Staying Warm in Brooklyn: Winter Heating Tips

Breaking news: Brooklyn winters are cold. Really cold. And if your heating system isn’t ready, you’ll find out at the worst possible time—like when it’s 20 degrees outside and your apartment feels like a walk-in freezer.

Before the real cold sets in, there’s some groundwork worth doing. Petri Plumbing has been keeping Brooklyn homes warm for years, and we’ve learned that a little preparation in fall beats a freezing emergency in January.

Get Your Heating System Checked Yesterday

Here’s the thing about heating systems—they don’t fail conveniently. They wait until it’s 20 degrees outside and you’ve got houseguests arriving in two hours.

Professional heating maintenance before winter isn’t about being paranoid. It’s about catching the small stuff before it becomes expensive stuff. A technician can spot a failing component, clean out accumulated dust and debris, and make sure everything’s running efficiently. If something does need heating repair, you’ll know about it while you can still schedule it at your convenience instead of as an emergency.

Simple Monthly Maintenance That Actually Matters

Check your filters monthly. Dirty filters make your system work harder, which means higher bills and more wear on the equipment. Most filters are easy to access and replace yourself. If you’re not sure where yours is or how to change it, ask during your maintenance appointment.

If you have a boiler, check the pressure gauge monthly. It should typically sit between 12 and 15 PSI when the system is cold. Too high or too low can indicate a problem. Same goes for furnaces—listen for unusual noises or smells when it first kicks on for the season.

Safety Know-How You Shouldn’t Skip

Never use your gas stove to heat your home. It’s tempting when you’re cold and the heat’s not cooperating, but it’s genuinely dangerous. Gas stoves aren’t designed for continuous operation and can produce carbon monoxide at unsafe levels.

Speaking of carbon monoxide: if you heat with natural gas, you need CO detectors. Not the one that came with your apartment five years ago and you’ve never checked—actual functioning detectors with fresh batteries. Put them on every floor and near bedrooms.

If you use heating oil, walk around your tank periodically and look for wet spots, rust, or that distinctive oil smell. Check the lines running to your heating system too. A small leak now becomes a bigger problem (and bigger mess) later.

Look at your heating system’s vent and exhaust pipes. Rust, damage, or blockages can cause serious safety issues. If something looks off, get it checked out.

Seal Up Your Home

The best heating system in Brooklyn can’t overcome drafty windows and poor insulation. Caulk and weather-stripping are cheap, and they make a noticeable difference.

Hit the obvious spots first: windows, doors, and anywhere you can see daylight coming through. Then get pickier—electrical outlets on exterior walls, where pipes enter the house, and around your AC unit if you haven’t removed it for winter.

Insulating your water heater helps too, especially if it’s in an unheated basement or garage. You can buy insulation blankets at any hardware store for about $20.

Know When Replacement Makes Sense

Older boilers run at 50 to 60 percent efficiency on a good day. Newer models hit 90 percent or better. The math gets pretty straightforward—if you’re spending $2,000 a year heating an inefficient system, upgrading can pay for itself in a few winters.

During a maintenance visit, a technician can give you a realistic assessment of whether your current system has years left or if you’re throwing money at something that’s on its last legs. Sometimes nursing an old system along makes sense. Sometimes it doesn’t.

Gas Appliances Need Attention Too

Your heating system isn’t the only gas appliance in your house. Stoves, dryers, and water heaters all have gas lines and connections that should be inspected for leaks. If you’re getting your heating services done, it’s worth having the tech check the other appliances while they’re there.

Planning to install a gas fireplace? Hire professionals. Gas line work isn’t a DIY situation, and improper installation creates real hazards.

Don’t Wait for the First Cold Snap

Winter in Brooklyn is coming whether you’re ready or not. A little time spent preparing your heating system now means you’ll actually be comfortable when the temperature drops, instead of wrapped in blankets waiting for a repair technician.

If you haven’t scheduled your heating system inspection yet, don’t wait until the first cold snap when everyone else remembers at the same time. Contact Petri Plumbing to get on the schedule while there’s still availability. Your future self—the one not shivering in a cold apartment in January—will thank you.