance will prevent water damage from affecting your apartment or your belongings. Most appliances, such as sinks and toilets, have individual water shutoff valves located in the wall behind and beneath them. Washing machines often have shutoff valves higher up in the wall behind the appliance, where you can reach the valve without moving the washer itself. Taking the time now to check behind your appliances and find the shutoff valves will tell you exactly where to go in the event of a plumbing issue.

How to Put Out a Fire

Ideally, you will never have a fire in your apartment. However, small cooking fires are more common than you might think; acting quickly can prevent any damage from occurring at all. Ask your apartment community manager whether there are individual fire extinguishers in each apartment (and if so, where they are located) or whether there are communal extinguishers in public locations. Even if your apartment is equipped with its own fire extinguisher, purchasing more on your own is never a bad idea. Keeping an extinguisher on hand in your kitchen will ensure fires are brought under control quickly and safely. If you don’t have an extinguisher, you can also put out a grease fire using baking soda.

Who to Call for Repairs

One of the biggest perks of renting an apartment is the fact that you don’t need to make or arrange for repairs on your own. However, it’s still important to know who to call in case of an issue, such as a major power outage, plumbing leak, or any other situation you can’t handle. Rather than relying on the ability to call your apartment community’s office, ask your property manager for their dedicated maintenance number and program it into your phone for safekeeping. It’s also important to ask if this number will be answered at any time or only during business hours, as some communities feature a different after-hours maintenance number. Knowing who to call in case of a problem in the middle of the night can offer significant peace of mind and minimize stress during any situation.

Your apartment at Carmel the Village features top-of-the-line appliances, finishes, and amenities. We invite you take a look through our website and discover all of the benefits you can enjoy when you rent a studio, one-, or two-bedroom apartment with us in Mountain View. Don’t forget to click through our gallery or explore our local neighborhood online as well!