In-Unit Water Heaters in NYC Condos

Updated Oct 11, 2026 · 3 min read

Summary: It used to be that a central boiler in the basement supplied every apartment's hot water. In new NYC condos, it's increasingly a tank in your own closet. We read the hot water specs in the offering plans.

The shift Tanks in 65% of new plans
Building size Small buildings use in-unit tanks
Who pays It follows the equipment
Living with it Space, size, leaks, replacement

How It's Changed

We read the hot water specs in 1,646 NYC condo offering plans. 65% of plans filed since 2024 put a tank water heater in each apartment, up from 35% before 2016, and another 8% use in-unit tankless heaters. Central boilers dropped from 53% of plans to 24%.

Hot water source	Plans filed before 2016	Plans filed 2024–2026
Tank water heater in each apartment	35%	65%
Central boiler for the building	53%	24%
Tankless heater in each apartment	4%	8%
Central heat pump water heater	—	2%
Con Edison district steam	4%	under 1%

Share of plans that describe the hot water system: 320 filed before 2016, 488 filed 2024 or later. Other systems make up the rest; a dash means none.

Part of this is the small-building boom in Brooklyn, where in-unit tanks are standard. Part of it is the move away from gas: an electric water heater in each apartment is a simple way to build without a gas boiler.

Building Size Is the Biggest Factor

Tank water heater in each apartment, by building size (plans filed 2022 or later)

Under 10 apartments	76%
10–29 apartments	51%
30–99 apartments	25%
100+ apartments	17%

Share of plans that describe the hot water system.

Among plans filed since 2022:

Under 10 apartments (499 plans): 76% use a tank in each apartment, and another 13% use tankless heaters.
10 to 29 apartments (186 plans): 51% use a tank in each apartment.
30 to 99 apartments (84 plans): 65% use a central boiler.
100+ apartments (24 plans): 83% use a central system.

A small but growing number of newer buildings (12 plans filed since 2022) use central heat pump water heaters, which make hot water with electricity for the whole building. Expect to see more of them as city climate laws push large buildings off gas.

Who Pays for Hot Water?

It follows the equipment. Among the 492 plans that say who pays:

In buildings under 10 apartments, owners pay directly in 86% of plans (269 plans), through their own electric or gas bill. In buildings with 10 to 29 apartments, it's 66%.
In buildings with 30 to 99 apartments, hot water is part of common charges in 61% of plans (74 plans).
In buildings with 100+ apartments, it's in common charges in 96% of the 23 plans that say.

That's one reason common charges in big buildings can look higher: they're covering a bill that small-building owners pay separately. More in who pays which utilities in NYC condos.

Living With an In-Unit Water Heater

The catch: if the heater is in your apartment, you usually pay for the energy and the replacement.

It takes up space. A tank usually lives in a utility closet, often alongside the HVAC air handler.
You'll replace it eventually. Tank water heaters typically last around 10 to 15 years, and replacement is the owner's cost.
Check the size. A small tank in a three-bedroom can mean lukewarm showers when everyone's home. The plan often lists the model or capacity.
Look for a drain pan and leak detection. A leaking tank can damage your neighbor's ceiling, and you may be responsible for the repair.

FAQ

Do NYC condos have individual water heaters?

Increasingly, yes. 65% of NYC condo offering plans filed since 2024 put a tank water heater in each apartment, and another 8% use tankless heaters.

Is hot water included in NYC condo common charges?

In large buildings with a central boiler, usually yes. In buildings under 10 apartments, owners pay for it on their own utility bill in 86% of plans that say.

Who replaces a condo water heater?

If it's inside your apartment and serves only your unit, it's generally your responsibility. Check the offering plan and bylaws for the building's rules.

What is district steam?

Con Edison's steam network, which heats some Manhattan buildings and their hot water. It's the hot water source in 17 of the plans we read, 1 of them filed since 2022.

Where do these figures come from?

From the hot water systems described in 1,646 NYC condo offering plans, and who pays for hot water in 492, grouped by the year the plan was first filed. Percentages are of plans that describe the system. Updated October 2026.