A winter power outage can make a home uncomfortable and, during severe cold, potentially dangerous. When electric heating stops working, the priority is to conserve existing heat, reduce drafts, keep people warm, and avoid unsafe heating methods. Fortunately, several practical steps can help a home retain heat during a temporary outage.
The first step is to prevent the warmth already inside the home from escaping.
Close doors to rooms that are not being used and concentrate household activity in one room if practical. A smaller occupied area is generally easier to keep warm than an entire house.
Close curtains and blinds, particularly after sunset. Keep exterior doors closed as much as possible and avoid unnecessary trips outside.
If sunlight is entering through south-facing windows during the daytime, opening curtains can allow natural solar heat into the room. Curtains should generally be closed again after the sun goes down.
During a prolonged outage, heating the entire house may not be practical.
Select a room that:
Keep the doors to other rooms closed.
If possible, use blankets, curtains, or other appropriate materials to reduce drafts around the selected room.
Cold air entering through gaps can make an indoor space feel significantly colder.
Check common draft locations such as:
Temporary draft blockers can be placed along the bottom of doors.
Rolled towels or blankets can also reduce drafts around door gaps during an emergency.
Do not block required ventilation openings or vents intended for combustion appliances.
Windows can be a significant source of heat loss.
Thick curtains, blankets specifically used as temporary coverings, or insulated window coverings can help reduce drafts and heat transfer.
During daylight, window coverings can be opened when sunlight provides useful warmth. At night, closing them can help retain indoor heat.
Avoid placing combustible materials directly against heaters, candles, fireplaces, or other heat sources.
Appropriate clothing can make a major difference during a power outage.
Several loose layers generally provide better insulation than relying on one very thick garment.
Useful items can include:
A significant amount of body heat can be lost from the head and extremities, so keeping these areas covered can improve comfort.
Clothing should remain dry. Wet clothing can increase heat loss.
Blankets can help retain body heat while resting or sleeping.
Several lighter layers can provide useful insulation. Sleeping bags designed for cold conditions can also be valuable during extended outages.
Avoid placing electric heating pads or other powered heating equipment under blankets unless they are specifically designed for that purpose and have a safe power source.
Never sleep directly next to an improvised combustion heat source.
Light movement can generate body heat.
Walking around the home periodically or performing gentle movement can help maintain warmth.
However, strenuous exercise is not necessary and can increase sweating. Damp clothing can ultimately increase heat loss.
The goal is to remain comfortably active rather than exhaust the body.
The body needs energy to maintain normal temperature.
During a prolonged outage, regular meals and adequate fluids can support general well-being.
Warm food and beverages can also provide comfort, although they should not be considered a substitute for proper heating.
If using a gas stove or other cooking appliance, follow the manufacturer's safety instructions and ensure appropriate ventilation.
A gas oven or stovetop should not be used as a substitute for home heating.
Combustion appliances can produce carbon monoxide, an odorless and potentially deadly gas.
Using an oven for space heating can also create fire and burn hazards.
The same principle applies to charcoal grills, camp stoves, and other outdoor-use equipment.
Charcoal and gas grills should remain outdoors.
Even when a grill appears to be operating normally, combustion can produce carbon monoxide.
Using a grill inside a home, garage, basement, enclosed porch, or other enclosed area can create a serious carbon-monoxide hazard.
Some portable heaters can operate independently of the home's main heating system, but fuel-burning heaters require particular caution.
Only use a heater indoors if it is specifically designed and approved for indoor use.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions concerning:
Never improvise a heating system using fuel-burning equipment designed for outdoor use.
A properly maintained fireplace can provide heat during an outage if it is designed for safe operation.
Before relying on a fireplace, make sure the chimney and ventilation system are appropriate and that the fireplace is in suitable working condition.
Keep combustible materials away from the fire.
Never leave an open flame unattended.
A fireplace should not be treated as a replacement for a properly installed heating system unless it is specifically designed to provide space heating.
Carbon monoxide is particularly dangerous during power outages because people may turn to alternative heating or cooking methods.
Battery-powered carbon-monoxide detectors can continue working when household electricity is unavailable.
If the home has battery-powered detectors, make sure they have functioning batteries.
A carbon-monoxide alarm should never be ignored.
Symptoms of carbon-monoxide poisoning can include:
If carbon-monoxide exposure is suspected, move to fresh air and contact emergency services.
