Boiler

What to Do When Your Boiler Stops Working in NYC

June 8, 2026·6 min read

A dead boiler in the middle of a New York winter is one of the most common emergency calls we get. Before you assume the worst, there are a few things worth checking — some no-heat calls turn out to be a tripped switch or a thermostat issue rather than a mechanical failure.

1. Check the basics first

Confirm the thermostat is set to "heat" and the target temperature is actually above room temperature
Check that the boiler's power switch (often a light-switch-style disconnect nearby) hasn't been bumped off
Look at the pressure gauge — most residential boilers should read between 12 and 15 PSI when cold
Check for a tripped circuit breaker feeding the unit
For gas systems, confirm the pilot light is lit if your model has one

2. Know what counts as a true emergency

No heat during freezing weather is always treated as an emergency, especially in a multi-family building where other units and tenants are affected. So is a boiler leaking water, making loud banging noises, or showing a pressure gauge stuck in the red.

3. What to do while you wait for a technician

If you smell gas near the unit, leave the area and call your gas utility's emergency line before calling us. If there's visible water pooling at the base of the boiler, it's safe to place towels down but avoid touching the unit's electrical components. Keep faucets on a slow drip if temperatures are below freezing to reduce the risk of a frozen pipe on top of the heating outage.

4. What a technician does on arrival

A diagnostic visit checks the burner, ignition components, circulator pump, pressure relief valve, and controls to isolate the actual fault. Most common failures — ignition problems, a failed pump, a stuck valve — are resolved in a single visit. If your building's system involves permit-required or gas-line work, that portion is coordinated through licensed master plumber partners in accordance with applicable local and state regulations.

Pre-war Brooklyn brownstones running original steam systems and newer Queens co-ops on hot-water boilers fail differently, so a technician familiar with both is worth having on your side when the heat goes out.

Frequently Asked Questions

We treat loss of heat as an emergency and dispatch technicians the same day, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

For standard pilot lights, many manufacturers include safe relighting instructions on the unit itself. If you're not confident doing this, or if the pilot won't stay lit, it's safer to have a technician handle it.

It depends on the age, condition, and repair history of the unit. During an emergency visit we'll give you an honest comparison of repair cost versus full replacement rather than defaulting to the more expensive option.