When is heat season in New York City?
October 1 through May 31. During those months the NYC Housing Maintenance Code sets minimum indoor temperatures for apartments, enforced by HPD.
For building managers · Oct 1 – May 31
Heat season readiness for NYC buildings
NYC heat season runs October 1 through May 31: 68°F indoors by day when it is below 55°F outside, and 62°F at night. This checklist covers the in-unit and rooftop heating equipment that fails first in a cold snap, so a building's first cold week does not turn into a wave of no-heat complaints.
What the NYC heat rules require
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. Between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when the outdoor temperature falls below 55°F, the indoor temperature in apartments must be at least 68°F. Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., it must be at least 62°F whatever the weather. Hot water at 120°F is required all year. The rules are set by the NYC Housing Maintenance Code and enforced by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).
Tenants report heat outages through 311, and HPD can inspect and issue violations. Where heat comes from equipment inside each apartment rather than a central boiler, every one of those units has to work for the building to meet the rule.
Where in-unit heat fails first
PTAC and PTHP units hand the heating load to an electric heater when it is too cold for the heat pump to keep up. A failed heater element or safety limit shows up on the first truly cold night as a unit that runs but blows cool air.
Ductless heat pumps that carry the whole heating load can ice up, fault on a sensor or stop defrosting properly in sustained cold. Ducted systems fail on igniters, flame sensors, inducer motors and clogged filters that have sat untouched since spring.
A pre-season checklist for building managers
- Run every in-unit heater on heat mode before October 1, not on the first cold night
- Replace or clean filters and clean coils on PTACs, mini-splits and air handlers
- Check PTAC sleeves and wall seals for drafts that make a working unit look broken
- List each unit's make and model so parts can be ordered before a failure
- Tell tenants how to report a heating problem to you, before they call 311
- Agree who answers no-heat calls at night and on weekends
What we service
We repair PTAC and PTHP through-the-wall units, ductless heat pumps and ducted heating systems serving apartments and offices across NYC, and we answer no-heat calls 24/7. For buildings with many identical units we can test and clean them floor by floor before the season starts, and record each unit's model and condition so you know where the risk is.
Questions New Customers Ask Most
4
What temperature must apartments be kept at?
From 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., at least 68°F inside whenever it is below 55°F outside. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., at least 62°F inside regardless of the outdoor temperature. Hot water must be at least 120°F all year.
Our apartments are heated by PTACs. Does that change anything?
The temperature rules are the same, but each apartment's unit has to work for the building to comply. Test every heater before October 1 and keep a list of models so a failure becomes a quick repair, not a parts hunt.
Can you check all the units in a building before the season?
Yes. We test and clean in-unit heating equipment floor by floor and record each unit's model and condition. Book it for September so problems are found before tenants find them.