Portable generators must be operated outdoors and away from doors, windows, and ventilation openings.
A generator produces carbon monoxide even when it appears to be functioning normally.
Never operate one inside:
The generator's exhaust should be directed away from the home.
Always follow the manufacturer's placement and operating instructions.
Cold indoor temperatures can create another problem: frozen pipes.
When temperatures fall significantly, exposed plumbing can freeze.
If safe to do so, insulating exposed pipes and reducing drafts around vulnerable plumbing areas can help.
Some homes may also benefit from allowing faucets to drip during severe cold, depending on the plumbing system and local guidance.
If the power outage is expected to last for an extended period during freezing weather, homeowners may need to take additional measures to protect plumbing.
Although this does not directly heat the home, keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed during a power outage can preserve food for longer.
Every time the door is opened, cold air escapes.
Use shelf-stable foods when possible and limit unnecessary refrigerator and freezer access.
Natural sunlight can provide passive heat.
Open curtains on sunny windows during the day if doing so allows sunlight to enter the home.
Once the sun sets, close curtains and blinds to reduce heat loss.
This simple approach can help maximize whatever natural warmth is available.
During a severe cold-weather outage, unnecessary opening of exterior doors and windows can rapidly reduce indoor temperatures.
Keep doors and windows closed unless ventilation is required for safety.
However, never seal or block ventilation openings needed by combustion appliances.
Fireplaces, gas appliances, and fuel-burning heaters require appropriate ventilation according to their design and manufacturer instructions.
If several people live in the home, staying in the same warm room can conserve body heat and reduce the amount of space that needs to be kept comfortable.
This can also make it easier to monitor vulnerable household members.
Older adults, infants, and people with certain medical conditions may be particularly vulnerable to cold temperatures.
Very low indoor temperatures can eventually become a health emergency.
Warning signs of hypothermia can include:
As hypothermia becomes more severe, shivering may decrease or stop.
Anyone showing signs of serious cold exposure should be moved to a warmer environment and receive appropriate medical attention.
A winter emergency kit can make a power outage considerably easier to manage.
Useful supplies can include:
A properly prepared kit reduces the need to improvise during an outage.
The best time to prepare for a power outage is before one occurs.
Useful preparation steps include:
Preparation is particularly important in areas where winter storms can cause prolonged outages.
Homes located in cold climates may benefit from having a safe backup heating strategy.
Depending on the property and local conditions, this might involve a properly installed fireplace, an approved alternative heating system, or access to a nearby heated location during an extended outage.
Any permanent backup heating equipment should be installed and maintained according to applicable safety requirements.
Sometimes staying inside is not the safest option.
If indoor temperatures continue dropping, pipes are at risk of freezing, medical equipment requires electricity, or a household member is becoming dangerously cold, relocating to a heated location may be necessary.
Local emergency authorities may establish warming centers or other assistance during severe weather events.
Never remain in an unsafe environment simply because leaving is inconvenient.
Several emergency heating methods can create more danger than warmth.
Avoid:
The safest approach is to use only equipment specifically designed for the intended environment.
Close off unused rooms, block drafts, use curtains, wear multiple layers, use blankets, take advantage of sunlight, and concentrate activity in one well-insulated room.
Candles produce some heat, but they are not an appropriate primary heating method. They also create a significant fire hazard if left unattended.
A gas stove should not be used as a home-heating system. Combustion can produce carbon monoxide, and using cooking appliances for heating can create fire and poisoning risks.
A properly functioning fireplace can provide heat, depending on its design. It should be used according to manufacturer and safety guidance, with appropriate ventilation.
People can conserve body heat by staying together in a smaller room, wearing insulating layers, and using blankets or sleeping bags.
There is no single indoor temperature that is equally dangerous for everyone. Risk depends on age, health, clothing, exposure duration, and other factors. Very cold indoor conditions can lead to hypothermia, particularly among vulnerable individuals.
Keeping a home warm without power is primarily about conserving existing heat, reducing drafts, insulating people rather than trying to heat the entire house, and avoiding dangerous improvised heating methods.
Closing unused rooms, covering windows at night, blocking drafts, wearing warm layers, using blankets, and staying together in a smaller room can all help preserve warmth.
Alternative heating equipment can be useful when it is specifically designed and approved for indoor use and operated according to safety instructions. Generators, grills, charcoal, and cooking appliances should never be used as improvised indoor heating sources because of fire and carbon-monoxide risks.