A year without heat and water in an apartment building sounds like a nightmare, but that was reality for residents at Soundview’s Leland Garden Condos. According to News 12, the ordeal began with a gas leak at the Story Avenue building in February 2020. The saga, which the publication reported on in January last year, highlights one of the common problems faced by tenants and building managers and owners throughout New York City.

It took almost two months for the complex owners and their licensed plumber to receive permits to repair and restore the gas. The repair work passed the final inspection, but the city’s Department of Buildings (DOB) said the plumber did not request ‘gas authorization,’ which is the last step before the gas was turned back on.

While the situation dragged on, residents facing a lack of HVAC systems turned to space heaters for warmth, which led to a significant increase in their electric bills. The building owners blamed the DOB for dragging its heels, while the DOB blamed the plumber for not requesting authorization.

Building Owners Must Ensure Building Heat

Whoever was at fault, the situation was dire – and it wasn’t keeping with the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) “heat season.” According to HPD, residential building owners must maintain indoor temperatures at 68 degrees when outdoor temperatures drop below 55 degrees during the day.

At night, indoor temperatures must be a minimum of 62 degrees, whatever the outdoor temperature may be. HPD also requires building owners to provide hot water at 120 degrees throughout the year. In order to comply with the law, apartment building owners and managers must attend to boiler problems as soon as possible.

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Common Boiler Problems At Fault

According to Applied Technologies of New York common boiler problems that affect building heat and water temperature are often ignored until it’s too late. Owners and building managers should be aware of all possible issues and take action quickly to avoid ending up in the same situation as those residing in Leland Garden Condos.

Gas leaks aren’t the only types of leaks that can affect boilers. Leaks usually are caused by broken parts, such as the pressure relief valve or the boiler pump seal. Extreme pressure also can force the valve to open and leak water. It is important to schedule water boiler maintenance regularly to prevent potential leaks and ensure the proper functioning of the boiler. Due to the nature of the work, building managers should always entrust repair work to an expert plumber. While there are some plumbing jobs that any DIYer can handle, working with gas and boilers under pressure can be especially risky, and having the right knowledge for the job can prevent a potentially fatal accident.

Leaks are one of several issues that can lead to a loss of building heat, and with strict regulations governing this, there should be no reason why any apartment block should be without warmth. However, issues of this nature across New York City seem increasingly common, and it’s up to owners and property managers to get them under control, quickly.