My flat is cold and needs to be winterized STAT..

[mdmc]

First I should..

[flying rabbit]

1. Build a fire for heat!

[mdmc]

2. the only thing I could use is the oven..

[hedgehog]

3. Seal the windows and doors to cut drafts.

You can do this very cheaply with a roll of duct tape. It'll be ugly now and messy to clean later. You may be able to find some tape that won't leave a residue. A sheet of plastic taped across the window frame to make an air pocket (about an inch from the glass, not against the glass) will help insulate. You can do this from the inside or outside depending on your weather and tolerance for ugly. Hanging a blanket or sleeping bag over a window or door helps, too. (My husband did this the winter he spent in a small apartment with a steel door.)

For a few bucks more, you can go to the home improvement store and get




(This tape might come off easier in the spring, I don't know.


M-D Building Products
Shrink And Seal Window Kit One Window 42" x 62"




Frost King
1" x 7" White Vinyl Clad Foam Kerf Door Seal

and, believe it or not, these things help a lot



You just take off your outlet cover, stick these on and screw the outlet cover back. It cuts a lot of leaks.

[mdmc]

4. thanks for the info

peace and low stress..

[hedgehog]

6. You'd be amazed how much hot air goes out various gaps at doors

and windows. For a little effort, you'll get great results. Keep warm!

[Gormy Cuss]

8. And I'll add two more products to that list: rope caulk for the windows and adhesive door sweeps

For renters it's better than the foam weather seal because it's easier to remove and comes off cleanly unless the paint is very old and cracking. Because it has a Play-doh texture it's easy to reshape or mush several strands together to stuff into a wider crack. Use it on any window that won't be opened until spring, because the only way to open the window will be to remove the caulk.
It used to be much cheaper than the foam tape too.
http://www.conservationmart.com/p-81-mortite-45-foot-gray-rope-caulk-f-4.aspx

There are also cheap door sweeps with adhesive strips that can be used to seal up the gaps on every inner edge of a door except the hinge side. This isn't as good as getting and installing real door weatherstrips but it's cheaper and easier -- also pretty ugly, but it really cuts the drafts.
http://hardware.hardwarestore.com/73-456-door-sweeps/door-bottom-sweep-609468.aspx



eta: if the furnace is out, buy a ceramic heater and use it to heat one room that can be closed off with a door. If there's no door on the room, hang a blanket across the doorway.
Don't use the oven as a heating source, but do make meals that involve oven cooking like casseroles, baked pasta, etc. While the food is cooking block off the kitchen door and stay in the kitchen!

[HopeHoops]

5. My advice to you is to start drinking heavily.

And then... DUCT TAPE TIME!

[datasuspect]

7. in murka we call thems "apartments"

[madmx19790]

9. burn some firewood