How to Stay Warm During a Winter Power Outage

Power outages often occur at the most inconvenient times. During the winter, storms can cause ice to build up on tree limbs. When left unchecked, the weight of this ice may cause the tree limbs to fall while knocking out any power lines hanging below. You can't always prevent power outages from occurring. Fortunately, there are ways to stay warm during a winter power outage.

Use a Portage Generator

You can use a portage generator to supply your home with backup electricity during a winter power outage. Portage generators, of course, are machines that convert fuel, such as propane or gasoline, into electricity. When the power goes out in your home, you can crank up a portable generator for emergency electricity. It won't be able to power your entire home, but a portage generator can still provide enough electricity to run the furnace.

Keep Your Home Sealed

It's important to keep your home sealed if the power goes out. Even without power, some of the warm and conditioned air will remain inside of your home -- but only if it's sealed. Opening a door or window, of course, will allow it to escape. Therefore, you should keep your home sealed during a winter power outage.

Invest in an Emergency Blanket

Assuming you don't already have one, you should consider buying an emergency blanket. Emergency blankets are designed specifically to provide immediate warmth in emergency scenarios, such as winter power outages. They typically consist of insulated blankets that you can wrap around your home. Even if you never have to use it, an emergency blanket is a smart investment. It will provide you with peace of mind knowing that if the power goes out, you can stay warm by wrapping your body in an emergency blanket.

Open the Curtains During the Day

Another tip to stay warm during a winter power outage is to open the curtains during the day. With the curtains open, your home will warm up from sunlight. Sunlight will shine through the windows to provide your home with thermal energy. The curtains, however, must be open for this to occur. With that said, you should close the curtains after the sun goes down. A good rule of thumb is to open the curtains during the day and close them at night during power outages.

Use the Fireplace

You can use the fireplace during a winter power outage. Fireplaces don't require electricity. Gas fireplaces only require gas, whereas wood fireplaces require firewood. Regardless, using the fireplace can warm your home without relying on power.