While many would think it common sense never to block an HVAC system’s outdoor fans, one woman’s neighbors in Ohio allegedly felt otherwise. Reddit user Annashleta1 explained that she wasn’t one to judge when her neighbors were hanging their clothes on the apartment’s property-line fence. However, when they started using her A/C unit as a clothes-drying rack and blocking its airflow, she had to put her foot down.
“I try to have sympathy in this economy, which is why I agree it’s trashy, but you gotta do what you gotta do,” Annashleta1 sighed. “Except blocking airflow to your neighbor’s AC unit when it’s 95+ outside.” It goes without saying that blocking a unit’s fans can deal permanent damage to the cooling system, causing it to work less efficiently. It didn’t take much for thousands of other Redditors to perceive this Ohio tenant’s situation as not ideal.
“I would be losing my mind if I saw someone doing this. How to reduce the ACs lifepsan by about 100% in one easy picture,” exclaimed a commenter. “This is a legitimate hazard. I would not want to lose my AC or start a house fire in this weather,” agreed a second. “This is so trashy,” remarked a third.
Many people recommended that Annashleta1 report her neighbors, with some even saying that she should throw away their clothes to ‘teach them a lesson.’ A few questioned why she didn’t confront them about what they were doing, considering the very serious risks.
“They don’t seem to speak English, so I’m out of luck there,” Annashleta1 wrote in response. “But I shouldn’t have to tell a fully grown person not to use things that aren’t theirs,” she groaned. She allegedly ended up moving the clothes off the fans for her A/C’s sake but regretted she didn’t leave a note for the neighbors.
The Ohio Tenant Says Reporting the Neighbors Has Resolved the Issue for Now
Fortunately, the problem seems to have been resolved for now with Annashleta1’s update to her post. “I have reported them, and the clothes are gone. If it happens again, another report and clothes will be taken to the office,” she wrote. As to why they put her at risk in the first place, OP didn’t provide an answer. Though one commenter suggested a possibility: “They don’t speak English, maybe they come from a place that doesn’t have HVAC systems like this?”
