So here are 2 easy quick-fixes to keep your too hot apartment cooler, while at the same time passing on the extra warmth to your chillier neighbors below you. This approach also increases our building energy efficiency.
1. Install fiberglass pipe insulation. I got some at the Home Depot for less than $10 per 3 ft. You can get it in different styles, but the easiest is the self-sealing tubes that just snap over your pipes (see pic). For aesthetics, it is already a paper white outside, but I bought the steel air duct pipes and snapped it overtop for a little industrial look in the kitchen. Be sure to know your pipe diameter before you go. I learned the hard way and bought 2.5″ diameter insulation, when I only needed the 1.5″! See Google product search results here
2. Install magnetic vent covers. You can buy these (3 for $10!) at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Just cut them to fit your radiators. See Google product search results here
December 12, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I wrapped the pipes in my apartment with natural rope. It gives a distinctive look that not everyone will like. However, I think it is more aesthetically pleasing look than years of thick paint. The pipe is not hot to the touch now.
Each pipe requires about 2 50 foot rolls of natural rope (1/3 or 1/2 diameter I think) and about an hour of time. The rolls of rope are less than $10 each.
December 12, 2008 at 8:00 pm
the vent covers are nice but keep in mind that just pushes all the heat out of the bottom of the heaters, the heat will still escape.
the pipe insulation is the first thing i did and it made a world of difference. i really like the idea of using a steel air duct pipe…i boxed out the pipe in the kitchen but i like that idea for the bedroom.
December 20, 2008 at 6:13 am
This is a cure for the result but not for the source which is the wasting of fuel because the heat is not regulated properly
December 21, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I finally broke down and bought the insulation for my pipes. I had been putting it off because I think the insulation is quite ugly to look at…but I solved that problem by buying some nice scarves to wrap around the insulation. It looks nice…and I’m not boiling inside my apartment anymore!!! I also bought the vent covers and put them on some of my vents.
P.S. You can buy all this stuff at Home Depot using your Bed Bath and Beyond coupons!!!