DOB Offers Tips to Keep New Yorkers Safe and Warm this Winter

By Yehudit Garmaise

Proper preparation can help New Yorkers to avoid the serious home maintenance issues that winter can bring, said Kazimir Vilenchik, the acting commissioner of the Department of Buildings (DOB). 

Although New York City landlords are required by law to provide every tenant with sufficient heat and hot water, malfunctions can occur as temperatures drop, said NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. 

To ensure that all buildings stay safe, warm, and up to code, the city’s DOB reminds building owners to work only with licensed contractors to provide proper insulation and to get their heating equipment regularly checked.

The DOB urges New Yorkers to check the qualifications of the contractors they hire. 

“Make sure that the people who perform any type of work in your home have the proper qualifications from the DOB and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection,” said the DOB, which provides the following tips to keep New York City families safe and warm this winter.

Reduce drafts and retain heat:

• Remove all window air conditioning units, and make sure to completely cover any mechanical equipment that is permanently installed in the walls. 
• Properly seal loose-fitting windows and doors by adding weather stripping around their edges.

Check your attic’s insulation: 

• Heat rises, and so the majority of heat that escapes from your home is through the roof. 
• Proper insulation, which is at least six inches thick, in your home’s attic will help prevent unnecessary heat loss.

Maintain heating equipment: 

• Properly maintain boilers and hot water heaters to ensure maximum efficiency and reduce the risk of costly malfunctions.
• Every year, hire certified professionals to clean and service your heating equipment to keep it running longer, with fewer service interruptions.

Clean your chimney: 

• Have your chimney cleaned and checked once a year. 
• A lack of proper care can create blockages which can become hazardous.

Protect water meters and pipes from freezing: 

• Pipes and meters located in unheated areas of a building can freeze in colder temperatures: causing cracks and breaks that require expensive repairs. 
• Ensure your plumbing pipes are properly insulated.
• Remember to turn off the water and drain the pipes leading to any faucets outside of your home.

Use proper precautions when thawing pipes and meters: 

• If your property’s pipes and meters are already frozen, take precautions when attempting to thaw them. 
• Never attempt to thaw pipes by using a flame, which could ignite a fire or cause a steam explosion.

 Install working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home, including basements:

• “The winter months are the busiest time of the year for fires, and sadly when we see the most serious injuries and fatalities,” said FSNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. “Property owners must have working alarms in their properties. 
• “Working smoke alarms save lives,” said Kavanaugh, who reminded New Yorkers to check the batteries of their devices twice a year and test them regularly.

 Remove snow, water, and ice from your building can prevent damage, and save you serious money:

• Clean your gutters and roof drains regularly to prevent clogs.
• Snow and rain that collects on top of buildings can not only cause leaks, but wet precipitation can greatly damage the rooves.
• Snow and ice that accumulates on fire escapes can also obstruct emergency exit routes. 

Avoid fire hazards:

• Space heaters must be kept at least three feet away from curtains, linens, and any other flammable materials. 
• Never leave lit candles unattended.