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

Clinton Hill

493 Clinton Avenue

$2,200 base rent

Studio |

1

Bushwick

124 Linden Street

$2,874 base rent

2 |

1

Mapleton

2464 64th Street

$2,700 base rent

3 |

1

Sunset Park

550 55th Street

$2,900 base rent

3 |

1

Bensonhurst

1975 83rd Street

$2,300 base rent

1 |

1

Brooklyn Heights

49 Willow Street

$3,000 base rent

Studio |

1

Bensonhurst

8002 21st Avenue

$2,154 base rent

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1

Flatbush

1382 Flatbush Avenue

$2,704 base rent

2 |

1

Flatbush

1005 Rogers Avenue

$2,770 base rent

1 |

1

Flatbush

997 Rogers Avenue

$3,000 base rent

2 |

1

Bushwick

913 Broadway

$2,100 base rent

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1

Flatbush

215 Lenox Road

$2,599 base rent

Studio |

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.

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Yorkville

352 East 85th Street

$2,650 base rent

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1

Upper West Side

328 West 83rd Street

$2,895 base rent

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1

Central Harlem

2847 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

$2,495 base rent

3 |

1

East Harlem

337 East 115th Street

$2,741 base rent

2 |

1

Yorkville

212 East 88th Street

$2,650 base rent

1 |

1

East Village

307 East 9th Street

$2,900 base rent

Studio |

1

Lenox Hill

1277 Third Avenue

$2,695 base rent

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

610 West 164th Street

$2,654 base rent

1 |

1

Central Harlem

230 W 126th Street

$2,786 base rent

Studio |

1

East Village

141 East 13th Street

$2,795 base rent

Studio |

1

Fort George

540 West 189th Street

$2,521 base rent

1 |

1

Inwood

87 Post Avenue

$2,395 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. 

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Sunnyside

43-34 49th Street

$2,350 base rent

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

18-20 21st Avenue

$2,250 base rent

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1

Sunnyside

51-01 Skillman Avenue

$2,700 base rent

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1

Sunnyside

43-34 49th Street

$2,700 base rent

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1

Sunnyside

42-09 47th Avenue

$2,800 base rent

1 |

1

North Corona

37-28 104th Street

$2,095 base rent

1 |

1

Astoria

32-74 45th Street

$2,750 base rent

1 |

1

Forest Hills

104-10 Metropolitan Avenue

$2,300 base rent

1 |

1

Ridgewood

66-47 Forest Avenue

$2,800 base rent

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1

Richmond Hill

86-03 102nd Street

$2,350 base rent

2 |

1

Jamaica Estates

188-30 87 Drive

$2,550 base rent

2 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

21-15 33rd Street

$2,900 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.

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Morris Heights

2004 Davidson Avenue

$2,600 base rent

2 |

1

Mott Haven

286 Rider Avenue

$2,445 base rent

2 |

1

Concourse

711 Walton Avenue

$1,575 base rent

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1

Mott Haven

276 Grand Concourse

$2,975 base rent

2 |

2

Riverdale

3585 Greystone Avenue

$2,900 base rent

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1

North New York

710 East 138th Street

$2,090 base rent

2 |

1

Mott Haven

276 Grand Concourse

$2,921 base rent

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1

Mott Haven

276 Grand Concourse

$2,865 base rent

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1

Riverdale

6545 Broadway

$1,700 base rent

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1

North New York

133 Brown Place

$2,800 base rent

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2

North New York

147 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,150 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

276 Grand Concourse

$2,375 base rent

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.