Heating the Home - Safety First
In this post: proper use of the heater. Do not use the oven to heat the home and why. In NYC, who to call and what to do if the landlord is not heating the home. How to stay warm if you have no heater or portable heater. Scroll below for the sections of interest.
Reminder if you do not have a workable home heating system: Until the central heating gets fixed, use a portable heater, research and only use reputable heaters with many good reviews, follow all guidelines. ONLY use a portable heater in an electrical wall unit. DO NOT use portable heaters in extension cords, which can easily overload and cause a fire.
Monitor the heater, do not leave it on overnight, run it only for a few hours at a time. To test if the heater is good, run it for a few minutes, only up to half an hour, turn it off, feel if the plug is warm, if plug is warm or hot this may mean it can overheat or is a hazard - do not use. DO NOT touch the cord when the heater is on, too dangerous, you may harm yourself or get electrocuted.
Plug out heater whenever you leave the home. Never leave a heater on or plugged in unattended especially if there are pets, children, and others in the home or nearby who need extra attention. After turning off heater, plug out heater only from the electrical plug, and never pull on the long cord to remove from electric socket (outlet), pulling the cord may cause wires in the cord to damage and may later cause issues or even a fire. "The electrical plug is the removable connector located at one end of a power cord." When not in use, always plug out heater and store or set aside in a safe area.
Please, I beg you, DO NOT use your oven as a heater, it is only suppose to be used to warm or heat food. Leaving the oven on for too long is dangerous, it may cause the oven to short circuit. Leaving the oven door(s) open for too long can release dangerous carbon monoxide in the air, you may die, if you have small children or pets they may more quickly get sick or die. A faulty oven is like a massive explosion that can cause a chain reaction, setting the entire local area on fire, incorrectly using the oven or an unattended oven is one of the leading cause of home fires.
USA centered: If the Landlord won't turn on or won't turn up the heat, call the local or city Housing Authority on him or her or them. Heating a home, especially in Winter areas is mandatory in the USA, and perhaps in other areas of the world, find out your tenant's rights. Scroll below on what to do in NYC if the landlord is trying to freeze you to death by not properly heating a tenant's home (since I live in NYC I know more about New Yorkers rights).
"Use Microwaveable Heating Pads Or Hot Water Bottle."
Always follow proper procedure and use.
"Place it on a level, hard, and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don't place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes. Plug space heater power cords directly into outlets — never into an extension cord."
"What is the 3 foot rule for space heaters?
Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment. The three-foot safety zone includes furniture, drapes, and electronics – anything that can burn."
"A warm or hot portable heater plug typically indicates a loose connection at the outlet, which causes excessive resistance and generates heat due to the high electrical current flowing through it; this can be dangerous and should be addressed by checking the outlet and plug for damage or ensuring a tight fit, or contacting an electrician if the issue persists.
Key points about a hot heater plug:
Loose connection:
The most common reason for a hot plug is a poor connection between the plug and the outlet, causing increased resistance and heat generation.
Overloaded circuit:
If multiple high-wattage appliances are plugged into the same circuit, it can overload the wiring and cause the plug to heat up.
Damaged cord or plug:
A damaged power cord or a deformed plug can also lead to overheating.
Faulty outlet:
A faulty outlet with loose connections or damaged wiring can also cause the plug to become hot.
What to do if your heater plug is hot:
Unplug the heater immediately: Do not continue using the heater if the plug is noticeably hot.
Check the connection: Ensure the plug is fully inserted into the outlet and that there is no visible damage to the plug or cord.
Inspect the outlet: Check if the outlet appears damaged or loose.
Use a different outlet: Try plugging the heater into a different outlet to see if the problem persists.
Contact an electrician: If the problem continues, even after checking the connections and outlets, consult a qualified electrician to diagnose and fix the issue."
NYC: What to do and who to call if your landlord won't heat or properly heat your home.
"This is the easiest way to resolve a housing quality issues. If your landlord is unresponsive, file a complaint by: Calling 311 or TTY (212) 504-4115. Using 311ONLINE or 311MOBILE."
https://www.nyc.gov/site/hpd/services-and-information/heat-and-hot-water-information.page#:~:text=This%20is%20the%20easiest%20way,Using%20311ONLINE%20or%20311MOBILE
"If your landlord won't turn on or turn up the heat in the winter, you should contact your local "311" service to file a complaint with your city's housing authority; in New York City specifically, this means calling "311" to report the issue to the Housing Preservation and Development department.
First contact your landlord: Always try to reach out to your landlord first to discuss the issue before escalating to a formal complaint.
Document the temperature: Keep a record of the indoor temperature to support your claim.
Use the 311 system: If your landlord doesn't respond, use the 311 service to file a complaint about lack of heat."
NYC: Tenants have the right to a warm home and clean hot water.
"Tenants in New York City have the right to live in homes with heat and hot water. Building owners are legally required to provide these services to maintain safe living conditions."
https://www.nyc.gov/site/mayorspeu/resources/heat-season-resources.page#:~:text=Tenants%20in%20New%20York%20City,to%20maintain%20safe%20living%20conditions.
"In most jurisdictions, including New York City, a tenant has the legal right to a heated home, meaning landlords are required by law to provide adequate heat during the heating season, and failure to do so can be considered a violation of habitability standards.
Key points about tenant rights regarding heat:
Legal obligation:
Landlords are legally obligated to provide heat to their tenants, usually within specific temperature guidelines depending on the outdoor temperature.
