Questions about caring for your house

A maintenance agreement covers every item on the property-specific checklist, normally during one visit each month. The checklist is written after a walkthrough and may include HVAC and boiler maintenance, filters, bathrooms, sinks, visible plumbing, gutters and drains, roof debris, lighting, pest prevention and entryways. Larger repairs, projects, specialty work, parts and materials are quoted separately.

Monthly visits keep preventive work on schedule and let the same lead technician notice changes in the house. They also put seasonal work at the right time of year, including heating service before cold weather and cooling service before hot weather.

Pricing depends on the size and condition of the house, the scope, the number and complexity of its systems, especially HVAC, and any add-on services. We walk through the house first, then the office prepares its checklist and agreement. Pricing is set after that walkthrough.

No. The maintenance agreement does not require a long-term commitment. Clients can cancel it at any time, and cancellation does not carry a fee or penalty.

The assigned technician follows that month's checklist, checks the systems and common trouble spots, and completes the scheduled preventive work. Small extras that take an hour or less are included during the visit. The end-of-day report lists what was done, test results, parts ordered and any follow-up work.

The same lead maintenance technician comes each month, learns the house and watches for changes that need attention. A property manager in the office serves as the point of contact and coordinates scheduling and follow-up.

Yes. We work directly with house managers, managing agents and supers to coordinate scheduling and follow-up. We also work alongside architects and other vendors involved with the property.

No. Anyone can call the office for an estimate and one-time work. Agreement clients receive preferred pricing and scheduling, access to the full list of services, and an assigned technician who knows the house. The 24/7 emergency line is reserved for agreement clients.

Whoever you name when the agreement is set up: the owner, the house manager, or both.

Access is set up with the office when the agreement starts, and each monthly visit is booked in advance with you or your house manager.

Yes. Managing agents, co-op boards and house managers can ask the office for a certificate of insurance before work starts.

Agreement clients can call the 24/7 emergency line at 914-373-4658. Outside office hours, the goal is to arrive within 90 minutes. Actual arrival depends on the house's location, traffic and access.

An emergency threatens safety, an essential service or the property. Examples include no heat, no cooling, a significant leak or loss of water. Routine maintenance, minor repairs, cosmetic work and planned projects are scheduled during regular service hours.

Call the main office at 914-564-1325. It is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. The 24/7 emergency line is for agreement clients. Requests from non-clients are handled case by case.

Yes. Older New York City homes, including their piping, controls and restricted equipment spaces, are familiar ground. We inspect the existing system before deciding what should be maintained or recommending a repair or improvement.

Short-cycling means the boiler turns on and off more often than it should. Possible causes include thermostat or control problems, restricted airflow, pressure problems, dirty components or equipment that is not operating correctly. The system needs to be diagnosed before a repair or replacement is recommended.

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Uneven temperatures can come from airflow or balancing problems, thermostats or controls, insulation, water pressure, radiators, piping or ductwork. We inspect and test the system before recommending the next step.

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The recommendation is based on what is most cost-effective for the owner. We consider the equipment's age and condition, how long a repair is likely to last, parts availability, efficiency and the risk of another failure. We explain the options before you decide.

Yes, including multi-zone systems. NYC Brownstone maintains and diagnoses mini-splits and ductless equipment. Repairs and installations are handled with our separately insured affiliate, NYC Brownstone General Contracting. The equipment is tested to confirm that it is operating properly.

We identify the refrigerant from the equipment and its system information, and we work on all systems and refrigerants. R-22 is no longer used in new equipment and can be expensive to source. If a system uses it, we help compare continued service with upgrading.

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Yes. Depending on the house, we assess filters, ventilation, ductless equipment and humidity. NYC Brownstone services air purification, humidification and dehumidification systems. Any recommended repair or installation is handled with our affiliate, NYC Brownstone General Contracting.

Timing depends on the system, access, equipment availability, permits and any related electrical, plumbing or finish work. A proposed scope and schedule follow the inspection. Installations are handled with our affiliated NYC Brownstone General Contracting.

Call the office early to schedule a heating inspection and service before cold weather. Agreement clients have this seasonal work scheduled through their property manager as part of the house's maintenance plan.

Yes, when a project requires them. Our affiliate, NYC Brownstone General Contracting, coordinates the permit, inspection and filing process with the appropriate professionals. City inspections and filings for backflow devices, sprinkler systems and boilers can also be included in a maintenance agreement.

Yes. NYC Brownstone handles maintenance and has in-house HVAC and mechanical expertise. Repairs, installations and renovations are handled with NYC Brownstone General Contracting, a separately insured affiliated company run by the same family.

Yes. Our technicians have experience with Dornbracht, Waterworks and Rohl kitchen and bath fixtures, and Lochinvar boilers and water heaters.

NYC Brownstone maintains these fixtures and systems. NYC Brownstone General Contracting, our separately insured affiliate, repairs and replaces them.

Elevator and AV work are handled by outside specialists. The office finds the appropriate company, schedules the visit, coordinates access and manages the specialist while they are in the house. This coordination is priced separately.

Yes. We are fully licensed and insured for the work we perform. The HVAC technicians who service heating and cooling equipment are EPA 608 certified.

Coverage depends on the equipment, manufacturer, part and scope of work. Before a job is approved, we explain the applicable parts and labor coverage for that work.

We work throughout New York City. Most of the homes we maintain are in Manhattan and Brooklyn, including the Upper East Side, West Village, Harlem, Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Fort Greene and Bedford-Stuyvesant. Service is not limited to those neighborhoods.