As the mercury drops, you may find yourself struggling to stay warm inside... especially if there is a power outage. As we continue the season of cold weather, many areas across the country lose power. Being without power for a few hours -- or even a whole day -- can be even more stressful when the temperatures outside are below freezing.
The snow can turn the landscape into a winter wonderland, but when coupled with ice and wind, power lines can be in a precarious situation. Falling branches or even a wayward card can knock out power for an entire neighborhood. Make sure you're ready for any situation. Here are some easy ways to keep your home warm this winter.
Use draft blockers to keep out cold air
Drafts can sneak in under doorways and through windows during the winter so blocking them will help keep you warmer. Walk around your house and feel for drafts by placing your hand near windows and doors. If you feel a breeze, you've found the draft.
You can make your own draft blockers with a few old tube socks and rice (or even pool noodles sliced down the middle). If there is a draft coming from the side of a window, use some caulk or weather stripping to seal the draft.
You can also buy a window wrapping kit that essentially acts as cling film for your window to prevent air from coming inside.
If your power is out: Close all blinds or curtains throughout the house. While this isn't an airtight solution, it will prevent some of the cold drafts from entering and keep heat from escaping. If a window has no curtains or blinds, tacking up a heavy blanket will do in a pinch. Rolled up towels at the bottom of doors also help to prevent cold drafts.
Use your oven more often during the winter
You shouldn't use your oven as a heater during the winter but you can use your oven to make more baked goods (like holiday cookies) and dinners. The heat from baking will spread from the kitchen into other areas of the house, and it has the added bonus of filling your home with the smell of baking cookies. Who can argue with that?
If your power is out: For gas stoves, the top burners can be lit with a match. So if the electric power fails, you can still cook dinner. Hold the lighted match to the burner and turn the burner control knob to the low-flame position. Turn the burner full on once it ignites.
Take lots of steamy showers in the winter
After you take a hot shower, the bathroom is generally filled with warm steam. Instead of letting it remain sealed in the bathroom, open the door and let it circulate a bit. At the very least, you'll have a bit of added humidity to the dry, forced air heat in your home during the winter. Using a warm mist humidifier in areas of your home will also help with dry skin and breathing issues.
If your power is out: To shower during a power outage, you need a traditional tank-style water heater with hot water already in reserve. A tank water heater keeps a reserve of heated water, but the water will only stay hot for an hour or two without power. If you're not sure how long the power outage will last, remember that you might need that supply of hot water for something else.
Use your fireplace as much as you can when it's cold
...if you have one. Grab some kindling or wood and spend the evening cozy by a fire with a good book and some tea or cocoa.
If your power is out: If you have a wood stove or fireplace, those are excellent sources of heat. However, never use heaters designed for the outdoors inside your home. These types of heaters emit harmful gasses that dissipate easily outside but can build up inside.
Prepare an emergency kit for winter power outages
- A working flashlight with an extra set of batteries
- Candles with matches for after the sun goes down
- An accessible stash of blankets for bundling up in the short term
If your power is out: Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed when the power goes out; the food will stay cold for quite a while even without power if they are never opened. A stash of non-perishable snacks and bottled water are also handy to have in the short term.
If the power does go out during the day, and it's safe to do so, think about heading somewhere warm. Going to the mall or library for a few hours will keep you warm while crews work on getting the power back.
Bundle up with lots of layers to stay warm in cold weather
If the power outage happens at night, the easiest way to keep warm is by layering up -- thermal underwear, a couple pairs of socks, long pants, layered shirts, gloves and a hat. Bundling up in a blanket adds another layer to keep your body heat from escaping, too.
If your power is out: If you are unsure how long the power outage will last, find a room to gather together -- most likely a bedroom. Close the door and cover the vents; this will help trap any body heat generated by everyone in the room.
When you know the power outage will last longer than a few hours or even a day, think about staying with family or friends until the power comes back on. If you are able to, staying at a hotel might be another option. Additionally, check on older neighbors to see how they are doing. Check with local social services to get more information on how to help the elderly if their power does go out.
Once the power comes back on, make sure to check your furnace. If the furnace isn't firing, you may need to consult the manual or instruction panel to restart the furnace. A professional technician should be contacted if you are unable to get your furnace restarted.
TIP: If you are in an area that has frequent power outages, it's worth it to invest in a generator. Permanent standby generators can restore your power in seconds but need to be installed by a licensed electrician.