health & safety

Woman warming hands near chilly radiator

Roommates + Landlords

Can my landlord give me a space heater instead of fixing the heat?

By Brick Underground |January 26, 2026 - 11:30AM

Fire escape on brick apartment building in NYC

Troubleshooting

By Brick Underground |October 8, 2025 - 9:30AM

faucet with hand of woman in kitchen for cleaning, drinking and washing dishes. Interior, steel and household plumbing with sink and tap at home for stream, flowing and splash

Troubleshooting

I used NYC’s free program to test my apartment’s drinking water for lead. Here’s how you can too

… person at heart so when a good friend told me that he was testing his tap water for lead I immediately began worrying … tested their water for lead through New York Citys free testing program since it launched in 1992 according to the …

By Celia Young |March 5, 2025 - 3:30PM

Flowering pink-purpleish tree in front of Park Slope Brownstones

Products + Test-drives

5 ways to allergy-proof your NYC apartment

By Celia Young |April 29, 2024 - 12:30PM

In New York City, United States this older residential building viewed from the High Line has old fashioned fire escapes visible on its exterior.

Troubleshooting

How can I check if my NYC apartment building is fire-code compliant?

… story contained reporting by Alanna Schubach Trouble at home Get your NYC apartmentdweller questions answered by an … live How can I make sure my building is up to code … Live … Troubleshooting … Ask an Expert … fire safety … health & …

By Celia Young |March 6, 2024 - 11:34AM

Exterior view of old New York City style architecture apartment building with windows and fire escapes

Roommates + Landlords

Most NYC residential buildings must install natural gas detectors by 2025

By Celia Young |February 26, 2024 - 10:40AM

Troubleshooting

How can I make a neighboring building owner take down scaffolding that's been up for years?

By Celia Young |January 16, 2024 - 5:30PM

Smoke from wildfires obscures the Triborough Bridge.

Small Projects + DIY

5 ways to improve the air quality inside your NYC apartment

… staying inside when the air quality is low An air quality index AQI reading of above 50 is poor for those in sensitive … … One of the easiest ways to keep poor air out of your home is to seal your apartment Keep your doors and windows … and leaks that could be allowing air to sneak into your home and plug those spaces with towels or other cloths as …

By Celia Young |July 11, 2023 - 12:30PM