PHOENIX — It's a sound you don't necessarily think about on a day-to-day basis, but when it stops you notice it.
It's the noise your air conditioning unit makes when it's cooling down your house or apartment. For those living at the Buenas on 32nd apartment complex in Phoenix, it's a sound they haven't heard for months.
"It was very, very hot," said Sterling Blackwell.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Durante varios meses, los inquilinos de un complejo de departamentos del valle han estado viviendo sin aire acondicionado
He's lived in the complex for two years now and said his AC system was one of more than a hundred that went down during Arizona's record-breaking summer.
The situation led to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes getting involved and filing a lawsuit against the complex and its parent company, Buenas Communities LLC for violating state and city laws. According to Phoenix City Code, apartments with air conditioning systems can't get hotter than 82 degrees, which was happening to several, according to the Attorney General's Office.
"No one wants anybody to get sick, no one wants anybody to die,” Judge Frank Moskowitz said on Friday.
It was during that court hearing held between the landlords and state prosecutors that Judge Moskowitz ordered Buenas Communities LLC to pay for alternate living accommodations for tenants whose air conditioning systems couldn't get below 82 degrees. The judge also ordered the prosecutors and defense to return to the apartments and test the temperature in five separate units.
Blackwell lives in one of the five units tested and said attorneys have been running tests a couple of times a day.
"There's been a steady presence," Blackwell said.
The official results from attorneys have not been released at this time.
12News used an infrared thermometer on Monday to see the situation. According to the thermometer, Blackwell's apartment hovered between 73 and 74 degrees, well below city code.
"There's definite movements in the right direction," he said.
Other apartments that were named in court were also tested including one belonging to a resident who goes by Eddie. He did not want to provide his last name, but Eddie said the air conditioning in his unit just started working Sunday after being out for close to 70 days.
According to the thermometer, Eddie's apartment was about 75 degrees.
"I hope it just stays like this," Eddie said.
Two other apartments were also tested and both were less than 78 degrees. The tenants did not want to be interviewed.
12News attempted to speak with the tenant in the fifth apartment but no one answered the door.
While it appears the problem has been fixed for these units, Edward Thompson said his still isn't working properly.
"Since the AC went down, I find other places to hang out," Thompson said.
When his apartment temperature was measured, it came out to 82.5 degrees, just over what City code allows.
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