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

Stuyvesant Heights

277 Hart Street

$2,975 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

893 Lafayette Avenue

$2,775 No Fee

2 |

1

Farragut

5310 Clarendon Road

$1,850 No Fee

1 |

1

Flatbush

200 Linden Boulevard

$2,675 No Fee

1 |

1

Weeksville

1710 Carroll Street

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

460 Kosciusko Street

$3,000 No Fee

2 |

1

Prospect Park South

5 Westminster Road

$2,450 No Fee

2 |

2

Flatbush

270 Clarkson Avenue

$2,150 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

930 De Kalb Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

2 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

582 Mac Donough Street

$2,200 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

299 Hancock Street

$2,395 No Fee

Studio |

1

Weeksville

1656 Saint John’s Place

$2,450 No Fee

2 |

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

Washington Heights

918 Saint Nichlas Avenue

$1,945 No Fee

Studio |

1

Chelsea

347 West 16th Street

$2,795 No Fee

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1

Greenwich Village

78 Washington Place

$2,050 No Fee

Studio |

1

Inwood

112 Seaman Avenue

$2,600 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Village

329 East 12th Street

$2,102 No Fee

1 |

1

Lincoln Square

160 West 71st Street

$2,875 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

355 West 51st Street

$2,700 No Fee

1 |

1

Hamilton Heights

400 West 148th Street

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

1

East Village

76 E 1st Street

$2,499 No Fee

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

150 West 140th Street

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

1

Lenox Hill

339 East 65th Street

$2,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Chelsea

308 West 22nd Street

$3,000 No Fee

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

Astoria

25-17 30th Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

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Sunnyside

41-30 46th Street

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Kew Gardens Hills

77-63 Vleigh Place

$2,524 No Fee

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1

Kew Gardens Hills

77-63 Vleigh Place

$2,366 No Fee

Studio |

1

Astoria

30-60 36th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Rego Park

63-68 Austin Street

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Forest Hills

98-50 67th Avenue

$2,150 No Fee

Studio |

1

Ridgewood

2005 Palmetto Street

$1,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

30-33 32nd Street

$2,357 No Fee

1 |

1

Murray Hill (Queens)

144-12 34th Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Briarwood

139-09 84 Drive

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Forest Hills

102-12 65th Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

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

Spuyten Duyvil

3253 Cambridge Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Concourse

85 Mcclellan Street

$2,650 No Fee

2 |

1

Riverdale

4499 Henry Hudson Parkway West

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,256 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,438 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,250 No Fee

1 |

1

Tremont

2080 Grandconcourse

$1,650 No Fee

Studio |

1

University Heights

2285 Sedgewick Avenue

$1,699 No Fee

1 |

1

Bedford Park

3006 Decatur Avenue

$1,699 No Fee

1 |

1

Spuyten Duyvil

500 Kappock Street

$2,338 No Fee

1 |

1

Bedford Park

367 East 201st Street

$1,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Concourse

1279 Morris Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

1 |

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.