Seasonal timing, boiler replcmnt
I’m in a rental with an unfortunate landlady. Over the last few weeks we’ve had issues with hot water ranging from none at all to luke warm to hot then cold. The current situation involves luke warm water but no hot. The landlady now says she has to replace the boiler altogether and to do…
I’m in a rental with an unfortunate landlady. Over the last few weeks we’ve had issues with hot water ranging from none at all to luke warm to hot then cold. The current situation involves luke warm water but no hot. The landlady now says she has to replace the boiler altogether and to do that she will have to wait until the warmer weather arrives so as to not disrupt the buildings heat. My question is: 1) does it take long to replace an existing boiler, and 2) what is the temperature or time threshold for providing tenants with heat? Personally we do not need heat when it’s 55+ degrees outside. Is the landlord just buying time or is this a legitimate concern of hers?
I replace about 70 boilers every year in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
It is a rare occurrence that a client is left without heat for more than a single night.
Most well-organized boiler replacements require a heating service interruption of about 10 hours.
A good heating company understands that it has to go that way.
http://www.GatewayPlumbing.com
She is trying to avoid paying for a temporary boiler truck, is my guess. It will take a few weeks to demo and remove the old one, then install a new one. Something else that she definitely knows is that heating firms charge a hefty premium for replacement during heating season. So if she can limp along for another 6 weeks, she’ll save a ton of money. Make of this information what you will.
Heating season doesn’t officially end until May 31st (I know, pretty ridiculous). If it’s less than 55 degrees outside, she is required to provide you with heat to 68 degrees.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/tenants/heat-and-hot-water.shtml
However, according to the same webpage, your landlady is also required to provide hot water (120 deg min) 365 days a year. So she really needs to pick a day, and get it fixed.
I’m confused though. If the boiler is broken, how is the heat working? Has the heat been impacted too? I would think it would be a lot cheaper to install a separate water heater than to replace a boiler because of hot water issues…
Hot water is a year-round requirement. If the lack of heat and hot water constitutes an ongoing violation and/or an emergency, your landlord needs to attend to it. The consequence of attending to it might mean that tenants will go without heat and hot water for however long it takes qualified plumbers to repair/replace what’s necessary—something a qualified plumber should determine.
Between October 1st and May 31st, a period designated as “Heat Season,” building owners are also required to provide tenants with heat under the following conditions:
Between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM, if the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit; and,
Between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, if the temperature outside falls below 40 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
See linkk below for more information:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/tenants/heat-and-hot-water.shtml
Personally I think your landlady is just trying to buy time!
Can’t you also rent a boiler??? I know when they replaced the boiler in my building, there was a trailer brought in and put in the front of the building that had was somehow connected into the basement and run by generators when needed. Don’t ask me how it worked, but it did!
Heating season in NYC ends April 15th –