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NYC home repair guides
What causes common New York City home problems, what's safe to check yourself, and when you need a licensed pro. Renters: heat, hot water and building repairs are your landlord's job. Tell the landlord, then 311.
No heat in Brooklyn: what to check, and who should fix it
No heat in your Brooklyn home or building? Safe things to check first, what a heating repair usually involves, renters' rights (landlord, then 311), and how to get matched with a licensed pro.
Radiator not working in Brooklyn? Why one stays cold
One cold radiator while the rest are hot? Learn how steam and hot-water radiators fail, what's safe to check in a Brooklyn home, and how to get matched with a licensed heating pro.
Steam radiator banging? Why NYC pipes knock, and how it gets fixed
Why NYC steam radiators bang, hiss and spit water, what you can safely check (valve, pitch, vent), and when to get a licensed heating pro. Renters: tell your landlord, then 311.
Boiler repair in Queens: what goes wrong, and what to expect
Boiler acting up in your Queens home or building? Common boiler problems, safe homeowner checks, what a licensed repair involves, and how to get matched with one licensed local pro, free.
Leak under the sink in Manhattan: find it, stop it, get it fixed
Water under your kitchen or bathroom sink in a Manhattan apartment? How to find the leak, safely stop it, what a plumber does, and co-op/condo COI rules. Get matched with a licensed plumber.
Water heater not working in the Bronx? Start here
No hot water in your Bronx home? Safe checks for gas and electric water heaters, warning signs, what a licensed plumber does, and permit basics. Renters: hot water is the landlord's job.
Outlet not working in Staten Island? Safe checks before you call an electrician
Dead outlet in your Staten Island home? Check GFCIs, breakers and switched outlets safely, learn the warning signs, and get matched with a DOB-licensed electrician, free.
Drafty windows in NYC: weatherproofing that actually helps
Cold drafts from old NYC windows, AC sleeves and radiator rooms? DIY weatherproofing that's safe for fire escapes and window guards, what a pro does, and how to get matched.
Need a handyman in Brooklyn? Here's how to hire the right one
Need a handyman in Brooklyn? What handyman jobs look like, what needs a licensed plumber or electrician in NYC, the DCWP license rule, and how to get matched with one vetted pro.
Mini-split installation in Queens: what to know before you get quotes
Thinking about a ductless mini-split or heat pump in your Queens home? How they work, what an install involves, electrical and co-op approvals, incentives to check, and how to get matched.
Clogged drain in NYC: what to try, and when it's a building problem
Slow or clogged sink, tub or toilet in your NYC apartment or house? Safe DIY steps, why chemical cleaners are risky in old pipes, building-stack clogs, and getting a licensed plumber.
Hiring a contractor in an NYC co-op or condo: the COI and paperwork
Your NYC co-op or condo wants a contractor COI before any repair? What a certificate of insurance is, what buildings usually ask for, alteration agreements, and how to avoid lobby delays.
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