Weather, personal preferences, space, and other environmental factors mean sometimes your heat bill comes in the mail and gives you a not-so-great surprise: it’s huge. And since you’re renting an apartment, it’s not like you can crawl in the attic and insulate it, or furnish each of your rooms with a space heater. Still: how do you stay warmer in the bone-chilling cold of an Athens winter without running yourself into bankruptcy?
Here are 10 simple things you can do that won’t break your budget or your lease:
1. Get rid of drafts with winter window kits.
Even new double-hung windows are still windows – they’re a heat sink. Try a window film kit. They’re basically plastic wrap you cut to size, stick over the window, and anchor by shrinking the film with a heat gun or blow dryer. They’re weirdly ASMR satisfying to install, and you get extra insulation without sacrificing natural light.
2. Now’s the time to hang tapestries.
The general rule of thumb if a room is cold: add fabric. Cover bare walls with blankets or tapestries. Fabric holds heat and slows it from dissipating into the walls. Make sure to hang them up with a non-invasive system, though, or get permission from the rental company office before using nails.
3. Blankets forever.
Throw blankets are where it’s at, especially those super-soft minky ones, because not only are they soft af, but they don’t breathe at all.
4. Invest in (or make your own!) door sweeps.
You’d be surprised what a difference a door sweep can make. The best ones for winter are basically long fabric beanbags. They’re easy to find, and not expensive, but you can also easily make your own with a sewing kit, a cut up old t-shirt, sweater or blanket, and some dried beans.
5. Thicker curtains = better insulation.
You can either invest in some thermal curtains or hang some blankets over your windows; either way, the more you can block heat dissipation to the outside, the less you’ll have to run the heat.
6. Change the direction of the ceiling fan.
If you haven’t switched the direction of the ceiling fans, now’s the time. When you run the fan the opposite way, it redistributes the warm air that rises to the top of the room back down.
7. Cover bare floors and/or wear thick socks.
Those hardwoods floors that run through the entire apartment are beautiful, but they can feel cold in the winter. Either invest in some new rugs, or make sure you wear thick socks or slippers all the time. The warmer your feet stay, the warmer the rest of your body feels.
8. Keep the bathroom door open when you shower.
You’ve got to shower anyway; leave the door open when you do. This serves three purposes: (1) it distributes new heat into the apartment, (2) it adds humidity to the air, which makes a room feel warmer, and (3) it reduces the time you need to use the exhaust fan, which minimizes the heat removed from the apartment.
9. Close vents in unused rooms.
Roommates gone for the break? Shut the doors and close the vents in those rooms. You can also close your bedroom door and close the vent in there during the day. That way, all the heat is directed into room(s) you’re actually in.
10. Cook dinner! But don’t leave the exhaust fan on.
Cooking your own food is a good idea for your budget regardless, so it’s bonus that having an oven on in your apartment makes it warmer. It’s a win-win.
And don’t forget: if you find something in your student rental that needs repaired, just let our rental office know! Examples include drafty outlets, broken weather stripping on doors, windows with peeled caulk, etc. We’ll be right in to fix it.
Note: Please do not use space heaters or heated blankets without first getting permission.
Stay cozy!