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

Midwood

1202 Avenue K

$2,483 base rent

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Boerum Hill

595 Baltic Street

$2,971 base rent

Studio |

1

Flatbush

346 East 29th Street

$2,200 base rent

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

807 Quincy Street

$2,195 base rent

Studio |

1

Homecrest

1745 East 16th Street

$1,891 base rent

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1

Prospect Park South

590 Ocean Avenue

$2,156 base rent

1 |

1

Weeksville

1487 Sterling Place

$2,450 base rent

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1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

1409 Fulton Street

$3,000 base rent

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1

Downtown Brooklyn

1 Duffield Street

$2,842 base rent

Studio |

1

Bushwick

486 Central Avenue

$1,999 base rent

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Sunset Park

6020 3rd Avenue

$2,995 base rent

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Clinton Hill

104 Washington Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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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.

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Central Harlem

2504 Adam C Powell Boulevard

$2,679 base rent

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Central Harlem

221 West 148th Street

$2,850 base rent

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1

Turtle Bay

303 East 46th Street

$2,400 base rent

Studio |

1

Yorkville

337 East 90th Street

$2,429 base rent

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

56 East 130th Street

$2,889 base rent

2 |

1

Hudson Heights

76 Pinehurst Avenue

$2,200 base rent

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1

South Harlem

212 West 124th Street

$2,846 base rent

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1

Central Harlem

56 East 130th Street

$2,533 base rent

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1

Carnegie Hill

175 East 92nd Street

$2,950 base rent

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1

Fort George

30 Dongan Place

$2,540 base rent

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South Harlem

10 West 122nd Street

$2,857 base rent

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East Village

225 East 5th Street

$2,795 base rent

Studio |

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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. 

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Fresh Meadows

61-24 185th Street

$2,450 base rent

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Oakland Gardens

61-30 220th Street

$2,375 base rent

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Briarwood

86-11 139th Street

$1,995 base rent

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Long Island City

30-16 38th Avenue

$2,650 base rent

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1

Kew Gardens

118-80 Metropolitan Avenue

$1,850 base rent

Studio |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

23-29 33rd Street

$1,950 base rent

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1

Kew Gardens

118-80 Metropolitan Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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1

Woodside

61-15 43rd Avenue

$2,200 base rent

Studio |

1

Jackson Heights

33-29 84th Street

$2,800 base rent

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-55 33rd Street

$2,608 base rent

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1

Maspeth

59-63 56th Avenue

$2,300 base rent

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Sunnyside

47-14 48th Street

$2,650 base rent

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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.

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Soundview

875 Boynton Avenue

$2,168 base rent

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Morris Park

1130 Pelham Parkway South

$2,749 base rent

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2

Throgs Neck

364 Huntington Avenue

$2,850 base rent

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Mott Haven

2455 3rd Avenue

$2,495 base rent

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Claremont

794 Freeman Street

$2,795 base rent

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North New York

91 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,919 base rent

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1

Mott Haven

276 Grand Concourse

$2,257 base rent

Studio |

1

Bedford Park

367 East 201st Street

$2,000 base rent

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North New York

480 Concord Avenue

$2,150 base rent

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1

Highbridge

901 Woodcrest Avenue

$2,550 base rent

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1

Castle Hill

2010 Powell Avenue

$1,820 base rent

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West Farms

901 East 180th Street

$2,500 base rent

1 |

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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.