Power outage in winter: what to do to stay warm, protect pipes and avoid carbon monoxide

What changes when the power goes out in winter

Ready.gov says a winter storm can "Last a few hours or several days" and "Cut off heat, power and communication services." If your heating system needs electricity, it stops too, even if it burns gas or oil. Ask your super or landlord about yours. Your router and fridge stop too, and in some tall buildings, so do the pumps that push water to upper floors.

• Heat. Without it, your home gets colder; see How to stay warm below.
• Water. Upper floors may lose pressure, and pipes on cold outside walls can freeze.
• Phones. No outlets means no charging, so a power bank matters more.
• Food. Ready.gov says the refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours, and to keep it closed. For what to eat, see no-cook meals for a power outage.

If a winter storm is forecast

• Charge everything. Phones and power banks first. Ready.gov says to plan for batteries and other power sources, "such as a portable charger or power bank." For which one fits your needs, see power bank vs power station. Renting? See backup power for an apartment.
• Check your radio and lights. Ready.gov says to "Have extra batteries for radios and flashlights." The National Weather Service lists a "Flashlight and extra batteries" and a "Battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio and portable radio to receive emergency information." More on radios: Do you need a NOAA weather radio?
• Fill water containers in case pressure drops. See how much water to store.
• Plan for days, not hours. Ready.gov says to gather supplies "in case you need to stay home for several days without power."

Ice in the forecast? See how to prepare for an ice storm power outage.

Traveling? See leaving home for the holidays.

How to stay warm without power

The National Weather Service's advice for staying safe during power outages:

• "Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing as well as hats, mittens, and blankets."
• "Close blinds or curtains to keep in some heat."
• "Close off rooms to avoid wasting heat."
• "Place towels or rags in cracks under doors."

Pick the room with the fewest outside walls and keep everyone in it. NWS also says to "Avoid breezes and drafts indoors" and to "Eat nutritious food and wear warm clothes to ward off winter chill." The Red Cross says to "Drink plenty of warm fluids but avoid caffeine and alcohol." Check on neighbors, especially older adults and babies.

In an apartment without heat

Tell your super or landlord first. In New York City, HPD says building owners must provide heat from October 1st to May 31st. During the day, when it's below 55 degrees outside, "the inside temperature is required to be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit." Overnight, "Between the hours of 10:00pm and 6:00am, the inside temperature is required to be at least 62 degrees Fahrenheit regardless of what the outside temperature is." HPD says to contact your landlord first and, if they don't respond, file a complaint by calling 311. Read the details on HPD's heat and hot water page. More for NYC renters: NYC apartment guide.

Heat sources to never use indoors

Is it safe to use a gas oven for heat? No. Ready.gov says: "Do not use a gas stove or oven to heat your home. It increases your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Using an oven or stovetop can also increase the risk of fires, burns and could damage the appliance." CDC says: "Never heat your house with a gas oven."

• Generators, grills and camp stoves stay outside. Ready.gov says: "Generators, camp stoves or charcoal grills should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows."
• No charcoal indoors. CDC says: "Never burn charcoal indoors."
• No camp stoves or chemical heaters indoors. CDC says: "Never use a portable gas camp stove indoors. Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters indoors."
• No kerosene or propane heaters in NYC. NYC Emergency Management says: "Kerosene heaters and propane space heaters are dangerous and illegal in New York City."

Carbon monoxide: the winter outage risk

Ready.gov says: "Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill you, your family and pets." CDC says: "Many household items including gas- and oil-burning furnaces, portable generators, and charcoal grills produce this poison gas."

• Generators. CDC says: "Never use a generator inside your home or garage, even if doors and windows are open." and "Only use generators outside, more than 20 feet away from any windows, doors, and vents." CPSC says: "Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide. This is a poison you cannot see or smell."
• Alarms. Ready.gov says to "Install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central locations on every level of your home." CDC says to "Install battery-operated or battery back-up CO detectors near every sleeping area in your home." Test yours as your alarm's manual says.
• Symptoms. CDC says: "The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion." and "People who are sleeping, drunk, or under the influence of other substances can die from CO poisoning before they have symptoms."
• If an alarm sounds or you suspect CO. NYC Emergency Management says: "Open windows. Leave your home. Get to fresh air immediately. Call 911." Read more on CDC's carbon monoxide page.

Keep pipes from freezing without power

The Red Cross says:

• "Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing." Move cleaners up out of children's reach.
• "When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing."
• Pipes most at risk include those "that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation" and pipes "in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets."

If you rent, ask your super or landlord before you wrap or insulate any pipe.

If a pipe freezes in an apartment

Tell your super or landlord right away. The Red Cross says: "If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe." and "Keep the faucet open." Its thaw methods (an electric heating pad, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater kept away from flammable materials, or towels soaked in hot water) mostly need power, so in an outage this is usually a job for your building. The Red Cross also says: "Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device." If you can't find the frozen spot or can't thaw it, the Red Cross says to call a licensed plumber. "If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too."

Cold-weather health signs

CDC lists the signs of hypothermia. "Adults: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness." "Infants: bright red, cold skin, and very low energy." For frostbite, CDC says: "Redness or pain in any skin area may be the first sign of frostbite. Other signs include: a white or grayish-yellow skin area; skin that feels unusually firm or waxy; and numbness". CDC says: "Hypothermia is a medical emergency." and "If it is below 95° F, get medical attention immediately!" Call 911 in an emergency, or talk to a clinician.

When to leave for a warmer place

Ready.gov says: "Go to a community location with power if heat or cold is extreme." and "Check with local officials about heating and cooling locations open near you." In NYC, call 311 to find one. A friend's or relative's warm home counts too.

Buy / Borrow / Skip

• Buy: a headlamp or lantern for each adult, a power bank for each phone, a battery or hand-crank radio with the NOAA weather band, and a battery CO alarm for near every sleeping area if you don't have one.
• Borrow: a warm room at a neighbor's, friend's or relative's place, or a warming center your city opens.
• Skip: gas or dual-fuel generators for apartments, indoor propane heaters, candles as your main light (the Red Cross says "Use flashlights, not candles."), and "survival heater" hacks.