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NYC Heating Season Is Here: What You Need to Know

It happens every year: the cold weather arrives, seemingly out of nowhere, and the NYC heating season is upon us. If you own or manage property in New York City, here are four things you need to know to make autumn and winter go more smoothly for you and for your tenants.

Don’t Put Off Doing Routine Maintenance on Your Heating System

Prevent little issues from escalating

You still have a small window of time for getting repairs performed on your heating system before it will become a major inconvenience for you and the people who rent from you. We always advise our clients to keep up with boiler and radiator maintenance so they’re not caught out by the headaches of a malfunction or breakdown.

It’s imperative to schedule any checks or repairs before your boiler is working full time. Not only does this make it easier to book an appointment with your boiler experts at a convenient time for you, but it also helps keep little problems with your boiler from escalating into larger ones. A major boiler issue could mean waiting for parts or repairs, and what might be a minor expense one week could morph into a costly one if you don’t tend to the source right away.

Call Calray Boilers immediately if you notice any of the following signs of boiler trouble:

• No heat and/or hot water
• Hot water becomes less reliable once the heat starts running
• The boiler won’t start
• Tenants complaining of too little or too much heat
• Boiler firing too frequently or not often enough
• Boiler gauges not functioning
• Expansion tank not working properly
• Boiler making strange or excessive noises
• Water leaking around the boiler area
• Corrosion of the boiler tank or adjacent pipes
• Soot buildup near the boiler ignition area
• Boiler flame firing yellow, not blue
• Carbon monoxide alarm triggered in the boiler room or workers experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Schedule Your Annual Boiler Inspection Before It’s Too Late

Don’t miss the city’s deadline

As well as routine maintenance on your boiler, you may need to schedule a formal inspection with the city, as required by law. There are a few boiler types that are exempted from this, including:

• Boilers in individual dwelling units
• Boilers heating five-family properties or smaller
• Boilers used for domestic hot water that are rated at less than 350,000 BTUs
• Boilers that heat only residential units in mixed-use buildings
• Boilers rated at a heat input of less than 100,000 BTUs
• Boilers owned by the United Nations, the Port Authority, foreign consulates, or state or federal government agencies
• New boilers or boilers with more than 50 percent of the components replaced, if you have already had a first test inspection in 2020

If your boiler does not fall into one of the categories above, and if you haven’t yet had your annual inspection, reach out to a master plumber like our associates at Sanitary Plumbing. As master plumbers, they can perform your inspection and file the proper paperwork with the Department of Buildings to help you avoid violations and hefty penalty fees.

Talk to Tenants About Thermostats and Radiators

Get on the same page

Before winter is in full swing, it’s smart to talk to your tenants about your expectations regarding thermostats, radiators, and other elements of your heating system. This way, you can all be on the same page and avoid miscommunication.

For example, you may not want tenants adjusting their radiator valves or turning their thermostats above a certain temperature. You may also want them to know it’s okay to contact you if their unit is too hot or too cold, or if they hear their radiator clanging and banging, also known as a water hammer.

We’re Here for Emergency Service

Call Calray Boilers when you need help

We know that in spite of the best care, your boiler can sometimes fail, especially if it’s nearing the end of its lifetime. In addition to providing routine boiler maintenance, Calray Boilers also offers emergency service for those unexpected problems that always seem to crop up at the worst possible time.

You can use our simple online form to schedule an appointment, but if you need to reach a specialist urgently, phone us at 212-722-5506. Don’t let the NYC heating season become a nightmare for you. Get in touch today.