Hudson County residents prepare for winter with upgrades to their 60-year-old building
Before she started taking showers at her gym this summer, Rosita had carried pots of hot water from her kitchen to her bathroom but decided that was too dangerous. The hot water in parts of her building in North Bergen had not worked for weeks, due to an old boiler, and she had little hope of helping the co-op board find an affordable solution – until someone suggested PSE&G.
“Our PSE&G representative is very serious, trustworthy and he’s bilingual, which is a plus since many of us speak Spanish,” said Angel Rivera, building association president. “He recommended a new water heater but to get it we had to install new gas piping so we could go from oil to natural gas. When the job was done, I said ‘Wow, I can’t believe it.’ We all had hot water.”
Association Secretary Luz Salinas said that because PSE&G allowed on-bill payments over time and added the needed gas meter and pipes too, the building is prepped for the next phase of conversion to natural gas heating – which will save money, save energy and is better for the environment.
“We’ve had experience with companies that promise a lot but don’t deliver, yet working with PSE&G is a big relief,” Luz said. “I’ve known the company forever and I trust they’re going to solve the problem and get it right.”
Association members said the 43-unit building, located across from a large park with views of New York City, was built for World War II veterans. They said, today, many of the owners are the veterans’ family members who know little about maintaining such a large building.
“They were in a tough spot and I’m glad we could help them,” said Charlie Vega, program support leader, PSE&G HVAC Management. “We’d like to help even more people.”
Charlie said he cares about raising awareness of PSE&G’s programs because often, by the time people get to him, they are desperate for help. Particularly with winter approaching, he encourages both individuals and businesses to check their systems and call for help when needed.
“We’ve been around for more than 120 years and we’re not going anywhere,” Charlie noted. “Someone will answer your questions, even years later. We’ll come out, take a look and guide you. People trust us and that’s a good feeling.”
PSE&G Gas Operations prepares year-round to reliably deliver heat in the winter to 1.9 million customers. Such work includes: repairing and replacing customer appliances; responding to no-heat calls; upgrading aging pipes and equipment to modern materials; conducting system checks and safety inspections; finalizing plans such as having sufficient and alternate fuel supplies; training; and, maintaining needed parts and materials.
One simple task that homeowners can do to help keep heating systems in top shape is to replace the air filter regularly.
Check out the video below to learn more about how we prepare for winter as well as some gas safety tips from Wade and Craig, two senior members of our Gas Operations team.
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