Perhaps you’re spending your first winter in an apartment building that requires you to pay for your own heat. Or maybe you have chillingly clear recollections of the sky-high heating bills you paid last February.
In either case, if it’s you who’s footing your apartment heating bill, you’re probably interested in remaining warm–while keeping costs to a minimum.
The good news is there are plenty of steps you can take to do just that. Many of them are old hat to homeowners who pay their own heating bills. But for renters accustomed to having heating costs included in their rent, these techniques can be a revelation–and a source of significant savings.
From insulating doors and windows to effective use of space heaters, heat savings tips are often simply a matter of exercising good common sense, say representatives of utility companies and other heating cost experts.
Windows and doors
The first step to lower heat bills this winter is an inspection of windows and doors. One move so obvious that many renters forget it each autumn is lowering storm windows, says Mike Kelly, a spokesman for ComEd in Chicago. By the time the oversight is noticed, the windows can be frozen in the up position.
“It’s the most obvious step, and it does make a difference in cutting down drafts,” says Kelly.
Also consider buying a window insulating kit, says Kathleen Walsh, public information officer with the City of Chicago’s Department of Buildings.
The kits, available at hardware stores for about $10, contain plastic sheeting that can be affixed over the window with tape or tacks, then fastened in place by use of a hand-held hair dryer. The kits are effective in minimizing the seepage of cold air through windows.
Cheryl Pitzler, a registered nurse who lives on Chicago’s North Side, installed a window-insulating kit last winter on one living-room window facing east and two large bedroom windows facing north.
“Living very close to the lake, I thought my heating bills would be high. This was a way to cut down on drafts.” This winter Pitzler plans to install an even heavier grade of plastic. That’s because last winter winds were so strong, and her windows so leaky, that it “almost blew the plastic off the window.”
Window coverings can help, too. Once arctic blasts arrive, use drapes or blinds judiciously. During the day, keep them open on windows exposed to sunlight. “That helps warm the air and cuts the load on the heating system,” says ComEd’s Kelly, who adds that drapes or blinds should be closed at night to help contain warmth in the apartment.
Doors are another point of entry for frigid air. Particularly in older buildings with apartments that open directly to the outside, warm air can leak out underneath doors, says Kelly.
“Weatherstripping made of foam can be installed at the base and sides of doors,” he says. “It can be easily removed and shouldn’t be a problem (when moving from the apartment).” If you have doubts about the removal, consult with your landlord.
Part of your heat dissipates each time you open an outside door. Keep trips outside to a minimum to avoid that heat loss. As you go out the door, check around the frames to see if caulking is required. And make a mental note to check all doors and windows periodically for the kind of snug fit that can help prevent the intrusion of winter’s chill.
Other heat thieves
Of course, windows and doors aren’t the only places drafts can appear. Deb Odefey, a spokesperson for Naperville-based Northern Illinois Gas, reports that heat loss can also occur around mail slots, switch plates, wall plugs and plumbing inlets exposed to the cold. Each of these areas should be insulated, she says.
“If you have electrical outlets that aren’t in use on outside walls, you can put childproof plugs into the outlets or tape over them to prevent drafts from coming into the unit,” she says.
Cracks in plaster behind moldings and baseboards are another source of drafts. Ask building management to caulk the cracks before the onset of cold weather.
Don’t overlook other heat loss culprits, such as fireplaces and kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans, adds Odefey. When the fireplace is not in use, the damper should be firmly closed. If kitchen and bathroom fans vent outside, keep their use to a minimum in extremely cold weather.
To the source
Turn next to your heating system. According to figures supplied by Northern Illinois Gas, every degree above 70 on your thermostat increases energy costs by about 3 percent. Dial down your thermostat to the lowest temperature comfortable to all occupants of the apartment.
But turning the heat off, or too low, isn’t the best answer either. Zehija Brikanovic, customer service manager at the Cornerstone Investment Group, which owns rental property, says, “Most people think that by turning off their heat during the day and turning it on at night they’re saving money, but that’s not the case. You’re supposed to keep it at a moderate temperature and turn it up at night if you need additional heat.”
