Is it safe to put a towel in your heating vent or is that a fire hazard?

It would be a fire hazard. It sounds like there’s a problem with the air ducts. You should have an air conditioning/heater person to come in and access the actual problem. It may cost a little, but it would have to be cheaper than running the heat and air conditioner at the same time.

Thank you! Unfortunately I Rent and I’ve mentioned to my landlord that everytime the heater kicks on it Stinks like stale cigarettes ( gives me headaches) So when I asked if I could have the utility company come look at it .I was told ” clean your vents better” ( ya cuz I didn’t think of that) uggg

The vents don’t have slats you can close? Are the vents on the floor? Can you cover them with a baking dish?

Do you have a floor or table fan to suck the hot air out of the room?

It would not be a fire hazard because the initial source of heat is too far from your vent. Try removing your vent and installing a piece of aluminum foil behind it. You can always poke a few holes in the foil if you want some heat to come through.

AS JLeslie stated.

Yes here we have vents ( heat by water pipes) that have dials on of which one can control

how much heat gets though and can be closed or partially to your comfort lever.

Others have the dial hidden under the cover ant each end..so check with your building

maintenance repairman to determine how to control how much heat can be let in or not?

In my case I can turn the dial myself easily to close of open as required.

Our building has a cycle of when the heat blasts on and off but I can regulate the vents to control how much.

In the mornings ( always) it blasting hot so I open my windows a bit to get the stale air out

and fresh air in for about 15 min or more then I close the widows after the heat shuts off
( timed).

Close it off. Tape something over it.

Put bricks over it.