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.
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Brooklyn Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Williamsburg
147 Frost Street
$2,725No Fee
1 |
1
Stuyvesant Heights
501 Hancock Street
$2,395No Fee
1 |
1
Weeksville
1170 Saint Mark’s Avenue
$2,695No Fee
2 |
1
Bushwick
148 Wilson Avenue
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
115 Stanwix Street
$2,998No Fee
1 |
1
Stuyvesant Heights
912 Gates Avenue
$2,495No Fee
1 |
1
Bedford-Stuyvesant
113 Macdonough Street
$2,700No Fee
2 |
1
Windsor Terrace
31 Ocean Parkway
$2,990No Fee
1 |
1
Stuyvesant Heights
855 De Kalb Avenue
$2,900No Fee
2 |
1
Weeksville
1690 Bergen Street
$2,480No Fee
1 |
1
Prospect Lefferts Gardens
375 Lefferts Avenue
$2,999No Fee
1 |
1
Sunset Park
880 47th Street
$2,200No Fee
1 |
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 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 StreetEasyArticle continues below
Kips Bay
143 East 30th Street
$2,450No Fee
Studio |
1
Carnegie Hill
1261 Park Avenue
$2,500No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
608 East 9th Street
$2,799No Fee
1 |
1
Kips Bay
139 East 27th Street
$2,366No Fee
Studio |
1
Central Harlem
48 West 138th Street
$2,200No Fee
Studio |
1
Yorkville
515 East 83rd Street
$2,290No Fee
Studio |
1
Yorkville
314 East 80th Street
$2,200No Fee
Studio |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
531 West 48th Street
$2,475No Fee
1 |
1
Noho
302 Mott Street
$2,950No Fee
1 |
1
East Harlem
170 East 106th Street
$2,850No Fee
2 |
1
Lenox Hill
355 East 73rd Street
$2,495No Fee
Studio |
1
East Harlem
353 Pleasant Avenue
$2,300No Fee
2 |
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 StreetEasyArticle continues below
Astoria
32-76 32nd Street
$2,250No Fee
1 |
1
Rego Park
65-20 Booth Street
$2,750No Fee
2 |
1
Long Island City
34-15 37th Avenue
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Woodside
72-01 Queens Boulevard
$2,769No Fee
1 |
1
Woodside
72-01 Queens Boulevard
$2,747No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
30-44 29th Street
$2,475No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
25-90 35th Street
$2,350No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
31-38 38th Street
$2,025No Fee
2 |
1
Ridgewood
62-47 60 Place
$2,600No Fee
2 |
1
Elmhurst
42-02 Layton Street
$1,950No Fee
1 |
1
Maspeth
69-17 59 Road
$2,100No Fee
1 |
1
Murray Hill (Queens)
144-74 Northern Boulevard
$2,950No 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.
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Concourse
1565 Grand Concourse
$1,951No Fee
1 |
1
Concourse
1565 Grand Concourse
$2,827No Fee
2 |
1
Kingsbridge
3633 Kingsbridge Avenue
$2,350No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
2455 Third Avenue
$2,222No Fee
Studio |
1
Spuyten Duyvil
2610 Henry Hudson Parkway East
$2,250No Fee
2 |
1
Spuyten Duyvil
3210 Johnson Avenue
$2,600No Fee
2 |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,300No Fee
1 |
1
Melrose
368 East 152nd Street
$2,100No Fee
1 |
1
Spuyten Duyvil
644 West 227th Street
$2,250No Fee
1 |
1
Spuyten Duyvil
644 West 227th Street
$1,675No Fee
Studio |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,325No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,236No 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.