Heating season:
Most areas define a "heating season" during which landlords must maintain a certain indoor temperature.
Action if no heat:
If a tenant does not have adequate heat, they can contact their landlord to request repairs and may have the right to withhold rent or take legal action if the issue is not addressed."
"What to do if you have no heat or portable heater at home.
If you have no heat at home and no portable heater, you can stay warm by: dressing in layers of warm clothing, closing curtains to block drafts, using blankets and thick towels to cover windows and doors, sealing gaps around doors and windows, staying in the warmest room in the house, cooking meals on the stove to generate heat, drinking hot beverages, and using body heat by cuddling with pets or loved ones.
Maximize insulation:
Layer up clothing: Wear multiple layers of warm clothes, including socks and a hat.
Cover windows and doors: Use blankets, heavy curtains, or towels to block drafts around windows and doors.
Seal gaps: Use weather stripping or caulk to seal any cracks around windows and doors.
Rugs on floors: Cover bare floors with rugs to help insulate.
Harness sunlight:
Open curtains during the day: Let sunlight into your home when it's available.
Utilize body heat:
Stay in one room: Focus on staying in the warmest room in your house, preferably with minimal windows.
Cuddle with pets or family: Generate body heat by cuddling with others or pets
Cooking for warmth:
Cook meals on the stove: Cooking on the stove generates heat in the room.
Leave the oven door slightly open after baking: This can release some heat into the room.
Warning: FIRST turn off heat before leaving oven door open to heat room, do not leave oven door open with stove on for long periods of time, this is too risky, may release dangerous carbon monoxide in the air.
Other methods:
Reverse ceiling fan direction: Set your ceiling fan to rotate clockwise to push warm air downwards.
Hot water bottles: Fill a hot water bottle and use it to warm up your bed or hands.
Physical activity: Light exercise can help generate body heat.
Important considerations:
Check on vulnerable individuals:
If you are caring for elderly or young people, take extra precautions to ensure they stay warm.
Seek emergency assistance:
If you are unable to maintain a safe temperature in your home, contact your local authorities or a heating assistance program."
"How can I feel warm in winter without a heater?
Boil a couple of big pots of water on the stove. It will add a bit of heat and humid air holds heat better. Rig up a tent of some sort over your bed if you can. It will make a space to trap some of your body heat."
"How to keep warm when the heater is broken?
Keep in one room - and wear blankets and multiple sweaters/socks. Close any doors you can to that room and put blankets in the doorways if needed to minimize heat loss. Sometimes a small fan can move heat around, when used with a space heater."
"How did people keep warm without heating?
Thick beddings and curtains
And not much has changed from the past—climbing under cozy blankets pretty much transcends eras as the go-to method for keeping warm during winter. Similarly, thick curtains were used to help keep out the cold in bedrooms and the thicker, the better."
"How long can a house go without heat?
Generally, a house will stay warm for 8–12 hours after losing heat. However, without intervention, it will eventually reach outdoor temperatures. If temperatures are frigid outside, maximize the warmth by gathering the family in a small room, wearing many thin layers, and placing towels around windows and doors."
"4 Inventive ways our Ancestors were Able to Stay Warm During the Winter
During winter, central heating is king. It’s hard to imagine how our ancestors survived winter without it, especially knowing that insulation was practically nonexistent for a large part of history. And although using a fireplace was common, a lot of the times that wasn’t enough since it was difficult to distribute the heat evenly and consistently.
However, our ancestors were pretty ingenuous. Let’s take a look back at the interesting ways they overcame the freezing winters.
Today, getting ready for bed includes typical rituals like brushing your teeth and turning down the covers. Back then, it meant warming up the bed. To do this, our ancestors used a bed warmer. Popular from the 17th to the 19th century, bed warmers were copper or brass pans with long handles that could be filled with heated rocks. The lid had holes to help disperse the heat from the baked rocks so when the pan was slid between two layers of bedding, the bed would be heated thoroughly. Talk about innovative!
Thick beddings and curtains
We’re all familiar with reaching for our favorite blanket when we’re feeling cold. And not much has changed from the past—climbing under cozy blankets pretty much transcends eras as the go-to method for keeping warm during winter. Similarly, thick curtains were used to help keep out the cold in bedrooms and the thicker, the better. They were often called “bed curtains” and added that extra layer of protection to vulnerable homes that didn’t have insulation.
Not to be confused with plain ol’ socks, foot warmers were an interesting contraption that was a popular method of keeping our ancestor’s feet warm during the winter. They originated from the 17th century but were still used up until the 19th century. Most were wood-framed tin boxes that held heated rocks inside. Once heated, the user would then place a blanket over the box, and either carry it with them on wagon rides or put it at the foot of their beds to keep their feet warm all night.
During the early 19th century, local insulation became a popular method of keeping warm during winter. With local insulation, a single person could keep warm via a specially designed cabinet or more popular, a chair. The chair would typically have a hooded shape which helped capture the radiant heat of the nearby fire and distribute it evenly, keeping whoever was sitting inside quite warm!
Even though we don’t have to endure the same hardships as our ancestors did, it goes without saying that winter can still be uncomfortable. It can also be made worse if you don’t have adequate insulation!"
Quick do's and don'ts to safely heat home
https://lucids.tumblr.com/post/772705002519232512/quick-dos-and-donts-to-safely-heat-home
