Before the first hard freeze, New York homeowners and building owners should service the boiler, check every radiator, protect exposed pipes, find the main water shutoff, look at the water heater's age and know what to do if they smell gas. Owners in Community Districts 4, 6, 8, 9 and 16 also have a Local Law 152 gas piping inspection due by December 31, 2026.
- Have the boiler cleaned and tested once a year, before steady cold arrives.
- One-pipe steam radiator valves should be fully open or fully closed, and the radiator should pitch slightly toward the valve.
- Insulate pipes in unheated basements, crawl spaces and garages, and shut off and drain outdoor hose connections from inside.
- Know where the main water shutoff is, usually next to the water meter.
- Most tank water heaters last about 8 to 12 years; rust, moisture or rumbling mean plan a replacement.
- If you smell gas, leave, do not touch switches, and call 911 from outside.
Every winter our dispatch line fills up with the same calls: no heat on the first cold night, a pipe that froze in an unheated cellar, a water heater that finally gave out. Most of them could have been caught in the fall. This is the checklist our plumbers use with Brooklyn homeowners, landlords and supers. It takes an afternoon, and a few items only take five minutes.
1. Service the boiler before steady cold arrives
Steam and hot water boilers in older New York buildings should be inspected, cleaned and tested every year. A proper tune-up covers the burner, the flue and chimney connection, the low-water cutoff, the pressure controls and the safety relief valve. On a steam boiler, the sight glass should show water about halfway up, and the water should not be rusty or black.
For landlords this is also a legal question. New York City's heat season runs from October 1 to May 31, and the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development sets minimum indoor temperatures for apartments during those months. A boiler that fails in January is a tenant complaint as well as a repair. See our boiler repair and boiler inspection pages for what a service visit includes.
2. Check every radiator
Walk the house or the building before you need the heat. On a one-pipe steam system, each radiator valve should be fully open or fully closed. A half-open valve traps water and causes banging. The radiator should tilt slightly back toward the valve so condensed water can drain, and the air vent on the opposite side should hiss and then close once the radiator is hot.
Cold radiators, loud banging, water leaking at the valve or a vent that spits water are signs the system needs service. Our article on what to do when a steam radiator bangs walks through the five-minute checks. Building owners should also know about Local Law 151 steam radiator requirements.
3. Protect pipes from freezing
Pipes freeze where cold air reaches them: unheated basements and crawl spaces, garages, and runs along exterior walls or under kitchen sinks on outside walls. Insulate exposed pipes in those areas with foam pipe sleeves. Shut off outdoor hose connections from the valve inside, then open the outside spigot so it drains.
On the coldest nights, keep the heat on in vacant apartments and storefronts, and open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm air can reach the pipes. If a pipe does freeze, do not use an open flame to thaw it. Call a plumber, and know where your shutoff is in case it splits.
4. Find the main water shutoff
Every adult in a household, and every superintendent, should know where the main water valve is. In most Brooklyn homes it is in the cellar next to the water meter, where the service line comes through the front wall. Turn it once a year to make sure it still moves. An old gate valve that will not close all the way is worth replacing before an emergency, not during one. Our emergency plumbing crew can replace a seized valve.
5. Look at the water heater
Most tank water heaters last about 8 to 12 years. The age is usually encoded in the serial number on the label. Rust at the base, moisture on the floor, rumbling or popping noises and water that runs out of hot faster than it used to are signs that a replacement should be planned. Winter is when tired heaters fail, because they work hardest with colder incoming water. See our water heater page for repair and replacement options.
6. Take gas smells seriously
Heating season is when gas appliances run the most. If you smell gas, leave the building right away. Do not turn lights or appliances on or off, do not use a phone inside, and do not light anything. Call 911 and your utility from outside. After the utility makes the area safe, a licensed plumber can find and repair the leak; see our gas leak detection page.
Local Law 152 deadline: December 31, 2026
Owners of buildings in Community Districts 4, 6, 8, 9 and 16, in every borough, have a periodic gas piping inspection due by December 31, 2026, according to the NYC Department of Buildings schedule. In Brooklyn that includes Bushwick, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, Crown Heights and Brownsville. The requirement covers most buildings other than one and two family homes, and buildings with no gas piping must still file a certification. Read Is My Building Exempt From Local Law 152? or see our Local Law 152 inspection page.
When to call a plumber
Call a licensed plumber if your boiler has not been serviced in the last year, if radiators stay cold or bang after the basic checks, if your main shutoff will not close, if your water heater is over ten years old or showing rust, or if your building is due for Local Law 152. If you smell gas, call 911 first.
Nationwide Plumbers has served New York City from our shop at 6923 8th Avenue in Brooklyn since 1984, working under NYC Licensed Master Plumber #2023. We cover Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx, 24 hours a day. This checklist was also released as a press release. Call 718-748-2727 for service or a written estimate.
Winter plumbing FAQ
When should I service my boiler in NYC?
Once a year, ideally in early fall before steady cold arrives. NYC heat season runs from October 1 to May 31, so a September or October tune-up catches problems before tenants and families need the heat.
How do I stop pipes from freezing in a Brooklyn house?
Insulate pipes in unheated basements, crawl spaces and garages, shut off and drain outdoor hose connections from inside, keep heat on in vacant units, and open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls on the coldest nights.
Where is the main water shutoff in a Brooklyn home?
In most Brooklyn homes it is in the cellar next to the water meter, where the water service enters through the front foundation wall. Test it once a year so you know it closes.
How long does a water heater last?
Most tank water heaters last about 8 to 12 years. Rust at the base, moisture on the floor, rumbling noises or hot water that runs out quickly are signs to plan a replacement.
What should I do if I smell gas?
Leave the building right away. Do not turn lights or appliances on or off, do not use a phone inside and do not light anything. Call 911 and your utility from outside.
Is my building due for Local Law 152 this year?
Buildings in Community Districts 4, 6, 8, 9 and 16, in every borough, are due by December 31, 2026 under the NYC Department of Buildings schedule. One and two family homes are exempt.
Official sources
- NYC HPD, Heat and Hot Water Information
- NYC Department of Buildings, Periodic Gas Piping System Inspections
- NYC Department of Buildings, LL152 of 2016 FAQs
Call Nationwide Plumbers at 718-748-2727, we answer 24/7.
