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

Bushwick

123 Melrose Street

$2,683 No Fee

Studio |

1

Brownsville

507 Thatford Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

4 |

1

East Flatbush

995 East 52nd Street

$2,900 No Fee

3 |

2

Dyker Heights

627 90th Street

$2,300 No Fee

2 |

1

Crown Heights

560 Prospect Place

$2,899 No Fee

1 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

19 Jefferson Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

2 |

1

Flatbush

1640 Nostrand Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

2 |

1.5

Fort Greene

15 Greene Avenue

$2,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Brighton Beach

363 Neptune Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

2 |

2

Flatbush

1640 Nostrand Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Crown Heights

698 Eastern Parkway

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Flatbush

179 Martense Street

$2,400 No Fee

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 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

Greenwich Village

12 Fifth Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

Studio |

1

Carnegie Hill

1654 Third Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

South Harlem

241 Central Park North

$2,650 No Fee

1 |

1

Lower East Side

65 Rivington Street

$2,995 No Fee

2 |

1

Yorkville

449 East 84th Street

$2,600 No Fee

1 |

1

Hamilton Heights

367 Edgecomb Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Hamilton Heights

367 Edgecomb Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

South Harlem

1465 Fifth Avenue

$2,050 No Fee

Studio |

1

Carnegie Hill

121 East 97th Street

$2,040 No Fee

Studio |

1

Turtle Bay

307 East 44th Street

$2,800 No Fee

Studio |

1

Turtle Bay

310 East 44th Street

$2,900 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Harlem

330 East 119th Street

$2,769 No Fee

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. 

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

Astoria

27-35 21st Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Fresh Meadows

194-05 67th Avenue

$2,550 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

35-25 32nd Street

$1,875 No Fee

Studio |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

18-29 Ditmars Boulevard

$2,600 No Fee

2 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-18 42nd Street

$2,099 No Fee

1 |

1

Jackson Heights

74-15 35th Avenue

$2,185 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

47-40 41st Street

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Bayside

39-15 216th Street

$2,650 No Fee

1 |

1

Murray Hill (Queens)

144-24 37th Avenue

$2,250 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

34-15 30th Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

43-34 49th Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Kew Gardens

83-61 116th Street

$1,972 No Fee

Studio |

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

Fordham

2482 Tiebout Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

3 |

1

Mott Haven

322 Grand Concourse

$2,595 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

310 Grand Concourse

$2,851 No Fee

2 |

1

Fordham

2350 Creston Avenue

$1,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Wakefield

4303 Baychester Avenue

$1,315 No Fee

Studio |

1

Crotona Park East

1390 Prospect Avenue

$2,099 No Fee

2 |

1

Norwood

253 East 206th Street

$1,700 No Fee

1 |

1

Fieldston

210 West 251st Street

$2,700 No Fee

2 |

1.5

Highbridge

1327 Merriam Avenue

$1,498 No Fee

2 |

1

Mott Haven

350 East 134th Street

$1,400 No Fee

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

304 East 134th Street

$3,000 No Fee

2 |

1.5

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,542 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.