Back to Blog Entries
The leaves are now beginning to fall, which any Bostonian knows is a sign that winter is coming. And with winter coming that means cold temperatures are also coming to Boston.
We have put together this list of tips to help you keep warm this winter. It doesn't matter if your rent includes heat or not, or if you are renting or if you own a condo. These tips are not only money and energy saving (yay Earth!), but they can also mean the difference between whether you can see your breath in your apartment or not.
The first step to staying warm this winter is to prevent heat from being lost in your apartment. If your heat is included in your rent then most likely you have plenty of heat coming in to heat your place. If that's the case, and you are still chilly, you are most likely losing more heat than the system can give you. Simply preventing heat loss can help dramatically with this, here's how:
If you still have an AC in your window, remove it! ACs are the number one cause of heat loss. They vent directly to the outside so your heat literally goes straight out the window. The city requires ACs to be out of the windows by October 1st anyway.
Consider upgrading to heavy panel curtains for the winter. The heavy curtains will help to insulate your windows and block drafts during the cold nights. During the daytime open the curtains and let the sun's heat warm up your place.
If your apartment has old, wooden windows, and/or if your windows are not double pane (2 layers of glass with insulating gas between them) you should seal them with window film to insulate them. This will prevent tons of heat from being lost. You can find DIY kits like this one on Amazon for just a few dollars.
Finally, try to block as many air drafts as you can. If you have cracks or gaps between the floors or walls try stuffing some foam in them to stop air drafts. You may also put draft stoppers in front of your entry doors like this one. Also, if there are rooms that you don't use often you can close the doors to focus more heat into the room(s) that you do spend most of your time in.
If you think back to science class you probably learned that cold air sinks and hot air rises. A lot of times your apartment is producing plenty of heat, it's just floating up to your ceiling or isn't being circulated properly which can leave some rooms cold while others are warm. Having good circulation and air flow during the heating season is key to having a warm apartment. Here's how you can improve your air circulation:
If your apartment has it's own HVAC (heating, ventilation & air conditioning) system you should be changing your air filter monthly. A dirty filter will cut your system's efficiency dramatically. By keeping your filter clean it allows better circulation in the system, and the warm air can move through the ductwork more freely.
Radiators, baseboards, and vents all need space around them for air to circulate properly. Even though a radiator will get super hot, it may not properly heat your apartment if you have furniture pushed up against it. Make sure that furniture is at least 6" away from vents and radiators to help warm up the whole room, not just the back of your couch.
If you have a ceiling fan in your apartment you can use it to help push the hot air that rises to the ceiling back down. Just reverse the direction of the blades by flicking the switch on the fan (see picture above) and put it on the lowest speed setting. Cool air will get drawn up towards the fan and the blades will help push the warm air back down.
Although it seems like a logical idea to just buy a space heater or use your oven to add additional warmth to your apartment, these are not the safest solutions. Yes, using your oven will add heat to your apartment, but it's very unsafe to use your oven strictly as a source of heat...especially if it is a gas oven. And if you absolutely must have a space heater for a room that you just can't quite seem to get warm always check with your landlord first to make sure it is done safely and that the building's electrical system can handle the additional load.
Stay warm (and safe) this winter!
Like us on Facebook to be notified of new posts!
Find Your Home
The property listing data and information set forth herein were provided to MLS Property Information Network, Inc. from third party sources, including sellers, lessors and public records, and were compiled by MLS Property Information Network, Inc. The property listing data and information are for the personal, non-commercial use of consumers having a good faith interest in purchasing or leasing listed properties of the type displayed to them and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties which such consumers may have a good faith interest in purchasing or leasing. MLS Property Information Network, Inc. and its subscribers disclaim any and all representations and warranties as to the accuracy of the property listing data and information set forth herein.
A&S Realty, Inc and their agents make no warranties or representations as to the accuracy of this data, although good faith efforts have been made to ensure that the data displayed on this page is as accurate as possible. In certain cases listings are syndicated through another agency, management company, or through the MLS. A&S Realty, Inc is not responsible for the data that is displayed from a syndicate partner. Listings may no longer be available, pricing may be subject to change, and any photos or descriptions may be of a similar unit or from a previous year.
