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How to Sleep Warm in a Cold House During an Outage

Updated November 2, 2026By the Prep For Outage Team2 min readSources linkedHow we chooseCompare brands

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How to sleep warm when the heat is out: layers, one small room, sleeping bags, kids and pets, and what never to use for heat. Simple winter steps.

Key takeaways
  • Sleep in one small closed room, together if safe, with layers and a hat.
  • Use sleeping bags and blankets, and insulate from the floor.
  • Never use a barbecue, stove or fuel heater to warm the room.

Nights are the hardest part of a winter outage. These steps keep you warm without risky heat sources.

Pick the room

Choose a small interior room, close the door and cover windows with blankets. See how houses cool down.

Layers and bedding

  • Wear dry layers and a hat; remove damp clothes.
  • Use sleeping bags rated for the cold, with a pad or mattress off the cold floor.
  • Keep children and older adults warm and check them often.
  • Pets: keep them warm.
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Food and drink

Eat and drink warm if you can safely heat food outdoors or use insulated flasks filled earlier.

Never do this

Do not use barbecues, camp stoves, generators or fuel heaters indoors: heater rules and carbon monoxide.

When to leave

If it is dangerously cold, go to a warming centre or a friend's home. See staying warm.

Backup power picks (Canada)

Size the unit to your own load first: see the sizing guide.

Quick comparison

BrandBest for
BBLUETTILarge lineup, expandable home systems
JJackeryWide range, compact to home backup sizes

Prices change often, so click through for the current price.

A
Anker SOLIX

Power stations and solar generators with fast charging. Compare capacity and warranty.

    See current price at Anker SOLIX Opens the maker's site in a new tab. Prices change often.
    B
    BLUETTILarge lineup, expandable home systems

    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
    See current price at BLUETTI Opens the maker's site in a new tab. Prices change often.
    J
    JackeryWide range, compact to home backup sizes

    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
    See current price at Jackery Opens the maker's site in a new tab. Prices change often.

    Quick answers

    How do I sleep warm without heat?

    Use one small closed room, layers, a hat and sleeping bags.

    Can I use a BBQ for heat?

    No. Never indoors.

    When should I leave?

    If it becomes dangerously cold, go to a warming centre or friend's home.

    Sources

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    Keep reading

    RelatedStaying warmSafe ways to heat one room.Read next →RelatedHow to Heat a Room Without Electricity, SafelyPick one small room, seal it, layer up and use only safe methods. A practical plan to heat a room without electricity and without carbon monoxide risk.Read next →RelatedBlizzard Power Outage in Canada: What to DoWhat to do if a blizzard knocks out your power in Canada: before the storm, the first hours, staying warm, and when to leave. A plain winter outage plan.Read next →

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