And, if the weather is extremely cold, the lack of heat may cause pipes to freeze.
To minimize the use of heat, keep registers and cold air returns open in rooms you frequently occupy, but close the air return registers in rooms you aren’t using. Also make sure that furniture, clothing, appliances and other objects don’t obstruct the flow of heat from registers.
Another suggestion to maximize heat flow is the use of plastic deflectors on registers, says ComEd’s Kelly. “They deflect heat toward the floor, where it mixes with cooler air and circulates,” he says. “That prevents the heat from rising right to the ceiling. They’re especially useful if you have young children who spend a lot of time playing on the floor.”
Clean those radiators
If your apartment building uses a hot water or steam heating system, brush your radiators periodically to keep them clean and help maximize efficiency. Also turn off radiators in areas of your unit that are rarely used.
According to representatives from both Peoples Gas and Northern Illinois Gas, renters can also maximize the warmth their radiators generate by means of a simple technique. “With old style radiators, the cold air near the floor heats, then flows upward to heat the rest of the room,” Odefey explains. “Taping a piece of aluminum foil on the wall next to the radiator can be an effective way to reflect heat into the room.”
Because humidity retains heat, the use of a humidifier is also advised to help derive the greatest comfort from the heat you use. Inexpensive floor models or tabletop humidifiers are widely available, and are likely to make it possible to lower your thermostat setting while remaining comfortable.
“If you don’t have a humidifier, you can use a pail of water with a rolled-up newspaper in it to create an inexpensive humidifier effect,” says Brian Pinkerton, a spokesman for Peoples Gas. “And a pot of water on top of the radiator can also provide the same humidifying effect.”
If you need additional heat, observe some basic cautions and suggestions. “The major message is never use the (kitchen) stove to heat the apartment,” says Pinkerton. “That can throw off carbon monoxide and create a serious hazard.”
A far better idea is the use of a space heater. But Sandy Bedzis, a spokesperson for Underwriters Laboratories in Northbrook, warns that space heaters should never take the place of conventional heating systems.
Safety and space heaters
“They should be used only as supplemental heat,” she says. “They’re not intended to replace your apartment’s heating system.”
The most widely used space heaters are electric units, which come in three basic styles. The first, radiant heaters, have metal elements and reflect heat off objects in the room in which they’re placed, says Bedzis. They are best suited for larger rooms, such as a living room.
The second type, convection heaters, incorporate fans that blow hot air from the units. “They’re best suited for smaller rooms,” says Bedzis. “But we don’t recommend using an electric space heater in bathrooms because of the risks of electrocution.” The third type of electric space heater is the combination unit, which employs a heating coil and a fan, and is also best used in smaller rooms, according to Bedzis.
The use of extension cords with electric space heaters should be avoided. If an extension cord is absolutely necessary, use one with the right wire gauge for your heater. And never place a heater anywhere but on the floor, she adds.
Kerosene heaters are used by some renters, but call for even more caution than electric heaters. Says Bedzis: “Use only the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. The wrong fuel could burn hotter than the design limits of the product, and cause a fire.” And before buying a kerosene heater, she urges, check with the fire department in your community; in some municipalities, kerosene heaters are illegal.
With any space heater, says Bedzis, renters should always keep two cautions in mind. The first is to read all the literature included in the packaging of the heater before its first use. The second is to make sure operating heaters are placed at least 36 inches from anything combustible, including clothing, furniture, drapes, rugs and bedding.
Finally, if you are moving into a building requiring tenants to pay their own heat, expect to receive a Heating Cost Disclosure form from your landlord. Connie Buscemi, spokesperson for the City of Chicago Department of Consumer Services, says the goal of this requirement is to give renters a good idea of how much it will cost them to heat their apartments in the winter.
“It’s a good gauge, because if your bill does turn out to be extraordinarily high . . . it may be an indicator that something is wrong, either in your building’s heating system or within your apartment,” she says.
If you don’t receive such a form, complaints can be addressed to the Department of Consumer Services at 312-744-9400. In short, remaining warm safely while reducing your heating bill is anything but rocket science. As Peoples Gas Pinkerton notes: “A lot of these steps are plain common sense.”
