Before purchasing a home, I spent several years renting apartments in southwestern Ohio, where winters (and often fall and spring) are so frigid I might as well have been living in Alaska.
The recurring issue with every apartment I occupied was identical: heating them in winter was ridiculously pricey because of outdated heating systems, ancient windows and inadequate insulation.
Fortunately, the house I eventually bought has modern windows, solid insulation and doors that actually seal properly.
It’s far harder to fix these problems in rental units because, as a tenant, you can’t simply replace windows or redo insulation. During my eight years of renting, though, I learned several tactics to trim my apartment heating bills.
8 Cheap Ways Renters Can Shrink Their Heating Bills
1. Shut Off Unused Rooms
If you live in a two- or three-bedroom apartment but one room is used mainly for storage, exercise or guests, keep the door shut and close the vents in that room when it’s not in use. Otherwise you’re wasting energy heating empty space.
If that room is rarely used, think about moving to a smaller unit when your lease ends. Staying in the same complex often means you won’t need to pay another deposit.
2. Lower the Thermostat
An easy method to cut your winter heating bill is to set your heat lower.
Of course, you need to keep the apartment warm enough to prevent frozen pipes, but if you can tolerate it, lower the thermostat to the low- to mid-60s. Layer up with sweatshirts, thick socks and blankets to stay comfortable — and remember to keep your pets cozy as well.
3. Use a Portable Space Heater
So you’ve lowered the thermostat, closed off spare rooms and bundled up, but you still feel cold. A small space heater can help — you can buy one for under $30.
Instead of paying to heat the entire apartment, keep a space heater near where you sit. Heating a small zone is often cheaper than raising the temperature for the whole place.
4. Add Window Insulation
One apartment I rented after college had a living room wall of windows facing a picture-perfect pond. I fell in love with it during a spring tour, not realizing those single-pane windows would haunt me nine months later when frost started forming on the inside.
Renters often can’t force landlords to replace windows (though I spent many hours pleading with mine, unsuccessfully), so finding temporary ways to stop heat from escaping is essential.
You can hang thick drapes over windows, but an even better (or complementary) option is to buy a window insulation kit. You can insulate about 10 windows for less than $15.
5. Cook at Home More Often
Obviously eating at home saves money compared with dining out, but in winter, baking and cooking can also help lower heating costs.
When you use the oven or stovetop, warmth radiates into your kitchen and nearby rooms. After cooking, crack the oven door open (once it’s off) to let residual heat spread into your living space.
6. Stop Door Drafts
The area beneath exterior doors is a common source of heat loss. If you can see light peeking under your door or feel a draft, ask your landlord to fix it.
As a temporary fix, roll up a towel and press it against the bottom of the door to block cold air.
7. Weatherstrip Aggressively
Weatherstripping around doors and windows is essential for keeping heat inside during winter (and keeping it out during summer). If your doors and windows are leaking warmth, ask your landlord to replace the weatherstripping.
If your landlord stalls, tell them in writing that you’ll install the weatherstripping yourself. Don’t phrase it as a question.
It’s a small expense (again, typically under $15) that can lead to major savings on heating bills.
8. Publish a Review
If you’re stuck under a lease in an apartment community that ignores maintenance requests, remember that online reviews can be powerful. Post feedback on Google, social media and the Better Business Bureau if your landlord dismisses reasonable concerns.
I’ve left reviews more than once, and conveniently, property managers tended to resolve issues the following day.
Before long, winter will pass. To cut energy use year-round, check out additional tips for trimming utility costs in the summer.
