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

Wingate

741 Fenimore Street

$2,600 base rent

1 |

1.5

East Flatbush

1667 Brooklyn Avenue

$2,350 base rent

Studio |

1

Gravesend

1642 West 11th Street

$1,742 base rent

1 |

1

Prospect Lefferts Gardens

227 Clarkson Avenue

$2,577 base rent

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1

Flatbush

1120 Rogers Avenue

$2,850 base rent

2 |

1

Williamsburg

101 Varet Street

$2,990 base rent

Studio |

1

Clinton Hill

219 Clinton Avenue

$2,600 base rent

Studio |

1

Flatbush

2602 Snyder Avenue

$2,945 base rent

2 |

1

Kensington

388 East 3rd Street

$2,900 base rent

2 |

1

Fort Hamilton

28 Marine Avenue

$2,350 base rent

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1

Fort Hamilton

267 94th Street

$2,800 base rent

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2

Stuyvesant Heights

937 Jefferson Avenue

$2,558 base rent

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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

Murray Hill

153 East 37th Street

$3,000 base rent

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

433 West 162nd Street

$2,300 base rent

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1

Kips Bay

142 East 33rd Street

$2,945 base rent

Studio |

1

East Harlem

315 East 108th Street

$2,100 base rent

Studio |

1

East Harlem

151 East 106th Street

$2,850 base rent

2 |

1

Hamilton Heights

720 Riverside Drive

$2,425 base rent

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1

Central Harlem

2809 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,700 base rent

3 |

1

Hamilton Heights

507 West 135th Street

$2,600 base rent

3 |

1

Fort George

60 Thayer Street

$2,100 base rent

1 |

1

Kips Bay

237 East 26th Street

$2,795 base rent

1 |

1

South Harlem

53 Saint Nicholas Avenue

$1,950 base rent

Studio |

1

Fort George

4650 Broadway

$2,743 base rent

1 |

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

Woodside

43-05 65th Street

$1,700 base rent

Studio |

1

Astoria

32-41 45th Street

$2,400 base rent

2 |

1

Astoria

35-21 28th Street

$2,950 base rent

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1

Rego Park

99-46 62 Drive

$2,500 base rent

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1

Glendale

72-31 68th Street

$2,900 base rent

2 |

1

Middle Village

61-88 Dry Harbor Road

$2,100 base rent

1 |

1

Astoria

31-77 33rd Street

$2,500 base rent

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1

Flushing

143-40 41st Avenue

$2,250 base rent

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1

Murray Hill (Queens)

144-48 Roosevelt Avenue

$2,495 base rent

2 |

2

Fresh Meadows

196-66 69th Avenue

$2,750 base rent

2 |

1

Fresh Meadows

196-66 69th Avenue

$2,350 base rent

1 |

1

Fresh Meadows

196-66 69th Avenue

$1,950 base rent

Studio |

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

Woodstock

680 Beck Street

$2,000 base rent

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1

Throgs Neck

645 Hollywood Avenue

$1,950 base rent

Studio |

1

Norwood

45 East Mosholu Parkway North

$2,600 base rent

2 |

1

Mott Haven

112 Lincoln Avenue

$2,470 base rent

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1

Mott Haven

286 Rider Avenue

$2,573 base rent

2 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,277 base rent

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,478 base rent

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1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,479 base rent

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1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,500 base rent

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1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,895 base rent

2 |

1

North New York

419 East 135th Street

$2,553 base rent

2 |

1

Mott Haven

286 Rider Avenue

$2,671 base rent

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2

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.