Apartment Dwellers, Avoid These Winter Heating Hazards to Stay Safe
Beware: Your oven and stove can’t double as a furnace
When it’s cold out, New Yorkers resort to using appliances like their stove or oven to try and heat their homes. But these appliances are not meant to be used this way and can be dangerous, said Jessica Bellinger, a Legal Aid attorney who works with tenants in The Bronx.
Running your oven or stove can start a fire, but the bigger risk with them is carbon monoxide poisoning, said Captain Michael Kozo, the commanding officer of the Fire Safety Education Unit of the FDNY.
Carbon monoxide is a gas that’s released during the incomplete burning of fuel — usually when gas-powered heating systems like stoves, furnaces or boilers don’t work properly. Colorless and odorless, excessive levels of carbon monoxide can produce flu-like symptoms like nausea, dizziness, headache and fatigue.
In some cases, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause severe illness and even death. This December, a Queens resident was taken to the hospital in critical condition after carbon monoxide exposure in her home, which FDNY said did not have a carbon monoxide detector.
Because you can’t smell or see carbon monoxide, it’s really important to have working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in your apartment. Without one, “there’s no other way for you to detect that there’s carbon monoxide in your home,” said Kozo.
New York City mandates that property owners install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in every apartment, but it’s the tenant’s responsibility to test the detectors and make sure they’re working.
Proceed with caution: Using a space heater correctly
If you want to use a space heater, it’s incredibly important to know how to use it correctly, experts said.
“We see a big spike in home heating fires in December, January, February,” said Kozo of the FDNY.
Home heating fires in New York are usually the result of a number of heating methods — “but space heaters definitely trump the others.”
Kozo says space heater safety starts before you even purchase your heater. “You wanna look for one that has the seal of a qualified testing laboratory such as UL or ETL,” he said.
Once you’ve got your UL- or ETL-certified heater, you need to make sure you’re using it correctly.
“Any item that heats or cools has to be plugged directly into the wall,” said Kozo, not into power strips or extension cords. That goes for not just space heaters, but microwaves, toasters and air conditioners, too, he said.
Preserve: Keep heat in
According to the New York Housing Authority, which runs over 2,400 buildings for low- and moderate-income families, there are some steps you can take to try and preserve heat in your apartment.
One major place that heat gets out is windows. Always keep windows fully closed and remove or cover your window air conditioning unit if you have one. According to the mayor’s public engagement unit, you can also try hanging heavy curtains to block drafts or even covering your windows in shrink wrap — though you might have to venture out to a hardware store, since shrink wrap is different from the plastic wrap you likely have at home.
You should also make sure that there isn’t any furniture blocking the radiator. Heat can’t get out if it’s trapped behind your couch!
Remember: Landlords are required to provide heat
It’s illegal to keep an apartment below a certain temperature in the winter in New York City. During “heat season,” which is between Oct. 1 and May 31, your landlord is required to stick to these rules:
* If it’s colder than 55 degrees outside during the day — between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. — the inside temperature of your apartment has to be above 68 degrees.
* Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., your apartment must be over 62 degrees — no matter how cold it is outside.
Landlords are also mandated to make sure you have hot water all year round.
What can I do if my apartment is too cold?
If your apartment feels colder than that, read THE CITY’s guide on steps you can take to fix it, like approaching and talking to your landlord, calling 311, and, if necessary, taking your landlord to Housing Court. Whatever you do, make sure you have receipts: buy your own thermometer and take the temperature in your apartment multiple times a day (and night) and write it down.
Conclusion
Staying warm and safe in your apartment this winter is crucial. By being aware of the hazards and taking the necessary precautions, you can enjoy a cozy and comfortable winter season.
FAQs
* What are some common hazards to avoid in my apartment during the winter?
+ Using appliances like your stove or oven to heat your home
+ Not having working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
+ Not using space heaters correctly
* How can I keep heat in my apartment?
+ Keep windows fully closed
+ Remove or cover window air conditioning units
+ Hang heavy curtains to block drafts
+ Cover windows in shrink wrap
+ Make sure furniture isn’t blocking radiators
* Is it illegal for my landlord to keep my apartment too cold?
+ Yes, it is illegal to keep an apartment below a certain temperature in the winter in New York City. Your landlord is required to maintain a certain temperature in your apartment during “heat season.”
