Sure, you can throw on a sweater when things get chilly at home. But what can you do if your apartment feels like an oven when the temperature drops? If you live in an older NYC apartment, you may have noticed that no matter how cold it gets outside, inside your dwelling feels excruciatingly hot and dry. What can you do if you have an overheated NYC apartment this winter? These tips will help you cool down.

Brooklyn Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Kensington

58 Dahill Road

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

407 Chauncey Street

$2,400 base rent

1 |

1

Greenpoint

85 Commercial Street

$2,800 base rent

Studio |

1

Flatbush

2366 Bedford Avenue

$2,800 base rent

1 |

1

Crown Heights

777 Saint Marks Avenue

$2,800 base rent

Studio |

1

Flatbush

2366 Bedford Avenue

$2,840 base rent

1 |

1

Bushwick

194 Wilson Avenue

$2,975 base rent

2 |

1

Ocean Hill

342 Marion Street

$1,850 base rent

2 |

1

Flatbush

1209 Rogers Avenue

$2,395 base rent

1 |

1

Flatbush

2366 Bedford Avenue

$2,720 base rent

1 |

1

East Flatbush

906 East New York Avenue

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

Weeksville

1225 Eastern Parkway

$2,875 base rent

1 |

1

Understanding How Your Apartment Is Heated

If you live in an older apartment building, chances are your building uses steam heating. According to a 2019 city report, more than 80% of large multifamily buildings still use steam heating systems. These systems are inefficient and old and often distribute heat unevenly throughout the building, resulting in an overheated apartment. Also, landlords might simply be turning up the heat to ensure all the apartments in the building are getting to the required temperature. As a result, your well-heated apartment could be well above that temperature!

On top of that, your apartment is being heated precisely the way it was meant to be: that is, overheated. This view dates back to the 1900s when health experts encouraged NYC residents to keep their windows open for fresh air no matter how cold the temperature outside. Today, of course, we realize what a huge waste of energy this is.

If you can’t control the heat in your building or convince your landlord to cool it, then it’s time for a quick fix. Here are seven renter-friendly methods to cool your overheated NYC apartment in the winter. 

Open the Windows to Release Some Heat

This seems like an obvious solution, but it can help. It does have drawbacks, though: Heating comes in waves, so while you may go to sleep nice and cozy, you could wake up with chattering teeth. Opening a window also may not always solve the problem, as the radiator can simply overpower the cool air.

Manhattan Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Marble Hill

170 West 225th Street

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

Inwood

5055 Broadway

$2,900 base rent

1 |

1

Central Harlem

166 West 129th Street

$1,895 base rent

Studio |

1

Inwood

5055 Broadway

$2,840 base rent

1 |

1

Inwood

5055 Broadway

$2,760 base rent

1 |

1

Carnegie Hill

161 East 96th Street

$2,450 base rent

Studio |

1

Inwood

5055 Broadway

$2,716 base rent

1 |

1

Inwood

5055 Broadway

$2,680 base rent

1 |

1

Inwood

5055 Broadway

$2,636 base rent

1 |

1

Upper West Side

49 West 72nd Street

$2,900 base rent

Studio |

1

East Harlem

318 East 126th Street

$1,900 base rent

Studio |

1

Carnegie Hill

1596 Third Avenue

$2,495 base rent

Studio |

1

Turn the Heat Off in Your Overheated NYC Apartment

You may have noticed that your heater has a knob on its side. This valve doesn’t control the heat (as many people assume) but does allow you to turn the heater itself off. (Though, of course, steam will still be traveling through the steam pipes in the room, contributing significant warmth.) If you choose this solution, make sure you turn the knob all the way off, or your radiator might clang.

Install a Thermostatic Valve or Vent

If you’re willing to dish out cash for a small upgrade, you can call a professional to install a thermostatic radiator valve that gives you control over the amount of heat generated. The valve is generally inexpensive, but a proper installation can run several hundred dollars. Still, that might be worth it in the long run especially if you plan to stay in your overheated NYC apartment for years to come. You can also ask your landlord to cover some or all of the cost, though we can’t guarantee they will.

