Winter is most definitely here. While we don’t have snow in NYC yet, we’re getting a healthy dose of gloomy, windy, rainy, colder days. So it’s the perfect time to start thinking about winterizing your NYC apartment. Here are some tips:
- Sleuth Out the Drafts. The most effective thing you can do to winterize your apartment is to eliminate or reduce cold drafts. This means identifying where they’re coming from. It’s easier to locate drafts on a windy day, so keep that in mind. Shut all of your doors and close your windows and then check to see if you feel cold or a slight breeze around the seals. Some people use burning incense and track how the smoke behaves.
- Reduce Drafts. You may not be able to completely eliminate drafts, but you can significantly reduce them pretty easily and cost effectively. The first option is to buy insulated drapes. These can be fairly cheap depending on where you get them. Try discount websites like Sierra Trading Post or Overstock.com. The benefit of these drapes is that they serve a few purposes. Not only do they reduce drafts, they’re also very effective at reducing light so they work really well in sleeping areas. In addition, they give you more privacy, help keep your apartment cool in the summer, and they can add a nice decorative touch and splash of color to your apartment.
- Reduce Drafts More. If you’re not satisfied with drapes alone, consider taking removable plastic sheeting made just for windows. These effectively seal off drafts and can make a huge difference in your heating bills. Plastic sheeting might not be the most attractive option, but it does work. And you can always cover it up with those great insulated drapes you just put up!
- Get a Draft Door Stopper. If you have a draft coming in under your front door, you can get a draft door stopper for as little as $10. Commonly used in the UK, these snake-like items are places on the floor in front of the offending door. They range from plain to cheesy, and include cat prints and snowmen doing the splits. For real. Check Amazon.
Because plastic window covers and door stoppers are seasonal items, you can easily store these in your storage unit as soon as the weather brightens up a bit. Let us know if you have any tips for winterizing your NYC apartment.