Temperatures this week are expected to fall as low as 22 degrees. If your home isn’t adequately heated, here are a few resources to assist you.
As you likely know, building owners are legally required to provide heat. Tenant advocates say if you’re a renter and you don’t have heat, immediately notify your landlord. If the landlord does not fix the problem, tenants should file a complaint with 311.
Make your home warmer while waiting for your landlord or 311 to respond
Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has a list of renter-friendly ways of weatherizing your apartment while you wait for your landlord or the city to respond to your heat complaint.
One solution is weatherizing your home with window film, which is placed over the glass and is said to keep up to 70% of heat from leaking out of the windows.
HCR also recommends draft stuffers placed at the bottom of the window frame. When closed tightly, these prevent air leaks.
Ovens, kerosene and propane space heaters
Do not use your oven as a heater. According to the city’s health department, this can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause seizures, serious injuries, or death. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include nausea, headaches, dizziness and fatigue. These symptoms are often misdiagnosed because they mimic the flu.
Do not use kerosene or propane space heaters. They are illegal in NYC because they have a high risk of death and generate carbon monoxide poisoning.
Electric space heaters
Using electric space heaters can be dangerous. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 46% of all home heating fires are caused by space heaters.
NYCHA says if you are using space heaters, only use ones approved for indoor use. NYCHA also shares these tips:
- Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn.
- Turn space heaters off when leaving a room or going to sleep.
- Remember that space heaters are temporary heating devices. They should only be used for a limited time each day.
- Plug space heaters directly into a wall. Never use an extension cord.
- Never use a space heater that has a damaged or frayed cord.
- Keep young children away from space heaters.
Heated blankets
Some people turn to heated blankets to stay warm, but they can also be a fire hazard. Here are some safety tips from State Farm:
- Check the product label to be sure it is tested and certified by a nationally recognized laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories.
- Use one with one auto-shutoff. State Farm says it’s not safe to leave it on all night.
- Keep the blanket flat while using. Bunched-up blankets can trap too much heat and be dangerous.
- Replace electric blankets that are more than 10 years old because even if they look fine, the internal elements may have deteriorated.
- Keep your pets away, as their claws might rip the blanket and expose the electrical wiring, which can create shock and fire hazards.
Warming centers
If you need a place to stay warm during the day, there may be warming centers in your neighborhood. Call 311 to find the nearest one. Libraries and community centers also serve as warming centers.
Back to the landlord. What to do if they don’t provide heat?
The City has suggestions on how you can push your landlord to turn on the heat.
The Metropolitan Council on Housing breaks down exactly what to do if your landlord does not provide heat, including how to get a rent abatement or freeze.
The city’s health department also has additional cold weather safety tips, including how to keep babies safe in an unheated home.
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