•Never use a generator indoors or within 20 feet of your house.
• Have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every floor.
•If you use your car to stay warm or charge devices, make sure it’s outside the garage.
•Never use a device (such as an oven) to produce heat unless that’s its intended purpose.
• Indoor portable heaters should have an automatic shutoff switch in case they tip over.
Winter storms leave thousands of Americans without power each year, but there are several steps you can take to stay warm and safe.
More on Storm Preparedness
5 Products to Help Weather a Winter Storm
How to Prepare for a Weather Emergency
Best All-Season Tires for Winter Driving
The biggest threat from a power outage, of course, is the lack of heat. But even during an extended outage, there are ways to survive the cold.
The danger is that some alternative heating systems pose their own threats, such as fire and carbon monoxide. But there are precautions you can take to minimize the danger.
Here are five ways to stay warm—and safe—during a power outage.
1. If You Can, Get a Generator
Even if you’ve already lost power, it’s not too late to look for a portable generator. Sales always spike during weather emergencies, but it’s still worth trying.
Some major retailers have told CR that they’re able to reallocate the supply of generators to affected areas in as little as a day or two. A good strategy is to show up early at a store to grab one before they’re sold out.
If you’re fortunate enough to find a portable generator, use our guide to get it up and running quickly and safely. Once the outage is over, hire an electrician to install a transfer switch or interlock device so that the generator can power entire circuits in your home, which is both safer and more helpful.
If you can’t find a portable generator at a home center or power equipment dealer, try looking for a recreational generator at places like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Walmart, or even at a local RV or boat dealership.
These smaller generators aren’t really designed for power outages, but their output of 1,800 to 2,000 watts is still enough to power a large space heater and charge cell phones, which may be enough to get you through an outage.
How to Run a Generator Safely
2. Stay in a Southern-Facing Room
Even without heat, on a sunny day in particular you can maximize your warmth inside by gathering in a room with southern-facing windows.
Use a compass app on your phone or a real compass if you have one to find a room that fits that bill. Then keep your family in this shared space as much as possible. The collective heat generated by your bodies will also keep the space warmer.
3. Seal Window and Door Leaks
Keeping warm air in and cold air out is crucial, and the process is the same for both. Seal leaks around windows and doors using caulk or weather stripping if you can.
If you can’t get those materials, look for duct tape and clear plastic sheeting. (Clear lets sunlight in through the windows, which helps warm the room.) If you can’t find regular plastic sheeting, try the paint aisle at a home center, which often has clear plastic drop cloths.
For drafty doors, use draft guards. If you can’t find them, towels and blankets are fine.
Some leaks are obvious, while others aren’t. Look for subtle leaks using a stick of incense or a candle. Carefully move the candle or incense near problem spots like windows. If you see the flame flicker or smoke from the incense quickly disappear through a window, it’s a sign that you have a leak.
4. Use a Fireplace or Another Heat Source
If you’re fortunate enough to have a well-maintained wood stove, use it. Never go to bed with a fire burning, however, and keep the area immediately around the fireplace or stove clear of any flammable materials. Keep kids and pets away, too.
If you don’t have a fireplace, consider using a portable propane heater. But make sure you use it properly.
“Consumer Reports only recommends using a portable propane heater designed for indoor use in an emergency,” says John Galeotafiore, CR’s associate director of product testing. “And you should only use these tools if you’re able to follow crucial safety instructions.”
In addition to the directions in the owner’s manual, these heaters should be used only on a hard, fireproof surface and in an area free of kids, pets, and flammable materials.
Make sure that you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your house and that you’ve selected a heater that’s suitable for indoor use.
These heaters produce carbon monoxide, so you’ll need to keep a window open a small amount to allow for safe ventilation. Check the owner’s manual for specifics, which will vary depending on the output of the heater.
Never leave a portable heater running unattended or during any period when you are sleeping.
5. Camp Out Indoors
If you can’t get your hands on a generator or heater, consider camping out inside your home.
A tent and sleeping bags can help keep you and any family members warm and safe, particularly through the night when temperatures tend to drop.
Hypothermia can be a concern at any age, but particularly for young children and older adults, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Dress in loose layers, as opposed to one heavy layer, and make sure to stay dry. Even sweat from exercising can raise your risk of developing hypothermia.
Generators and Space Heaters to Consider
If you’re fortunate enough to find generators and space heaters in stock at local stores, look for these models.
Paul Hope
Paul Hope is a senior multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports and a trained chef. He covers ranges, cooktops, and wall ovens, as well as grills, drills, outdoor power tools, decking, and wood stains. Before joining CR in 2016, he tested kitchen products at Good Housekeeping and covered tools and remodeling for This Old House magazine. You’ll typically find him in his old fixer-upper, engrossed in a DIY project or trying out a new recipe.
