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

Gowanus

237 11th Street

$2,590 base rent

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1

East Flatbush

1183 New York Avenue

$2,800 base rent

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Flatbush

2337 Bedford Avenue

$2,599 base rent

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1

Flatbush

1640 Nostrand Avenue

$2,550 base rent

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1

Crown Heights

489 Montgomery Street

$2,550 base rent

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1

Canarsie

9415 Foster Avenue

$2,200 base rent

2 |

1

Crown Heights

879 Saint Johns Place

$2,575 base rent

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1

Sunset Park

468 41st Street

$2,795 base rent

2 |

1

Wingate

630 Troy Avenue

$1,750 base rent

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1

Weeksville

1928 Pacific Street

$2,700 base rent

2 |

1

Flatbush

2324 Bedford Avenue

$2,799 base rent

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1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

1247 Atlantic Avenue

$2,650 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.

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Lenox Hill

167 East 77th Street

$2,850 base rent

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Yorkville

518 East 80th Street

$2,950 base rent

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1

NoMad

2 East 30th Street

$3,000 base rent

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

527 West 48th Street

$2,750 base rent

Studio |

1

Yorkville

405 East 82nd Street

$2,800 base rent

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

302 West 51st Street

$2,895 base rent

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1

Murray Hill

155 East 38th Street

$3,000 base rent

Studio |

1

Carnegie Hill

147 East 90th Street

$2,850 base rent

Studio |

1

Lenox Hill

317 East 73rd Street

$3,000 base rent

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1

Lenox Hill

371 East 62nd Street

$2,300 base rent

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1

Chinatown

102 Bayard Street

$2,070 base rent

Studio |

1

Murray Hill

300 East 38th Street

$2,500 base rent

Studio |

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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Hunters Point

46-09 11th Street

$2,636 base rent

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1

Jamaica

172-02 Hillside Avenue

$2,750 base rent

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Oakland Gardens

223-14 65th Avenue

$2,920 base rent

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1

Rego Park

65-65 Wetherole Street

$2,250 base rent

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1

Jamaica Hills

162-15 Highland Avenue

$2,409 base rent

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Astoria

23-06 31st Avenue

$2,740 base rent

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Middle Village

85-19 60 Drive

$2,500 base rent

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1

Jamaica

148-36 89th Avenue

$1,820 base rent

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1

Glendale

74-13 Cypress Hills Street

$2,650 base rent

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Kew Gardens Hills

72-61 150th Street

$2,246 base rent

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1

Woodside

56-05 31st Avenue

$2,500 base rent

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1

Kew Gardens Hills

75-25 153rd Street

$2,292 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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Bedford Park

3175 Grand Concourse

$1,895 base rent

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1

Woodstock

680 Beck Street

$2,000 base rent

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Riverdale

640 West 238th Street

$2,567 base rent

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Bronx

4360 Baychester Avenue

$1,900 base rent

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Pelham Bay

1845 Hobart Avenue

$1,950 base rent

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Belmont

2403 Hoffman Street

$1,625 base rent

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University Heights

2441 Jerome Avenue

$2,355 base rent

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Fordham

2387 Morris Avenue

$2,050 base rent

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Mt. Hope

1765 Townsend Avenue

$2,100 base rent

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1

Kingsbridge

3436 Kingsbridge Avenue

$2,534 base rent

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1

Mt. Hope

1765 Townsend Avenue

$3,000 base rent

3 |

1

North New York

109 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,595 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.