My building has no heat and my landlord is not responding. What do I do?
Document in writing, then call Boston ISD (Inspectional Services) — they enforce the heat code. You can also call for triage advice on the heating side.
BOSTON EMERGENCY SERVICE
Emergency Boiler Repair in Boston, MA
No heat in a Boston winter — in a multi-unit building, that is many households going cold at once. Call any time. The emergency telephone line is available 24/7 and multi-unit outages go first.
✓ 24/7 emergency triage✓ Multi-unit priority✓ Citywide coverage
General inquiries: 7 AM–7 PM · Emergency calls: 24/7 · (888) 766-1474
High-rise vs. brownstone emergencies
Different buildings, different playbooks.
Brownstones and multis (3–12 units): one boiler, many households — the classic emergency. Triage prioritizes by unit count. Larger apartment buildings: often have building staff or management companies — the emergency call should come with the super's knowledge (boiler location, shutoffs, history). Condos: know whether the boiler is unit-owned or association-owned before calling — it determines who authorizes work.
The common thread: know your building's heating arrangement before the emergency. The worst time to learn who owns the boiler is at 2 AM.
What counts as an emergency in Boston
Scale matters.
- No heat in a multi-unit building — the highest triage priority
- No heat with freezing weather — burst-pipe risk within hours
- Ignition lockout that will not reset — note the error code
- Water pouring from boiler or pipes — close the feed valve if safe; notify the building
- Heavy soot or smoke — shut down, evacuate if needed, call
- Carbon monoxide alarm — get everyone out, call 911
Emergency Repair in Boston, MA
While you wait
What helps.
Count the affected units — the number drives triage priority. Note the error code and boiler size/type if you know it. Notify tenants to protect pipes (drip taps, open cabinets) and report which units are cold. Ensure basement access is clear and someone authorized is reachable. Do not keep resetting a locked-out boiler.
The landlord obligation
Boston enforces it.
Massachusetts requires landlords to maintain 68°F daytime / 64°F overnight from September 15 to June 15 — and Boston's inspectional services (ISD) enforces it aggressively. A dead boiler in a Boston rental is a code violation with a clock: tenants can call ISD, and the city will order the heat restored. Landlords: the emergency call is cheaper than the enforcement action. Tenants: document everything in writing.
No-heat triage checklist for buildings
Two minutes before you call.
1) Scope — how many units are cold: the whole building, or some units. 2) Thermostat — calling for heat in the affected units. 3) Breaker — boiler circuit on. 4) Pressure gauge — 12–15 psi cold is normal for a two-story home, higher on tall buildings; near zero means a leak or failed expansion tank. 5) Error code — the exact display, photographed if possible. Notify tenants to protect pipes (drip taps, open cabinets) and confirm basement access is clear with someone authorized reachable. Do not keep resetting a locked-out boiler. The unit count drives triage priority — lead with it.
After the emergency: the 48-hour plan
Stabilized is not finished.
The emergency visit stabilizes; the next 48 hours decide whether it recurs. 1) Ask the tech what caused it and what prevents recurrence — write it down, not “I’ll remember.” 2) If it was maintenance debt, book the annual service now for next fall. 3) Landlords: document the timeline in writing — ISD, insurers, and tenants all prefer paper to memory. 4) If the block weeps or the unit is 30-plus with mounting repairs, start the replacement conversation on your timeline. Emergencies are expensive teachers; the tuition is only worth it if you do the homework.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers before you call.
How many units makes it a priority?
Any multi-unit outage outranks single-family in triage. The more units, the higher the priority — say the number when you call.
What does the emergency call cost?
Nothing. you can call to describe the problem; on-site work is quoted after diagnosis.
Who is responsible for the boiler in my condo?
Depends on your condo docs — central plant is usually association-owned; unit-level systems are owner-owned. Check before the emergency, not during.
My building has a super. Should they call instead of me?
Coordinate — the super knows the boiler room, shutoffs, and history. But any resident can start the triage; just have the super's contact ready.
Boston Emergency Boiler Services
Related services in the Boston area.
