North Jersey winters bring drafty windows, radiators that clank on at 5am and the occasional week of bitter cold. A few small buys make an apartment warmer and safer without a big bill.
Warm up the cold corner
Most apartments have one room that never heats properly. A compact ceramic heater for under $20 takes the chill off a home office or bedroom. Keep it on a hard, level surface, at least three feet from curtains and bedding, and switch it off when you leave the room.
Test your smoke and CO alarms
Heating season is when carbon monoxide risk climbs, especially in buildings with gas boilers and stoves. Press the test button on every alarm, replace any unit past its expiry date, and make sure there is one on every level and outside each sleeping area.
Renting? In New Jersey, landlords are generally responsible for providing smoke and CO alarms. Check yours work, and tell your landlord in writing if they don't.
Look after tired feet
Long commutes on cold platforms take a toll. A heated foot massager turns the end of the day into something to look forward to, and it doubles as a foot warmer while you watch TV.
A quick winter checklist
- Test every alarm and note the expiry dates
- Seal drafty windows with removable weatherstrip
- Keep a fire blanket in the kitchen
- Store a flashlight and phone charger where you can find them in a power cut
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