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

Flatbush

2080 Nostrand Avenue

$2,150 No Fee

2 |

1

Fort Hamilton

146 92nd Street

$1,895 No Fee

1 |

1

Bushwick

1240 Madison Street

$2,300 No Fee

Studio |

1.5

East Flatbush

441 East 51st Street

$1,700 No Fee

1 |

1

Williamsburg

598 Union Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

595 Halsey Street

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

Prospect Park South

170 East 19th Street

$1,675 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

376 Madison Street

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

1

Crown Heights

842 Franklin Avenue

$2,790 No Fee

2 |

1

Flatbush

3321 Glenwood Road

$2,999 No Fee

2 |

2

Stuyvesant Heights

656 Hancock Street

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

Bushwick

44 Troutman Street

$2,199 No 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 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

Hudson Heights

636 West 174th Street

$2,650 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

2211 Third Avenue

$2,435 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

105 East 10th Street

$3,000 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

636 East 14th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1

Manhattan Valley

166 West 107th Street

$2,279 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

43 East First Street

$2,249 No Fee

Studio |

1

Lenox Hill

1391 Second Avenue

$3,000 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

235 East 12th Street

$2,512 No Fee

Studio |

1

Lenox Hill

1270 First Avenue

$2,575 No Fee

1 |

1

Fort George

440 Audubon Avenue

$2,078 No Fee

1 |

1

Manhattan Valley

54 West 106th Street

$2,654 No Fee

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

411 West 43rd Street

$2,225 No Fee

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. 

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

Kew Gardens

83-83 118th Street

$2,600 No Fee

2 |

1

Oakland Gardens

223-16 65th Avenue

$2,550 No Fee

2 |

1

Jamaica Estates

87-01 Midland Parkway

$2,550 No Fee

2 |

1

Flushing

143-11 Barclay Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Briarwood

139-21 85 Drive

$2,350 No Fee

2 |

1

Kew Gardens

83-80 118th Street

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Rego Park

64-09 Booth Street

$2,025 No Fee

1 |

1

Briarwood

139-21 85 Drive

$1,990 No Fee

1 |

1

Flushing

143-09 Barclay Avenue

$1,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica Estates

87-01 Midland Parkway

$1,700 No Fee

Studio |

1

Flushing

143-06 Barclay Avenue

$1,675 No Fee

Studio |

1

Astoria

31-30 35th Street

$2,350 No 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.

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

Pelham Parkway

2190 Boston Road

$2,900 No Fee

2 |

2

Mott Haven

276 Grand Concourse

$2,209 No Fee

1 |

1

Woodstock

725 Southern Boulevard

$1,775 No Fee

1 |

1

University Heights

2643 Sedgewick Avenue

$1,650 No Fee

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

276 Grand Concourse

$2,356 No Fee

1 |

1

Pelham Parkway

2160 Wallace Avenue

$2,249 No Fee

2 |

1

Norwood

66 West Gun Hill Road

$1,700 No Fee

1 |

1

Belmont

2381 Hoffman Street

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

1

Highbridge

985 Summit Avenue

$2,025 No Fee

2 |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,692 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,538 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,385 No 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.