A disabled renter in North Dakota said a two-inch gap in a window that won't stay shut has made an already difficult heating situation feel almost impossible.
According to the renter, the apartment was all-electric, poorly insulated, and plagued by multiple heating issues. In response, commenters said the real issue was not finding clever ways to cut costs but getting the landlord to address potentially dangerous conditions.
Here's what to know
In a Reddit post, the renter described their dire situation, including problems with both heating appliances and home insulation. First, the original poster described their home as a "tiny, old, uninsulated, and electrically inefficient apartment" where the main electric heater touched the bed, while one window stayed open by about 2 inches and wouldn't stay fully closed.
But the problems didn't end there. According to the OP, the kitchen and bathroom heaters were "shorting out," and an electrician had advised against using them. With all those problems, heat wasn't the only issue; high energy bills also caused considerable concern.
"The electric heat is more expensive than running my window A/C all day," the OP wrote.
On top of everything else, the situation also made the renter worry about safety, particularly the risk of sparking a fire.
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"Really don't want to burn down my building," the OP wrote.
With so many factors to consider, the OP turned to Reddit for help.
What commenters said
While the OP seemed to be looking for practical solutions, many commenters framed the situation as a problem for the renter's landlord.
"If you have a landlord demand the window be fixed immediately," advised one. "As well as heat in your kitchen and bathrooms."
"This is a post about bad housing and not about frugal hacks," added another.
When other users raised the local rental code, the OP explained they hadn't looked into it because "it's still better than my last landlord," who, they said, left flood-damaged walls and ripped-up carpet unrepaired for eight months.
As for practical repairs the OP could do themselves, several replies zeroed in on the open window as the likely reason heat costs were rising. Several commenters argued that no heating setup would work well in a North Dakota winter if warm air was constantly escaping through an opening that large.
"No heat is going to be effective in the winter while your window is open," said one commenter.
Another recommended simple stopgap measures, which could cost only "like $5," such as bracing a piece of wood under the pane to keep the window closed.
The renter also suggested maintenance staff may have worsened the repair problem through confusion.
"They think the window just doesn't lock and don't understand the actual issue," the OP wrote, adding that the workers had already mixed that complaint up with a separate problem involving a stuck front door.
Where can I learn more?
Because they do not have the right to make certain alterations and repairs, renters can face unique challenges when it comes to heating and cooling their homes.
• In Arizona, renters may have five days to get broken air conditioning repaired.
• During record heat waves, some tenants faced eviction for using air conditioning too often.
• Across the U.S., policy gaps left renters without cooling in dangerous heat.
• In California, a renter found a playbook for staying cool without huge bills.
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