Tips to Best Operate Your Apartment's AC Unit in the Summer

Save this summer by using our tips to best manage your AC.

As summer heats up quick, we’ve got you covered on how to lower your electric bill. Here are our tips to help you stay cool this summer, while remaining cost efficient.

1. Turn AC on Early in the Day

ACs should be turned on early in the day before the outside temperature starts to rise and the apartment starts to heat. Turning it on when you return home will take several hours to reach a comfortable temperature.

2. Check/Clean Filter

Make sure AC filter is clean. Filters can typically be removed and wiped off with a damp rag or warm, soapy water. This will help air move more easily through your unit, keep your air cleaner, as well as help your AC unit not have to work as hard.

3. Close Blinds

Close blinds during the day, especially for South and West facing windows. This will reduce the heat that enters the apartment.

4. Check Vent Settings

Some ACs have an open/closed vent setting. The “closed” position will cool air from inside the apartment, the “open” position will pull hot air inside and try to cool it. The “closed” position will be optimal on days where it is hotter outside than inside.

5. Use Medium-High Setting

If you run your AC at too high of a setting, it will likely freeze up and stop running. Medium-High will be optimal.

6. Use a Fan

A box or oscillating fan helps circulate cool air throughout the apartment, and takes some of the heavy lifting off the AC.

7. Close Doors

Close the doors to rooms that do not need to be cooled down (such as a closet, storage room, bathroom, etc.) The smaller the space, the easier and quicker the apartment will cool down.

Please note that ACs are only designed to cool the air 15-20 degrees from the outside temperature. If it is 95 degrees outside, your apartment will likely not get down to 60 degrees. As long as cold air blows out of the AC vents, your AC is likely working properly.

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Meet Sydney Schultz: Turning Experience Into Opportunity

By - - • February 4, 2026

For Sydney Schultz, no two days in property management ever look the same. That’s exactly how she likes it. “Every day is different. It’s full of surprises,” she says. “The best part is the direct contact with residents. That’s how you build relationships and build real community.” Sydney joined Collective in May 2021 and has steadily grown within the company through hands-on experience, curiosity, and a commitment to learning. Sydney’s path to property management began at NDSU, where she studied management communication with a minor in tourism and hospitality. While still a student, she launched her career in the industry as a community assistant in student housing at The Bridges. That early role sharpened her interpersonal communication skills and confirmed she thrives in fast-moving, people-centered environments. Since August 2025, Sydney has helped co-manage Dakota Park Apartments in South Fargo. As one of the largest communities in the portfolio, communication and organization are everything. “This position fits how I like to operate,” she says. “I’m detail-oriented and organized. I care about standards and doing things the right way. Every experience is an opportunity to learn something.” Sydney’s mindset proved to be exactly what was needed during a recent two-week re-keying project at Dakota Park . With 419 units, common areas, garages, and entrances, the project was a massive logistical effort that required tight coordination with residents and vendors. “I was seeing keys in my dreams,” she laughs. “But seeing everything come together was incredibly rewarding.” Even on mornings that start with water leaks, sewer gas concerns, or unexpected maintenance issues, Sydney keeps her focus on what matters most: residents. She’s especially proud of creating personalized move-in gifts that help residents feel at home from day one. Small details, she says, make a big difference. “I genuinely care about resident retention. I want people to love where they live and stay with us as long as possible.” Sydney believes great teams are what make difficult days manageable. “A strong team is vital in this job. I think of myself as a mentor more than a manager. When people support each other, we’re able to create better experiences for residents.” That team-first mindset is one reason she’s stepping into her next chapter at Collective as an Operations Support Specialist. Sydney sees the transition as another opportunity to grow. “I’m excited to keep learning,” she says. “Especially working with our other regions and pursuing certifications in Montana and South Dakota. I want to become fully certified in property management.” Outside of work, travel is Sydney’s reset button. She and her husband, Austin, make it a point to take an annual trip together, often returning to places that shaped her early life growing up in the Mountain West. Her favorite trips include spots like Glacier National Park and Yellowstone. Yellowstone is particularly special as it’s where her husband proposed. In the end, the culture is what keeps her here at Collective. “A good team makes even a bad day here better than a good day anywhere else.”