Heat Season Safety Tips

Keep yourself, your family, and your neighbors safe with these reminders! 

  • Never use your stove, oven, or hot plate to heat your apartment – this can cause fires or the release of poisonous carbon monoxide gas. 
graphic of oven with text never use an oven or stovetop to heat your home

  • Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly (change batteries if needed). If the alarms are not working, contact your property management office immediately. 
carbon monoxide alarm and text to install and test CO alarms at least once a month

  • If using indoor heaters, use only electric space heaters that have the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) mark (which shows that the product has been safety tested). Do NOT use kerosene or propane heaters, which are dangerous and illegal for indoor use in New York City. Also:  
    • Space heaters should be at least 3 feet from anything that can burn and should always be turned off when leaving a room or going to sleep. Never leave children alone in a room when a portable space heater is on. Space heaters are temporary heating devices and should only be used for a limited time each day. 
    • Never use an extension cord with a space heater. Space heaters should be plugged directly into an outlet. 
    • Never use a space heater with a frayed or damaged cord, even for a small amount of time. 
    • Turn off the space heater if the cord becomes hot. 
    • Place the heater on the floor and never on a countertop or furniture. 
    • Young children should be kept away from any heater or appliance that has hot surfaces which can cause burns. 
graphic of space heater and text plug space heaters directly into wall outlets

Need assistance? 

  • Visit nyc.gov/fdny for more fire safety information.  
  • Call 911 for emergencies.  
  • Call the CCC (718-707-7771) or use MyNYCHA (nyc.gov/mynycha) to request repairs/maintenance. 
  • Sign up for emergency notifications from the City by visiting nyc.gov/notifynyc or calling 311. 

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