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Warmth & shelter · Updated

How to stay warm without power

How do I stay warm in a winter power outage?

Gather everyone in one small room, wear layers and hats, and use sleeping bags and blankets. Seal drafts around windows and doors. Never heat with a gas oven, grill, or generator indoors. Know the signs of hypothermia, and go to a warm shelter if the cold becomes dangerous.

The short answer

When the heating stops, your goal is to keep body heat in, not to warm the whole house. Pick one small room, dress in layers, use sleeping bags, and block drafts. Avoid anything that burns fuel indoors unless it is made for it. If the cold gets dangerous, go somewhere warm. This guide shows how, step by step.

Step 1: choose one warm room

A small room warms faster from body heat than a large open space.

  • Pick an interior room, or one with few and small windows.
  • A south-facing room gets more winter sun in the northern hemisphere.
  • Bring in mattresses, cushions, and blankets so you are not sleeping on a cold floor.
  • Close the door. Close off other rooms and keep the family together.
  • Avoid basements, which are often colder, and avoid any room with a gas appliance you are unsure about.

Step 2: seal the drafts

Ready.gov advises using insulation, caulking, and weather stripping to keep cold air out. In an emergency you can do a quick version:

  • Roll towels and press them against the bottom of doors.
  • Hang thick blankets or curtains over windows, especially at night.
  • Keep curtains open on sunny days to let heat in, then close them at dusk.
  • Cover bare floors with rugs or cardboard.

Step 3: dress in layers

Several thin layers hold more warmth than one heavy one.

  • Base layer: long underwear or a thin wool or synthetic top and bottoms.
  • Middle layer: a sweater or fleece.
  • Outer layer: a coat, even indoors if needed.
  • Head, hands, and feet: a hat, gloves, and thick socks. A lot of body heat leaves through the head and feet.

Avoid cotton against the skin. It stays wet and chills you. Change damp clothes quickly, since wet clothing is a big risk for cold.

Step 4: sleeping bags and blankets

A cold-weather sleeping bag traps your body heat and is the single best tool for a cold night.

Put a mat, folded blankets, or cardboard under the bag, because the cold comes up from the floor. Wool stays warm even if it gets a little damp.

Mylar emergency blankets are light and reflect body heat, but they can make you sweaty. Use one over a sleeping bag or wrapped around a person who is cold.

Step 5: eat and drink

Your body makes heat from food. Eat regular meals and snacks, and drink warm drinks if you can heat water safely. Avoid alcohol, which makes you lose heat faster. Our guide on cooking without power covers safe ways to heat a meal.

Step 6: know the signs of hypothermia

Hypothermia is when the body loses heat faster than it can make it. The CDC lists these signs in adults:

  • shivering
  • exhaustion
  • confusion
  • fumbling hands
  • memory loss
  • slurred speech
  • drowsiness

In babies, look for bright red, cold skin and very low energy. The CDC says to seek immediate medical attention for signs of hypothermia. Ready.gov says a body temperature below 95°F is an emergency.

While you wait for help:

  1. Move the person to a warm room.
  2. Take off wet clothes and wrap them in dry blankets, including the head and neck.
  3. Warm the centre of the body first (chest, neck, head, groin).
  4. Keep them dry, and call 911.

Older adults, babies, and people who are ill are at higher risk. Check on them often and check on neighbours too.

Step 7: use only safe heat

Safe or safer options:

  • body heat, layers, and sleeping bags (the safest)
  • a heater made for indoor use, with a low-oxygen shutoff, used strictly by the instructions, with fresh air and a battery CO alarm
  • a heated shelter or relative's home

Read the carbon monoxide safety guide before you use any heater. Do not use candles to heat a room, and keep anything that can burn well away from any flame.

Step 8: protect your pipes

Frozen pipes can burst and flood your home. Ready.gov says to learn how to keep pipes from freezing but does not give the steps. Common advice, which we have not checked against a government page, is to open cabinet doors under sinks, let a faucet drip slowly, and know where your main water shut-off is. Ask your water utility or a plumber for advice for your home.

When to leave

Ready.gov says that if cold is extreme, go to a community location that has power, and to check with local officials for open warming centres. Leave before the house gets dangerously cold, especially with babies, older relatives, or anyone who is ill. If roads are icy, tell someone your plan and travel only if it is safe.

Next steps

Questions

What are the signs of hypothermia?

The CDC lists shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, and drowsiness in adults. Babies may have bright red, cold skin and very low energy.

Can I use my gas oven to heat the house?

No. Ready.gov says never to heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven because of carbon monoxide poisoning and fire risk.

Is a propane heater safe indoors?

Only heaters made and labelled for indoor use, with a low-oxygen shutoff, and only with a working battery CO alarm and fresh air. Warm clothing is safer.

How do I stop pipes freezing?

Ready.gov says to learn how to keep pipes from freezing and to insulate your home. Ask your utility or plumber about steps for your house.

Should I leave if the house gets too cold?

Yes. Ready.gov says that if cold is extreme, go to a community location that has power. Check with local officials for open warming centres.

Sources

  1. Winter Weather, Ready.gov
  2. Recognizing Hypothermia, CDC
  3. Power Outages, Ready.gov
  4. About carbon monoxide poisoning, CDC

This guide is general information, not medical, legal or electrical advice. In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.