Use a Fan to Cool Down Your Overheated NYC Apartment

Fans aren’t just for summer! Use a fan to move stagnant air around your apartment and disperse some of the heat. Place the box fan in front of a window to create a draft, and a (hopefully) cool breeze will help counteract the radiator’s power.

You can also use your ceiling fan in the winter to help mitigate the heat. Ceiling fans that spin counterclockwise actually cool the room more than fans that spin clockwise. Luckily, you can reverse the rotation of your fan on your own. 

Queens Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Astoria

49-10 30th Avenue

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

Astoria

32-38 36th Street

$2,700 base rent

1 |

1

Rockaway All

122-20 Ocean Pm

$2,550 base rent

1 |

1

Bayside

36-07 213rd Street

$2,595 base rent

1 |

1

Astoria

34-46 Vernon Boulevard

$2,737 base rent

Studio |

1

Oakland Gardens

75-08 Bell Boulevard

$2,300 base rent

1 |

1

Woodhaven

86-22 98th Street

$2,050 base rent

1 |

1

Kew Gardens

84-17 Austin Street

$2,349 base rent

1 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

23-12 Steinway Street

$2,600 base rent

2 |

1

Forest Hills

67-41 Burns Street

$2,195 base rent

1 |

1

Astoria

23-49 33rd Avenue

$2,000 base rent

1 |

1

Maspeth

60-23 54th Street

$2,600 base rent

2 |

1

Invest in a Radiator Cover

A radiator cover will set you back a few hundred dollars, but it’s a solution you can implement without having to call in the pros. A simpler solution is to cover the radiator’s top and sides with thick, unpainted wooden boards or other nonflammable materials, like a slab of marble. The idea is to insulate the heat, reducing the amount that escapes into your apartment.

Cover the Radiator With Fabric to Cool Down

It’s like a magic trick for an overheated apartment — simply cover the radiator with a piece of fabric. Is this safe? Experts agree that, surprisingly, it is. Typical radiators don’t go above around 215 degrees Fahrenheit, not enough to set fabric on fire. To be on the safe side, use wool or thick cotton fabric — synthetic materials like polyester might melt at this temperature. Still uncomfortable placing anything on your radiator? Buy a heat-resistant thermal fabric, which guarantees durability below a certain temperature.

Bronx Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Throgs Neck

364 Huntington Avenue

$2,850 base rent

3 |

1

North New York

91 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,962 base rent

2 |

2

Parkchester

1500 Metropolitan Avenue

$2,700 base rent

2 |

1

North New York

91 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,974 base rent

2 |

1

Parkchester

1523 Unionport Road

$2,700 base rent

2 |

1

University Heights

2265 Grand Avenue

$1,900 base rent

1 |

1

Concourse

1001 Walton Avenue

$2,375 base rent

2 |

1

Crotona Park East

1841 Mohegan Avenue

$2,150 base rent

2 |

1

Spuyten Duyvil

3210 Arlington Avenue

$2,299 base rent

2 |

1

Melrose

308 East 151st Street

$2,350 base rent

2 |

1

Spuyten Duyvil

3215 Arlington Avenue

$2,949 base rent

2 |

1

Mott Haven

310 Grand Concourse

$2,399 base rent

Studio |

1

Use a Humidifier to Combat Dry Air In Your Overheated NYC Apartment

Overheating and dryness often go hand-in-hand. If your apartment is so dry that your knuckles are bleeding, a humidifier is a must. You can buy a cheap humidifier and place it near your bed, or you can use the radiator’s own heat to create a makeshift humidifier by placing a shallow bowl of water on the radiator. Just remember to refill it regularly — and marvel at how quickly your radiator evaporates an entire bowl of water.