Temporary Boiler Rental: What to Know Before Your Heat Dies on You

Nobody plans on having a dead boiler. It, unfortunately, is always some freezing Tuesday night in January, the super's phone is ringing non-stop, and thirty tenants are wandering the lobby in their coats. I've seen it play out more times than I can count and it never gets any easier. You're in luck, because you've got options that don't require waiting three weeks for a new unit to arrive. Let's go over them.

Why Boilers Always Die at the Worst Time

Boilers work the hardest on the coldest days and so the weak points in the system reveal themselves, be it a crack, failed burner, or leaking tube. It was probably struggling for months and nobody noticed because the weather was nice. Then the first cold snap hits, and it dies.Equipment in the city is often decades old and parts are difficult to find, temporary boilers rental requiring a longer time frame to 'get the parts' and sometimes a quick repair turns out to be more involved, which brings us to the real issue, the downtime.

What are temporary heating systems anyway?

Temporary heating systems are essentially modular plants that are brought to your existing infrastructure on a truck or trailer and tied into the existing piping. It's not a space heater and it's not a band-aid, it's a boiler, sized specifically for your building, that does the job of whatever system we're repairing or replacing. Most buildings opt to install them for emergency work or planned work like replacing your main plant on purpose. The idea is to maintain heating and hot water capacity. People are surprised that this is an option, but it's been the standard for decades.

Why a Steam Boiler Rental is Better Than Waiting

If your building is steam heat, you can't simply throw a space heater in the boiler room and hope for the best. A steam boiler rental ties into the existing distribution in the building, so radiators and risers, and everything else associated are all still functional. A steam boiler rental can be used on buildings that have existing steam heat systems. My preference is to install a temporary boiler if repairs are going to take longer than a day or two. Less than that, maybe you can get by until it's all said and done, but once the repairs are taking multiple days it's worth considering.

Steam vs. Hot Water, know your system

Not every building is the same, so it's important to know what you have. If it creates steam, you'll need a steam unit. If it's a hot water system, it needs a hot water boiler. They're not interchangeable. It's a waste of time to schedule one if you have the other, since time is the biggest investment you're making. Some companies do both, and some only one. Ask up front, and you'd be surprised how many people get a quote, then find out the unit they have doesn't work for your system.

Boilers in Brooklyn NY Are Their Own Beast

Brooklyn is home to many pre-war buildings, brownstones and midsize multifamily buildings that house older steam plants that have been patched up many times. Boilers in Brooklyn, NY are often tucked into tight basement spaces that make for complicated installations. That's why the companies that work in Park Slope and Bed-Stuy know the logistics of getting a boiler in and out better than other crews, they've done it before and it's muscle memory at this point.

Getting the right size (Don't guess)

Getting the right size boiler is a balance between how big your building is, the output of your old boiler and what your current system is like. If you had an underperforming boiler, maybe a small boiler in the building is sufficient, but too small and your building won't heat up. Too big and you start to burn more fuel and cause excessive cycling of the boiler. It takes a professional to know how to size up a temporary boiler. If you don't have that information on hand, a good provider will come in and see the unit and get that information for you. If you're able to, you can snap a picture of the plate on the deceased boiler and send it to your provider and save a day or two.

Permits, inspections, and the red tape

You are in New York, so chances are there's some paperwork that needs to be filed and approvals that need to occur. Depending on the system you've chosen and the fuel source, you may need permits and an inspection of sorts before they can turn the building on. Fuel connections tend to get inspected thoroughly, and rightly so. A good company will manage most of these things or at least advise you of what needs to happen. It's in these areas that rushing or not knowing what needs to happen can turn a two-day repair into a two-week repair with additional fines.

How fast can you get a temporary boiler NYC side?

You'd be surprised how fast a temporary boiler NYC side can be set up. If you're in an emergency situation, a lot of providers can get a steam boiler NYC job started in a day, sometimes the same day if the equipment is available and the access is good. It's not unusual to be searching for help at 11pm, and a lot of boiler companies operate on a 24/7 basis. What slows the process down are factors out of your control, like not knowing what you have, or having good access for installation. Get these sorted ahead of time and you'll find that everyone moves quickly.

What does it cost? What drives up the price?

Everything depends on the size, the length of the contract, the fuel source, delivery and setup, and any additional accessories you might need. Pricing isn't straightforward, so anyone who gives you a flat rate is just guessing. Here's the thing, compare the price of the temporary boiler to what a heat outage is costing you. The tenant complaints, the hotel rooms in the worst case scenario, the emergency plumbing when it freezes over, the city violations. Renting a temporary boiler usually far outweighs the cost of the rental fee.

How to choose a boiler company near me

When you search a boiler company near me on Google in an emergency it takes two seconds to call the first number. Wait for two minutes. Ask if they own their equipment or if they broker it, if they've done work on buildings like yours, and how responsive they are outside of office hours.

Look for companies that can service your entire heating and cooling NYC needs, not just toss in a trailer and leave. You want someone who can handle the install, any additional work, and the removal, and who you can call back if something goes wrong. Ask if they have more than one type of temporary boilers, because sometimes you need additional equipment. That's it. A dead boiler is a nuisance, but it doesn't have to rule your life. Know what kind of system you have, help with the sizing, get informed about permits, and speak to someone who knows the city. A steam boiler rental or other temporary heating option exists so that your building doesn't lose heat while the real system is repaired. If you're in a pickle or just curious, give us a call at A Heating Inc Temporary Boiler Rentals or drop us an inquiry about what you have and what you need. Tell us about the plate on the old boiler if you can and we can move quickly before the next cold snap hits.

Name: A Heating Inc Temporary Boiler Rentals

Address: 9221 Ditmas Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11236

Phone No: 718-234-8441

Alternate Phone No: 718-234-2263 

FAQs

How long can I have a temporary boiler for?

As long as you need it. People use temporary boilers for a few days to an entire heating season if they're doing a complete replacement. As far as the terms, it's entirely up to you.

Will a temporary boiler work with my radiators?

Yes. Assuming that you got the right type, a steam boiler will connect to your existing steam distribution and radiators, and will function as if nothing has changed.

Do I need a permit for a temporary boiler?

It depends on the installation, but you will almost certainly need a permit, so your provider should be able to advise you.

Can I get a temporary boiler on a weekend?

Most emergency services operate around the clock, because it doesn't matter what day it is when your boiler dies. Call your service provider and ask what their process is for after hours situations.