How do you keep warm if the power goes out for several days?

[Anonymous]

Our lights have flickered off twice and now I am freaking out. We have lost power for several days during the summer storms but it is an inconvenience and we could always go somewhere else. If we have 30 inches of snow we are not getting out of our neighborhood for days. We have electric heat. How long does it take a house to cool down to outside temps once the power goes? Can you keep kids warm under blankets or in warm clothes if it is 20-30 degrees?

[Anonymous]

put down all your curtains NOW to start retaining the heat that's in your house. I just did it and already it is warmer in here.

[Anonymous]

I don't want to alarm anyone, but we live in Bethesda and we already lost power for about 30 minutes. Thankfully it was restored so quickly, but we have seen a lot of flickering since. Needless to say, I am also interested in suggestions for how to keep warm (and how to keep a baby warm) if we lose power for an extended period.

[Anonymous]

have everybody sleep in the same bed along with the family dog.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a tent? You could put it up in a warm room in your house and all sleep in there together if the power is out, that will help keep the heat in some.

[Anonymous]

Put on some snow gear.

[Anonymous]

We lost power in the am at the start of the last big storm and I could feel the thermostat dropping. As long as it stays around 40 or 50 I think you can be up and about in the house. I think it would take about half a day to get to outside temperature.

You can survive in your home with hats, long underwear, and multiple layers, under the covers, for a good long while -- it just would be boring and uncomfortable.

Other ideas:

Insulate one room in your house for a “shelter within the house.”

· Pitch a tent in the warmest room. Tent alternative: Use your dining room table (extra leaves in). Place a mattress underneath
it, and drape blankets, rugs etc. down the sides. Leave a gap near the bottom for fresh air. Keep tent or blankets away from any fire
source.

· Insulate doorways, floors, walls and windows: Use extra blankets, rugs, curtains, mattresses, clothes or newspapers.

· Place sleeping bags inside your tent.

· Bring stored water into this room to keep it from freezing.

[Anonymous]

2. Safety precautions - bring the following to the insulated room:

· Battery-operated smoke alarm
· Battery-operated carbon monoxide detector
· Any fire extinguishers
· Disaster supply kit (72-hour kit) in case of evacuation

3. Insulate your body

· Wear a hat/cap indoors and outdoors.
· Wear loose clothes, in layers.
· Keep clothes clean and dry.
· If needed, stuff newspapers around legs, arms and chest.
· If needed, use garbage bags for feet or over body, stuffed with
insulative materials.
· Wear thermal underwear.

4. Fireplaces and Woodstoves.

If you have a working fireplace in your home, it can provide emergency heat. Heat circulating or “heatilator” fireplaces are much
more efficient than conventional masonry fireplaces. Burn only safe woods or logs. Service your fireplace/woodstove annually.

· Do NOT burn pressure-treated wood, as it contains toxins that could make you sick. Artificial logs (made from sawdust and wax)
should only be burned one at a time.

· Do NOT burn newspapers or other trash, as they burn very hot, and can cause a chimney fire.

5. Other heat sources.

The emergency cooking heat sources discussed for indoor use in Food, can be used to provide heat.
Propane heaters approved for indoor use can also be used. Turn these off before going to sleep.

· WARNING for using any indoor alternate heating ideas:

(1) Provide ventilation with a window or door opened
one inch, with the heater placed close to this opening.

(2) Place all open-flame emergency heaters on a fireproof
surface.

[Anonymous]

"A well insulated home can stay warm for up to 3 days" (i.e. not life threatening, not necessarily comfortable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV-sgJqawow

[Anonymous]

You can also take some cardboard boxes if you have any, and cut them to the size of your windows, to keep heat in. CLose curtains now and pull all shades, and crank up the heat a bit.

[Anonymous]

Use bodies of the rude people from the store.

[Anonymous]

Snugglie

[Anonymous]

Thank you, 21:04/21:06 poster, very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Good info. My heatilator fireplace requires power, though, so that won't help much.

Our lights have been flickering for the past 2 hours out here in Rockville; it's driving me a little nuts. But we've got a DVD player charged up, and two computers that will play movies for the kids.....just in case.

[Anonymous]

penguinsix wrote:You might also consider filling the tub with hot water. Let the steam heat up the room a bit and leave it out all night to warm the place a bit.

As to how long your house can stay warm it all depends on how insulated, how cold, etc. But if you are living in 74 degrees and it goes out you can expect something in the 60s by morning more than likely.

We have about six outages a year here in the country, and a few last as long as 24 hours. We have a kerosene heater ($100--Lowes) that is our backup source of heat in times like this.

Okay, I think that all the PPs have given great advice. Thank you!

But filling a tub with hot water will NOT create enough "steam" to warm any room all night - not even a little bit. It's ridiculous.