Stuck in an apartment or high rise during a winter outage? Elevators, heat, no balcony grill, water pressure and when to leave, explained simply.
- Elevators stop, so plan for stairs and check on neighbours who cannot use them.
- Heat one room, never use a barbecue or camp stove on a balcony or indoors.
- Water pressure and heating may fail in some buildings: store water and ask your landlord.
Apartments have extra problems in an outage: elevators, shared heating and no outdoor space. This is the short plan.
Elevators and stairs
Elevators usually stop. Know your stairwell, keep a flashlight by the door, and check on neighbours who cannot manage stairs.
Heat
If your heating needs electricity, live in one room with layers and blankets: sleeping warm. Never use a barbecue, camp stove or fuel heater indoors or on a balcony: carbon monoxide.
Water and pressure
Some buildings lose water pressure when pumps stop. Store water: how much. See toilet and sanitation.
Power in a small space
A power station is safe indoors, unlike a generator. See apartment prep.
Ask your landlord or board
Ask about backup power, emergency lighting and heating plans before winter.
Backup power picks (Canada)
Size the unit to your own load first: see the sizing guide.
Quick comparison
| Brand | Best for |
|---|---|
| BBLUETTI | Large lineup, expandable home systems |
| JJackery | Wide range, compact to home backup sizes |
Power stations and solar generators with fast charging. Compare capacity and warranty.
Larger capacity power stations that can run a fridge, with expandable batteries.
- Broad capacity range
- Expandable home-backup options
- Compare battery chemistry and stated cycle life
Popular portable power stations and solar kits for short outages.
- Has a Canadian storeHas a US store
- Small, mid and large models
- Compare capacity, output and warranty on the maker page
Quick answers
Do elevators work in an outage?
Usually not. Plan for stairs.
Can I use a balcony grill for heat or cooking?
No for heat. Do not use fuel burning devices indoors or on enclosed balconies.
What is safe indoors for power?
A battery power station, not a generator.