NYC Turns On The Heat…Well No, Not Yet

Now that the monsoon rains have dissipated, our shoes dried and the skies cleared, the autumn chill seems to be more apparent. Just last night, Gothamist was awakened by a strange but familiar noise – the gentle clang of the year’s first radiator heat.

This made us wonder: When does the heat have to be turned on? New York City Heating Season runs from October 1 through May 31, to tenants in multiple dwellings. Pursuant to NYC Multiple Dwelling Law § 79, if the outdoor temperature falls below 55 degrees Fahrenheit between 6 A.M. and 10 P.M., each apartment must be heated to a temperature of at least 68 degrees. Between 10 P.M. and 6 A.M, if the outdoor temperature falls below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, each apartment must be heated to a temperature of at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. While the National Weather Service doesn’t predict that we’ll see these temperature minimums in the next week, generous landlords, can decide to provide heat to their tenants. Given the high energy prices these days, it’s safe to assume that many of New York’s deed holders won’t be rushing in to heat their buildings.

The answers to this and many tenant-related questions (such as “I see drugs being sold in my building. What can I do?”) can be found on the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development’s website.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Calvin Wong in News on October 18, 2005 5:45 PM

Comments [rss]

dave

Great scott, am I glad to see this post. I'm freezing. Yes, every job I've had it's been too hot and they should drop the thermostat below the boiling point of mercury, but I have a thermostat in my apartment--a non-working one at the moment.

Plus, you know those slots underneath or next to the window where an air conditioner usually sits? That's empty. Just a thin board. No insulation.

Who else needs to make a quickie run to the store for more blankets?

ellen

Regarding the post:

" I recommend highly just turning the oven on and opening the oven door for free heat. Not the world's safest or most ethical thing, but it was a battle I was tired of fighting."

PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS! Being dead is worse than being cold. It happens every year, when there's a cold snap people die doing this.

Nicole F

My landlord lives in a house so despite the fact that his tenants are cold, I bet he's nice and warm! My landlord is very cheap so I don't think he even purchased oil for the boiler.He says the boiler is on a set timer, but I feel he needs to reset it. I sleep in sweats at night and now I have to use my heater which will only raise my electricity bill! He needs to get with the program.

Nicole F

My landlord lives in a house so despite the fact that his tenants are cold, I bet he's nice and warm! My landlord is very cheap so I don't think he even purchased oil for the boiler.He says the boiler is on a set timer, but I feel he needs to reset it. I sleep in sweats at night and now I have to use my heater which will only raise my electricity bill! He needs to get with the program.

Nicole F

My landlord lives in a house so despite the fact that his tenants are cold, I bet he's nice and warm! My landlord is very cheap so I don't think he even purchased oil for the boiler.He says the boiler is on a set timer, but I feel he needs to reset it. I sleep in sweats at night and now I have to use my heater which will only raise my electricity bill! He needs to get with the program.

Nicole F

My landlord lives in a house so despite the fact that his tenants are cold, I bet he's nice and warm! My landlord is very cheap so I don't think he even purchased oil for the boiler.He says the boiler is on a set timer, but I feel he needs to reset it. I sleep in sweats at night and now I have to use my heater which will only raise my electricity bill! He needs to get with the program.

Turn it down

I had to keep my windows open all winter long, despite turning off all the radiators in my apt. The heat from the lower floors (I am the top unit) was too much to bear. Maybe it was my poor upbringing, where I had a room with a broken radiator and learned to pile on blankets- but I can't handle it being too hot inside, a sweater is cheaper and better for your skin.

Samantha T

My landlords are wonderful otherwise, but follow that law to the letter, despite my mentioning repeatedly that I'm often pretty cold at night. I've lived in a bunch of NYC apartments, but never one this cold - an extra sweater just didn't cut it. I pay for the electricity, but they pay for the gas. If you are in an identical situation, I recommend highly just turning the oven on and opening the oven door for free heat. Not the world's safest or most ethical thing, but it was a battle I was tired of fighting.

Dorfie

My landlord is one of those who won't turn the heat on yet. Until the outside temperature drops below 40 degrees at night, I'm fully bundled up and using 2 comforters. I'm not any warmer than if I were living on the streets; for some reason I thought paying rent would indicate otherwise...

Sean

Though I realize there are instances where people's apartments are not heated to the degree they should be (and that this law exists to protect tenants in that situation, as it should), it's interesting to me that no one ever addresses the point that the vast majority of apartments and office buildings in this city are dramatically OVER-heated.

Next time you're walking down the street in January, look up and take note of how many windows are open, because people's radiators are simply pumping out too much heat.

Then think about how much money/energy could be saved if the heat was turned DOWN a bit.

Personally, I was sweating my a__ off today at work because my landlord decided to turn the heat on...and I'm sure we'll need to run our air conditioner on the occasional January afternoon to combat the 19th century radiators that have no valve to shut them off...

Seems like a big waste-- especially these days.