Emergency Maintenance and Troubleshooting

If flooding is coming from a plumbing fixture, turn it off at the shutoff and submit a maintenance request online.

If flooding is minimal and you have it under control, submit a maintenance request online. Use a squeegee or broom to push it down the sump pump or floor drain, if applicable.

If you have flooding that you can’t control, you may call for emergency help.

If you see sewage backing up in your tub, sink, or basement, please call for emergency help. Keep usage to a minimum (try not to flush, etc)

Change the batteries in your thermostat. Change your furnace filter, if applicable. If you have a switch, turn your furnace or boiler off and back on again. Check the breaker box.

If none of this works and it’s below 50-55 degrees outside, you may call for emergency help.

If it’s not so cold outside, bundle up and submit a maintenance request online.

No air conditioning is usually not an emergency. Submit a maintenance request online.

If your air conditioner goes out and it’s above 90 degrees you can call for emergency maintenance. Keep in mind that this is a minor emergency and you can use fans in the meantime.

If you suspect a frozen pipe, open cabinet doors or set a space heater by the pipe. If you’re not able to melt it, call for emergency maintenance.

An interior broken lock is not an emergency (unless someone is stuck on the other side). Submit a maintenance request online.

With an exterior lock, do your best to secure it in another way and submit a maintenance request online.

If you have an exterior door that you’re unable to secure, you may call for emergency help.

If you have no hot water, it is usually not an emergency. Submit a maintenance request online.

Boil water to use for bathing in the short term.

Sometimes this can be considered emergency. If it’s a long holiday weekend, if it’s winter, and/or if your water heater is leaking, call for emergency help.

If you are able to control the leak by turning off the shutoff, using towels, or placing a bucket under it, simply submit a maintenance request online.

For a leak you’re unable to control, turn off the shutoff (if applicable) and call for emergency maintenance.

Use a plunger. Let it sit for an hour and try flushing again.

If this is your only toilet, you may call for emergency help.

If you have other toilets, submit a maintenance request online.

Try cleaning out the trap and running a plastic snake down the drain. Use a homemade remedy like baking soda and vinegar, or try Drano.

If you still can’t clear the drain, submit a maintenance request online.

Keep in mind that this is often a result of something you or your household put down the drain, and that you may be responsible for the cost if the plumber finds hair, washcloth, grease, feminine hygiene products, wet wipes, or other objects in the drain.

If there is no structural damage, no threat to power lines, and you can get in and out of your driveway, simply submit a maintenance request online.

If there is threat to power lines, call the electric company or 9-1-1.

If you can’t get out of your driveway, or if there is extensive damage to the building, you may call for emergency maintenance. Please help as you’re able (a tarp, boarding up a window, etc)

Noisy neighbors, neighbors who are smoking, neighbors who parked in your spot or in some other way are disturbing you are not an emergency. If they are Zinnia Homes tenants, contact the office with a complaint. If your physical safety is threatened call the nonemergency line for your municipality.

Check out our appliance maintenance page. If you’re unable to take care of the issue yourself, submit a maintenance request online. Use the laundromat, a cooler with ice, or a portable electric burner in the short term.

A broken appliance is not an emergency.

You’re in luck! You can do this yourself (and are responsible to according to your lease).

However, if the lightbulb is in a common area or very hard to get to, simply submit a maintenance request online.

A LOCKOUT IS NOT AN EMERGENCY.

If maintenance is available, we can help with a lockout for a lockout fee.

Please call a locksmith if maintenance is not available.

Take this opportunity right now to hide a key in a safe place, and notify maintenance right away if a keypad lock is beeping for battery replacement.

Check to make sure you’ve paid your light bill.

Try to figure out if the power outage is just in one circuit in your home, or if it’s building-wide.

Check your breaker box for tripped breakers. Reset your GFCI outlets.

Check with your electric company for outages.

Wait a few minutes to an hour to see if it comes back on.

If none of this works, submit a maintenance request online.

A burned outlet is almost always because you’ve overloaded it. Unplug everything connected to that circuit and turn off the breaker. Submit a maintenance request online.

If you see mold in your unit, YOU have the first responsibility to clean it. Pick up a mold cleaner and try to get rid of it yourself. Open a window and/or use your exhaust fans when bathing and cooking.

A wall or room full of mold is another story. While not a maintenance emergency, please submit a maintenance request online.

Most of the time, pests are not an emergency. Put up mouse or ant traps, clean up spills and crumbs, submit a maintenance request online. DO NOT use a bug bomb for pest control.

A bird or other animal stuck in a vent could be an emergency. For most other things, submit a maintenance request and someone will help you ASAP.

If you hear chirping, change the battery. This is YOUR responsibility as a tenant.

If this doesn’t work, submit a maintenance request online.

If the smoke detector goes off with no fire and you’re not cooking or smoking (STOP SMOKING!), submit a maintenance request and we’ll take care of it ASAP.