How to stay warm without power
The National Weather Service says to close off rooms you do not need, stuff towels in the cracks under doors, close blinds or curtains, and wear layers of loose, warm clothing. The CDC says never heat your home with a gas oven, and to get medical help right away if someone's temperature falls below 95°F (CDC).
Portable heaters are involved in only 3% of home heating fires but 41% of the fatal ones, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
- Keep the heat in
- Keep your body warm
- Heating safely
- Carbon monoxide warning
- Hypothermia: know the signs
- When to leave
- Gear
Keep the heat in
- Close off the rooms you do not need. Keep everyone in the rooms you are heating (NWS, CDC).
- Block drafts. Stuff towels or rags in the cracks under doors (NWS).
- Use the windows. The EPA says open drapes and shades in the day to let the sun warm the room. The NWS says close blinds or curtains to keep heat in.
- Get out the bedding. Have extra blankets, sleeping bags and winter coats ready (CDC).
- Protect your pipes. Leave the taps slightly open so they drip all the time (CDC).
Keep your body warm
- Layers. Wear loose, lightweight, warm layers (NWS). The CDC says the inside layer should hold body heat and not soak up moisture, wool, down or fleece work best for warmth, and the outer layer should be tightly woven and block wind.
- Do not sweat. Take a layer off before you overheat. Sweat leads to a chill (NWS).
- Eat and drink. Food gives your body the energy to make its own heat. Cold air is very dry, so drink water and drinks without caffeine or alcohol (NWS).
Heating safely
- Fireplaces and wood stoves only if they are up to code and vented outside (CDC). Have the chimney or flue checked every year. Do not burn paper.
- Kerosene heaters: check they are legal where you live (CDC).
- Any heater: keep all sides at least 3 feet from beds, clothes, curtains, papers and sofas, on a stable, level surface, and never leave it running unattended (CPSC). The U.S. Fire Administration found that heat sources too close to things that burn caused 48% of portable heater fires.
- Electric heaters (if you have generator or battery power): plug into a wall outlet, never a power strip, and never run the cord under a rug (CPSC).
- Never heat your home with a gas stove, oven, grill or clothes dryer (Ready.gov, EPA).
- Your car: never run it in a garage, even with the door open. If you warm up in it, park it outdoors in the open (Ready.gov).
- Snow on vents: clear snow away from outside vents for furnaces and other fuel-burning appliances so carbon monoxide does not build up inside (CPSC).
Carbon monoxide warning
Cold houses and fuel-burning heat are the deadliest mix in a winter outage. Put a battery carbon monoxide alarm near the room you are heating.
The CDC says more than 400 Americans die every year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires, more than 100,000 go to the emergency room, and more than 14,000 end up in the hospital. You cannot see or smell the gas. People who are asleep or drunk can die before they ever feel sick.
- Never run a generator, grill, camp stove or charcoal inside your home, basement or garage, even with the doors and windows open (CDC).
- Run generators outside, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents (CDC). Not on a porch or in a carport (CPSC).
- Never heat your home with a gas oven (CDC).
- Have a battery-powered or battery backup carbon monoxide alarm on every level and outside sleeping areas, and test it monthly (CPSC).
- Headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain or confusion can mean carbon monoxide poisoning (CDC). If the alarm sounds or anyone feels this way, get everyone outside, then call 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Read the full rules on portable generator safety.
Hypothermia: know the signs
| Who | Warning signs |
|---|---|
| Adults | Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness |
| Babies | Bright red, cold skin and very low energy |
A temperature below 95°F is an emergency. Get medical help right away (CDC). The CDC says do not ignore shivering. It is the first sign your body is losing heat.
Until help arrives (CDC):
- Move the person somewhere warm and take off any wet clothes.
- Warm the center of the body first: chest, neck, head and groin. Use an electric blanket if you have one, or skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry blankets.
- Warm drinks can help. No alcohol. Never give a drink to someone who is unconscious.
- If there is no pulse or breathing, call for help and start CPR, even if the person seems dead.
Frostbite looks like white or grayish-yellow skin that feels firm or waxy and numb. Get medical care (CDC).
When to leave
- If you cannot keep your home warm, the CDC says make plans to stay somewhere else.
- Ready.gov suggests spending the coldest hours somewhere with heat (Ready.gov).
- Older adults with poor heating and babies sleeping in cold bedrooms are most at risk of hypothermia (CDC). If you are over 65, check the temperature in your home often (CDC).
Common mistakes
- Turning on the gas oven and opening the door to heat the kitchen.
- Bringing a charcoal grill or camp heater inside because it is freezing.
- Warming up in the car with the garage door open.
- Putting a heater near a sofa, bed or curtains, or leaving it on when you fall asleep.
- Heating the whole house instead of closing off one or two rooms.
- Ignoring shivering. The CDC calls it the first sign of losing heat.
Gear for this
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Battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm
The CDC says put a battery CO detector near any fireplace, wood stove or kerosene heater you use.
Cold-weather sleeping bags
Extra blankets and sleeping bags are the first heat source on the CDC list. Nothing to vent, nothing to burn.
Wool or fleece base layers
The CDC says wool, down and fleece hold body heat best.
Home fire extinguisher
The CDC says keep one handy during a power outage.
Questions people ask
What is the safest way to stay warm without power?
Close off the rooms you do not need, block drafts, wear layers and use blankets and sleeping bags. The National Weather Service and CDC both recommend these. Any fireplace or heater must be vented and kept 3 feet from anything that can burn.
Can I use my gas oven or stove to heat my house?
No. The CDC says never heat your home with a gas oven. It can fill the house with carbon monoxide.
What body temperature is dangerous in the cold?
The CDC says a body temperature below 95°F is an emergency. Get medical help right away.
Sources
- National Weather Service: During a Winter Storm
- CDC: During and After a Winter Storm
- CDC: Preventing Hypothermia
- CDC: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics
- CDC: What to Do to Protect Yourself During a Power Outage
- CPSC: Winter storm carbon monoxide and fire safety tips (2026)
- U.S. Fire Administration: Portable Heater Fires in Residential Buildings (PDF)
- EPA: Power Outages and Indoor Air Quality
- FEMA Ready.gov: Be Prepared for a Power Outage (PDF)
Related entries
- P-02What to do when the power goes outThe first steps, food and medicine rules, and the carbon monoxide mistakes that kill people in outages.
- P-01Portable generator safety: where to put it and how not to dieOutside only, more than 20 feet from the house, never in the garage.
- D-04Winter storm safety: how to stay safe at home and on the roadHeating without fires or carbon monoxide, the car kit, what to do if you are stranded, and the signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
- P-04How to stay cool without power in a heat waveShade the windows, cool your body, know the 90°F fan rule, and spot heat stroke fast.
General safety information only, not medical or professional advice. Rules can change, so check the linked sources and follow your local officials. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.