I Learned How to Stay Cozy Without Power, and You Can Too: 5 Low-Tech Tricks to Keep You Comfortable if Heating Fails
Fend off the chill with these easy-to-achieve expert lessons that don't rely on power
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With these freezing temperatures showing no sign of letting up any time soon, keeping warm is top of the agenda, but what happens if your central heating fails and you're left in the cold?
It's probably not something that you think about when everything is working as it should, but given the fact that these conditions make it more common for heating systems to break down, it's a good idea to be prepared for the worst to ensure you and your family know how stay cozy until it's fixed.
1. Switch Your Strategy to Heat Containment
Martin Wong, a home interior expert at Bringnox, warns: 'When temperatures drop this low, a broken heater can become dangerous very quickly. If you lose your primary heat source, your strategy must immediately shift from 'heating the house' to 'heat containment.' You have to stop the bleed of warm air instantly.'
There are a number of ways that you can do this – the first being to congregate in a single room of the house. 'If your heating supply is limited or gone, do not try to occupy the whole house,' advises Martin. 'Choose a central room (ideally with few windows and exterior walls) and have the family gather there. Close off all other doors to create a smaller 'envelope' that is easier to warm with body heat.'
He adds, 'Don't forget the smaller gaps. Roll up towels [no need to use your best ones, buy a budget towel bundle like this one from Walmart] to block air under doors and check electrical outlets on exterior walls, as these are common sources of freezing drafts.'
2. Create a Low-Tech Radiator System
'When the heat goes out, your first instinct might be to panic or reach for risky solutions like ovens or space heaters daisy-chained to extension cords,' says Steven Morgan, the head of technical training and development, master plumber, and certified HVAC technician, at New York-based 24-hr supply.
'A better, low-tech strategy that I've learned from decades of working in the cold and on off-grid sites is the "gallon jug" hack. Fill empty gallon jugs [like these stackable refillable water gallons from Walmart] with hot tap water and place them around your immediate living area. Water holds an enormous amount of thermal mass, and a single gallon of water at 120°F will radiate warmth for hours as it slowly cools.'
Steven continues: 'Arrange three or four jugs of hot water around your seating area, and you've created a low-tech radiator system. This is safer than electric heaters, requires no power, and uses only what's already in your hot water tank. Just ensure caps are tightly sealed, and bottles are stable.'
3. Shrink-Wrap Your Windows
You can lose a lot of heat through your window frames, particularly if you live in an older property without effective window seals.
Micah Sherman, virtual HVAC expert at American Home Shield, explains one of the best methods for insulating windows: 'Shrink-wrap your windows with transparent plastic by mounting it to the window frames with double-sided tape (Amazon), then heat it with a hairdryer until the film smooths out for an airtight seal.'
You can also buy specific window insulation kits (Amazon) for the job, or try a window sealing tape (Amazon). Just be sure to remove it after the cold snap, as it's also important for homes to breathe, to prevent mold and mildew, which can be harmful to your health.
4. Try The Reverse Fan Hack
While turning on your ceiling fan when the heat goes out might not be your first thought, it could actually help to keep you warmer. Micah explains: 'If you reverse your ceiling fan blades to a clockwise direction, it will push any rising warm air downward, back into the room. This can be achieved by flipping the pull-chain of your fan or pressing the reverse button.'
It's a simple hack, but it could make a real difference to your living room's temperature when every degree counts.
5. Focus on the Floor
While you may have thought to seal windows and close internal doors, floors are one of the worst offenders when it comes to drafts. Lenny Kharitonov, CEO of New York-based homes and interiors store, Emma Mason explains: 'Cold air often travels along base boards and under doors. Start by sealing floor-level draft routes. A homemade draft blocker can be made by filling long fabric tubes, such as old pantyhose, leggings or long socks with rice, sand, or dried beans, then placing them firmly against gaps.' You could also invest in a purpose-made draft stopper like this one from Amazon.
Lenny adds: 'If the room has hard flooring, lay down rugs or folded blankets to reduce the chill that rises from below and to make the area feel more insulated underfoot.
What Not to do When the Heat Goes Out
As much as you may be tempted to turn to alternative electrical or gas heat sources Steven Morgan warns: 'Never use charcoal grills, camping stoves, or gas generators indoors. These produce carbon monoxide which can be deadly. If you must use a space heater, plug it directly into a wall outlet (never an extension cord or power strip) and keep it three feet away from anything flammable.'
Shop these Low-Tech Essentials for Keeping Warm When the Heat Goes Out
This kit makes keeping drafts out a breeze (excuse the pun), as it's super simple to apply to all sizes and styles of windows, and creates an insulating barrier from the outside – there's enough to seal five standard windows.
Retain hot water in an insulated dispenser like this so that you can have warm drinks readily available throughout the day, or easily accessible for filling gallon jugs to warm the room.
Consider buying a bundle of affordable towels for emergency draft blocking, so that you don't have to use your best plush ones. Darker colors, like gray will hide the dirt from window mold or condensation better than white.
With ten heat settings and an auto shut off for safety, this is one of the coziest blankets you'll find. Ok, you do have to plug it in, so it's not totally low-tech, but you can use it without the heat function, too.
Stock up on these stackable gallon bottles and try the low-tech radiator hack (in tip 2), by filling with hot water and placing around the room to allow the heat to slowly warm the space.
This door draft stopper comes in a range of lengths and colors to suit your interiors, as well as a roll of hook and loop tape to attach it to your door, and a grippy base to keep it in place.
With the weather conditions as extreme as they've been lately, it is important to be prepared. Following this advice and shopping for a few essentials to stow away in case the heating goes out, or to provide alternative ways to heat your home if the power goes out, will really pay off in an emergency situation.
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