With plenty more cold days ahead, heating and hot water are crucial for your health and safety, but as winter temperatures drop, sometimes heat and hot water break down too.
Last year, over 248,000 heat and hot water problems were reported to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (DHPD). When the heat and hot water go, it is important to make sure you stay warm enough to avoid frostbite and hypothermia.
Between October 1 and May 31, residential owners are required to keep their buildings heated to at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day when temperatures are below 55 degrees, and keep the indoor temperature at 55 degrees or more at night when temperatures are below 40. Building owners also have to make sure that the hot water runs at 120 degrees.
If your heating or hot water goes out, first speak to your building owner, manager, or superintendant. If the problem is still not taken care of, call 3-1-1 and the DHPD will take steps to make sure you get your heat or hot water back, including hiring contractors to correct the problem and billing the landlord for the repairs. Last year, the DHPD spent a total of $6.1 million in emergency heating and hot water repairs, which was charged to the building owners.
While you are waiting for your heat to turn back on, make sure to stay warm. Insulate your home to trap warm air by hanging blankets over windows and doorways. Make sure to dress in warm, dry clothes. Wear hats, scarves, layered clothing and gloves, and keep your fingers, nose, and ears covered to protect from frostbite. If you have a working fireplace, use it for heat. Do not forget to leave your taps running at a drip to make sure the pipes don’t freeze.
If it is taking too long to return your heat or hot water, see if you can stay with some friends or family somewhere else.
If you are using portable heaters, take precautions to keep safe, as heaters can start fires or release carbon monoxide, a clear, odorless and deadly gas. Only use heaters approved for indoor use, and never leave anything that can catch fire, like drapes, furniture, or clothing, in front of the heater. Never leave children alone in a room with a heater on, if you can’t closely watch a heater, turn it off. Do not try to heat your home with a gas-burning oven or heaters, which can release carbon monoxide.
Cold-related illness can be fatal, and if you lose heat, it is important to be aware of the risks of frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite is a serious injury in which a body part is frozen due to exposure to the cold. Redness and pain may be the first symptoms, and other symptoms include numbness or skin that appears pale, firm, or waxy. Hypothermia is when the body temperature is abnormally low, and can be deadly. Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, slurred speech, dizziness, drowsiness, unusual behavior, and shallow breathing, according to the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
Children, senior citizens, and those with health problems are particularly at risk during the wintertime, as cold weather can exasperate existing conditions and causes additional strain on the heart, according to the OEM. If you have friends or family members who may be at risk, check in on them. Most importantly though, make sure that you stay nice and warm this winter.
No heat? Call 3-1-1
If you have lost your heat and your building manager or superintendant hasn’t done anything about it, call 3-1-1 to get emergency help from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
