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Self Help Maintenance

Self-Help Maintenance Guide

Our self-help maintenance tips cover minor issues you may be able to fix yourself or with help from your RA.

Maintenance Emergencies

Call immediately: 812-464-1845

A maintenance emergency is any issue that could harm a person or cause property damage.

  • If you call and it is not an emergency, you will be directed to submit a Fix My Home work order online instead.

Clogged Drains

  • Use a plunger and push firmly several times.
  • For double sinks:
    • Cover the opposite drain with a cup to create a seal before plunging.

Toilet Issues

  • Overflowing or constantly running toilet:
    • Turn off the water supply behind the tank.
    • For overflowing toilets, call812-464-1845 for emergency maintenance.

Important Rules

  • Do not alter or modify plumbing in any way.

Showers

There are two types of shower diverters:

  • Pull-up knob style
  • Pull-down faucet tip style

Low Water Pressure

  • Clean the aerator (small screen on the faucet tip).

Toilets: What You Can Flush

Only flush:

  • Toilet paper

Do not flush:

  • Paper towels or hand towels
  • Tissues (Kleenex)
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • “Flushable” wipes

Important: Flushable wipes do not break down properly and can cause backups.

Additional Rules

  • Do not install a bidet.

Dehumidifiers (Apartments Only)

Set your unit to:

  • Mode: Pump
  • Humidity: 40%

To activate pump mode:

  • Press and hold the Pump button until it beeps.

Proper Use

  • Always run water before turning on the disposal

To Remove Odors

  1. Turn on water
  2. Turn on disposal
  3. Add:
    • 1 cup ice
    • ½ cup vinegar

Do Not Put These in the Disposal

  • Pasta or rice (dry or cooked)
  • Fibrous foods (celery, asparagus, banana peels, corn husks, rhubarb)
  • Bones
  • Nuts or seeds
  • Potato peels
  • Eggshells
  • Coffee grounds
  • Grease
  • Onion layers
  • Non-food items
  • Aquarium rocks

Misuse may result in repair charges.

If You Notice a Foul Smell

  • Pour a few pitchers of hot water into the nearby drain.
  • If needed, add a small amount of bleach.

Common Issues

  • Living room outlet may require the wall switch to be ON.
  • Bathroom outlet may need a reset:
    • Press the red button (GFCI reset).

Important

  • Do not attempt to reset circuit breakers.
  • Call 812-464-1845.

General Information

  • Apartments and residence halls use different HVAC systems.
  • Thermostats or unit controls vary by building.

Residence Halls

  • Cooling uses a chilled water system.
  • When outdoor temperatures drop below 50°F:
    • Cooling is turned off.

If Your Room Is Too Warm

  • Open a window for fresh air.

If Your Room Is Too Cold

  • Submit a work order.

When Leaving for 24+ Hours

  • Winter: set thermostat to 65°F
  • Summer: set thermostat to 75°F

McDonald West, O’Daniel North & South

  • Units will not cool below 68°F, even if set lower.
  • Keep 18 inches of clearance around units.

Tips

  • Do not run at lowest setting for long periods.
  • This can cause condensation and mold.

Seasonal Note

  • Burning smell or light smoke when heat starts is normal.
  • Should stop within ~15 minutes.

If smoke or sparks continue:

  • Turn off unit
  • Call 812-464-1845 Emergency Maintenance

When Leaving for 24+ Hours

  • Winter: heat ON, set to 68°F
  • Summer: AC ON, set to 74°F

McDonald East

  • Switch thermostat to heat to activate furnace.

Seasonal Note

  • Temporary smell when heat starts is normal.
  • Open windows if needed.

When Leaving for 24+ Hours

  • Winter: heat ON, set to 65°F
  • Summer: AC ON, set to 74°F

O'Daniel North and South and McDonald West Apartments

Keeping your PTAC filter clean helps your unit run efficiently, improves air quality, and can prevent maintenance issues. Cleaning your filter only takes a few minutes. Before you get started cleaning, you should always turn the PTAC unit off. We recommend checking your filter regularly and cleaning it when dust begins to build up. Residents may be charged for PTAC units that do not run properly due to filters not being cleaned.

Watch these instructional videos to learn how to clean your filter based on the PTAC unit type in your apartment.


USI maintenance staff may enter your space for:

  • Repairs
  • Routine maintenance
  • Emergencies
  • Inspections

What to Expect

  • They will knock before entering.
  • All staff will have proper identification.

Connect With
Housing and Residence Life

(812) 468-2000