In addition to using more energy, if your dryer is taking twice as long to dry clothes, it’s being used twice as much, essentially cutting its life span in half. It will cost you much less in the long run to hire a professional to inspect and clean your vents once a year and avoid these issues altogether.
Prevent animals from nesting - When the lint buildup in your dryer vent becomes too large, the duct hood flap doesn’t open and close properly. If this flap isn’t closing correctly, it could be an invitation for birds and small rodents to make your vent their new home. What better place for these creatures to hide during a cold winter than a nice, warm dryer vent? In addition to keeping your vents clean, investing in a ventilation cap or dryer vent guard will help prevent these animals from nesting and other debris from collecting in your vent while still allowing lint to escape.
After having your dryer vents professionally cleaned, try to keep the buildup to a minimum between yearly cleanings. Always clean the lint filter between loads of laundry, and periodically use a small vacuum to carefully clean out the inside of the dryer, as well as the lint trap. Heavy bedding in particular can be strenuous on your dryer, so consider air drying comforters and heavy blankets. You should also avoid running your dryer for several cycles in a row. Giving your dryer a break in between cycles will allow your dryer to cool down and completely ventilate the hot, humid air from the previous cycle.
What are the Community Managers Roles & Responsibilities?
Managers work irregular hours – Managers attend meetings in the evenings and on weekends, complete on-site association visits, have scheduled meetings to attend, and regularly complete training. As a result, managers are on-the-go and do not maintain fixed office hours. Managers will typically respond to emails and phone calls within two full business days. If a manager is on scheduled leave or out of the office for more than a day, they will update their voicemail and email automatic responses, unless they are sick.
Managers are advisors – It is important to understand an association is governed by a Board of Directors typically comprised of elected homeowners. While managers work closely with the Board, he or she is only an advisor, not a member of the Board, and cannot set Board policy. Managers are not engineers, attorneys, land surveyors, or accountants. The Board may retain these services, if needed. We encourage you to attend the association meetings to stay informed.
Appointments with a manager – If you wish to speak with a manager in person, an appointment is required. Because managers are on-the-go and do not maintain fixed office hours, please email [email protected] to schedule an appointment at your nearest office with your manager. This will also allow the manager to have pertinent information available for the meeting and invite Board members to participate.
Solving your issue – We are here to help you! Managers are bound by laws, the association’s governing documents, and the Board. If the issue is not a violation of rules or is not in the scope of the manager’s authority from the Board, the manager may not be able to take any action. Managers may refer you to the appropriate resource for your issue.
Social media and websites – Managers do not moderate or control social media. Some managers may use social media or observe social media sites but are not required to do so by the Board. Some Boards or individuals have created social media pages or websites on their own that are outside the control of the manager.
Obtaining information – The online secure Portal is your best tool for checking your balance, making payments, viewing meeting minutes, viewing governing documents, and much more. We encourage you to do so by going to www.InfoHOA.com.
Emergencies – Matters that are not a risk of imminent bodily harm or significant property damage are dealt with during normal business hours. To report an emergency that does pose a risk of imminent bodily harm or significant property damage, after calling 911, if applicable, call 410-939-1500 and follow the prompts for an emergency if it is after normal business hours.
Criminal concerns or suspicious activity – For all criminal matters or suspicious activity, please immediately call 911 or your local police agency before contacting our office or posting on social media.
Conflicts – Managers are trained to deal with conflict but will not get involved in quarrels between neighbors.
Feedback to the Board of Directors - We encourage you to send a letter or email to the Board, in care of the manager, for all questions and concerns about Board policy. We also strongly encourage you to attend meetings and share your thoughts in a polite manner directly to the Board. Profanity, threats, and providing false information will not be tolerated.
Contractors and vendors – Managers are responsible for monitoring contractors and vendor performance, but not for on-site supervision. If you have a concern about a contractor, we encourage you to send a letter or email to the manager who may notify the Board. The Board will then decide how to proceed under the terms of the contract. Please do not interfere with any contractor performing work in the community.
Repairs to private property – Neither managers nor the association are responsible for repairs, or coordinating repairs, to a homeowner’s personal property with very limited exceptions for condominiums.
Accounts in collections – Because of strict collection laws, once an account is turned over to the association’s attorney for the collections process, neither the manager nor Board can communicate with anyone about the account. You must work through the associations collection’s attorney.