Daytime highs usually hover around 65 degrees in San Diego during January, but at night it can drop to 49 degrees. However, this New Year reminded everyone in the county that southern California can experience a serious cold snap. If you’re in a new apartment complex there’s a good chance that you have central heat, even though you only need to use it a few months out of the year. But there are many renters out there that have to find other ways to stay warm during the winter.
If you belong in the latter group or want to minimize your heating costs, keep reading and start warming up.
Ways to Warm Up Your Apartment This Winter
Seal Up Leaks – One of the best ways to keep your apartment warm is to keep the cold outside where it belongs. Use caulk and weather stripping to seal around doors and windows so cold air doesn’t leak in.
Set Up a Hot Beverage Station – Sipping on hot tea or cocoa is an effective way to raise your body temperature. Have fun with it by setting up a small beverage station in your kitchen or bar area.
Hang Heavier Curtains – Curtains make from heavy fabric can help block the cold that comes through windows. Just remember to open them during the day to help rooms warm up.
Equip Living Spaces with Cozy Blankets – Even people with central heat often reach for a warm blanket instead of bumping up the temperature. Look for soft fabrics like flannel, fleece and knits.
Invest in Floors Rugs – Non-insulated floors can allow up to 10% of the heat to escape from a room. Rolling out a large area rug in the living room and your bedroom can help keep the space warmer.
Move Furniture Away from Walls and Windows – Not to get too technical, but radiant heat loss is possible if you sit too close to windows. The easy fix is to move furniture away from large windows and exterior walls.
Hot Water Bottles – This is an old-school product that is still used today – because it works. Hot water bottles are particularly useful for warming up a cold bed before climbing inside.
Keep Exhaust Fans Off – Exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms are designed to pull hot air out of the room. For that reason, try to keep them off whenever possible.
Safety Tips When Warming Up Your Apartment
Warming up your apartment is a must on cold nights, but things can get way too hot if the proper safety precautions are taken. Here are the must-follow apartment heating rules.
- Never leave an electric blanket plugged in when you are asleep or out of your apartment.
- Never leave a space heater turned on when you are asleep or not at home.
- Never plug a space heater into an electrical strip.
- Never place furniture up against radiators or heaters.
- Always use a sturdy screen when using the fireplace.
- Never put heaters in areas where they will potentially get wet.
- Never put heaters under a desk or in a covered space.
- Avoid using open-coil space heaters.
- Keep cords for electric blankets free and clear of any objects so there is no chance of them getting pinched or wedged between two surfaces.
- Never bunch up electric blankets.
- Keep pets away from heaters and electric blankets.
Ready for an apartment with central heat? Find hundreds of warm apartments in San Diego in a matter of minutes at Apartments.com.
