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

Bay Ridge

354 Bay Ridge Avenue

$2,295 base rent

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Flatbush

2605 Snyder Avenue

$2,400 base rent

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Sunset Park

348 43rd Street

$2,395 base rent

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Flatbush

177 Veronica Place

$2,899 base rent

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Gravesend

2230 Cropsey Avenue

$2,972 base rent

Studio |

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Flatbush

997 Rogers Avenue

$2,750 base rent

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Stuyvesant Heights

415 Chauncey Street

$2,650 base rent

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Bedford-Stuyvesant

1325 Fulton Street

$2,500 base rent

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Sheepshead Bay

2722 East 26th Street

$2,795 base rent

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Brighton Beach

2727 Ocean Parkway

$2,350 base rent

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Flatbush

2363 Bedford Avenue

$2,600 base rent

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Kensington

639 Foster Avenue

$2,100 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.

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

East Harlem

1743 Lexington Avenue

$2,100 base rent

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Central Harlem

204 West 133rd Street

$1,800 base rent

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East Harlem

1990 Lexington Avenue

$2,840 base rent

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Hell’s Kitchen

325 West 45th Street

$2,500 base rent

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Hell’s Kitchen

446 West 49th Street

$2,289 base rent

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Manhattanville

1440 Amsterdam Avenue

$2,929 base rent

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Fort George

235 Wadsworth Avenue

$2,200 base rent

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Hamilton Heights

153 Edgecombe Avenue

$2,587 base rent

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West Village

15 Cornelia Street

$2,850 base rent

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Washington Heights

75 Fort Washington Avenue

$2,519 base rent

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Central Harlem

525 Lenox Avenue

$2,795 base rent

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East Harlem

411 East 118th Street

$2,500 base rent

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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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Bayside

210-01 43rd Avenue

$2,525 base rent

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Jamaica

88-52 162nd Street

$2,839 base rent

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Briarwood

80-20 138th Street

$2,600 base rent

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Forest Hills

67-40 Yellowstone Boulevard

$2,595 base rent

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Elmhurst

44-10 Ketcham Street

$2,300 base rent

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Woodside

33-39 58th Street

$2,250 base rent

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Ditmars-Steinway

22-64 47th Street

$2,900 base rent

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Jamaica

88-24 162nd Street

$2,630 base rent

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Glen Oaks

245-20 Grand Central Parkway

$2,854 base rent

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Elmhurst

92-16 Whitney Avenue

$2,575 base rent

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Woodside

39-21 65th Place

$2,150 base rent

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Rego Park

67-47 Alderton Street

$2,500 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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North New York

456 East 149th Street

$2,075 base rent

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North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,284 base rent

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North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,357 base rent

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Spuyten Duyvil

3220 Fairfield Avenue

$2,775 base rent

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Castle Hill

2108 Chatterton Avenue

$1,850 base rent

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Spuyten Duyvil

3206 Fairfield Avenue

$2,709 base rent

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Fordham

2802 Grand Concourse

$1,900 base rent

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East Tremont

785 Fairmount Place

$1,739 base rent

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Mott Haven

286 Rider Avenue

$2,764 base rent

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Country Club

1130 Stadium Avenue

$2,300 base rent

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North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,750 base rent

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North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,600 base rent

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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.