5 Steps to Prepare for Any Kind of Winter
Predictions for this winter are about as easy to pull up as transit schedules – and about that accurate too. Fortunately, no matter how the weather changes, you can enjoy reliable home heating by following these five simple steps.
5. Familiarize yourself with New York’s heating code. In NYC, heating season runs from October 1, 2019 until May 31, 2020. During this period, from 6AM-10PM, if the temperature outside is below 55º then the indoor temperature must be at least 68º. Also, from 10PM-6AM, the indoor temperature must always be at least 62º regardless of the outdoor temperature. This is required for all multi-family buildings and also just good standard practice for everybody.
4. Test your heating equipment. This is easier than it sounds. First, turn up the heat 10º higher than the current room temperature using your thermostat. If the heating system doesn’t turn on, press the reset button on your burner’s relay just once. If the system still doesn’t turn on, make sure the emergency switch is on – this is usually located at the stairs to your basement and/or on the heating system itself. Look closely because there might be two. If your heating system still doesn’t start, give us a call immediately.
3. Schedule your annual boiler inspection or system tune-up. All buildings occupied by six or more families are required to have their boilers inspected by a NY-licensed boiler inspector before January 1, 2020. However, even if it’s just your family or just you in your building, it’s important to have your heating system checked out before the winter begins. In addition to helping prevent heating outages, a tune-up can improve your system’s efficiency, which also reduces your annual energy costs. To schedule your inspection or tune-up, give us a call today.
2. Ask about a heating service plan. If all of the above sounds like a lot, and you’d prefer to have somebody take care of these steps for you each year, give us a call and ask about subscribing to our heating service plan. For a single annual fee, we will tune-up and test your system each year and ensure it’s up to code. Again, all you have to do to subscribe is give us a call.
1. Building owners and landlords: give your elderly tenants the third-party notification option. In New York State, all Bioheat® fuel customers must be offered the option to have a third party of their choice notified before a service termination. This is especially valuable for older residents who might have trouble hearing or remembering. Please encourage all elderly neighbors to enroll this winter. To enroll, account holders should call our office or have their chosen third party call on their behalf.
If you have any questions or need any help preparing for this winter, contact us or your local Bioheat fuel dealer and preserve your home comfort!
