Power cut guide
Keeping Warm in a Winter Power Cut
Quick answer: Pick one room, ideally a small one with few outside walls, shut its door and curtains, and keep everyone in it. Wear several thin layers, a hat and thick socks, use blankets, and have regular hot drinks and food, from a flask filled in advance or a gas hob if your cooker’s instructions say it is safe to use without electricity. Never use a barbecue, generator, camping heater or gas oven to heat your home. Babies, people over 65 and anyone with a long-term health condition feel the cold fastest, so check on them first.
Is the power off where you are? See live power cuts from the network operators and reports from neighbours.
Citizens Advice points out that most gas boilers need electricity to start, and heat pumps and electric storage heaters won’t work either, so a winter power cut usually means the radiators go cold too. Homes lose heat gradually, and with a few simple steps you can stay warm and safe for many hours. This guide covers practical ways to keep warm, the heat sources to avoid, and how to look after the people most at risk.
Why the cold matters
For a healthy adult, a few chilly hours are uncomfortable but not usually dangerous. For others, cold can quickly affect health. The NHS says keeping warm in winter can help prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems, and that some people are more vulnerable to cold weather, including:
- people aged 65 and over
- babies and children under 5
- people with a long-term health condition
- disabled people
- pregnant women
- people with a mental health condition
- people on a low income who struggle to afford heating
The NHS recommends heating the rooms you use most, such as the living room and bedroom, to at least 18°C if you can. In a power cut that may not be possible, which is why it helps to concentrate your warmth in one place.
Make one room your warm room
Fire services advise that if you have a safe source of heat, you should keep one room warm and stay in it. Even without one, a single closed room holds warmth from people far better than a whole house.
- Choose a smaller room you can easily close off, with as few outside walls and windows as possible.
- Close internal doors to the rest of the house, and put a rolled towel or draught excluder along the bottom of the door.
- Draw the curtains and blinds as soon as it gets dark. If the sun is shining on that side of the house during the day, open them to let it in, then close them again.
- Keep windows shut, but don’t block air vents or air bricks. They are there for safety, especially if you have a gas, oil or solid-fuel appliance.
- Bring everyone together. People, and pets, give off heat. Sharing one room means it warms up faster.
- Sleep there if the cut goes on overnight, with plenty of blankets, rather than in a cold bedroom.
Tip: Rugs, cushions and an extra blanket on the floor stop heat being lost through cold floorboards and tiles, especially on a ground floor.
Dress for the cold, indoors
Clothing is your most effective heating in a power cut. Several thin layers trap warm air between them and work better than one thick jumper.
- Base layer: thermal or long-sleeved tops and leggings, or tights under trousers.
- Middle layers: jumpers, fleeces or cardigans.
- Outer layer: a dressing gown or coat if needed.
- Hat, scarf and gloves: a hat makes a big difference, and fingerless gloves let you still use your phone.
- Feet: thick socks and slippers with a good grip. Cold feet make you feel cold all over.
- Blankets and sleeping bags: wrap up when sitting still, and use a sleeping bag under the duvet at night.
Change out of any damp clothes straight away, as wet clothing makes it much harder to stay warm.
Hot drinks, food and keeping active
Eating and drinking warm things helps keep your body temperature up and is good for morale.
- Fill flasks with hot water, tea or soup as soon as a cut is forecast. If you have a gas hob, only use it during a power cut if the cooker’s instructions say it is safe to light and use without electricity. A good flask keeps drinks hot for hours.
- Eat regularly. Hot meals are best, but any food gives your body fuel to make heat.
- Have hot drinks often, rather than one large one.
- Move around if you can. Getting up every hour or so, walking about or doing simple exercises while seated helps your circulation.
- Skip the alcohol. The NHS advises against giving alcohol to someone who is getting too cold.
If you use a camping stove to heat food, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, never leave it unattended and make sure the room is ventilated. Our power cut safety guide explains the carbon monoxide risks from stoves, heaters and generators.
Safe and dangerous heat sources
When the house gets cold, it’s tempting to reach for anything that gives off heat. Some options are fine, and some can kill through fire or carbon monoxide.
| Heat source | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Layers, blankets, sleeping bags | Safe | No fire or fumes, and work for as long as you need. |
| Hot water bottle | Safe with care | Use cooled water, a cover, and not for babies. |
| Flask of hot drink or soup | Safe | Warms you from the inside. |
| Wood burner or open fire | Safe if properly installed and maintained | Have the chimney cleaned before winter and fit a carbon monoxide alarm in the room. |
| Gas oven or hob used for heating | Dangerous | Fire services say never use a gas oven to heat your home, even briefly. |
| Barbecue or charcoal grill indoors | Dangerous | Gives off carbon monoxide. |
| Patio heater or outdoor gas heater indoors | Dangerous | Made for outdoor use only. |
| Generator indoors or in a garage | Dangerous | Exhaust fumes can kill, even with the door open. |
Safety: If anyone develops a headache, dizziness, nausea or confusion while a fire, stove or heater is in use, turn it off if safe, get everyone outside into fresh air and call NHS 111, or 999 if someone is struggling to breathe or has collapsed.
Using hot water bottles safely
Hot water bottles are a simple way to stay warm, especially in bed, but they can cause nasty burns if they split or leak. Trading Standards advice is to:
- never fill with freshly boiled water; let it cool for a few minutes first, or mix hot and cold
- fill only to about two-thirds, then gently squeeze out the air before screwing the stopper on
- always use a cover and never place it directly on skin, sit or lie on it
- check for splits, cracks and a worn stopper before each use
- replace it two to three years after first use; the flower symbol on the bottle shows the year it was made
The NHS says babies should never sleep with a hot water bottle or electric blanket.
Babies and young children
Babies can’t tell you they’re cold, and they can’t regulate their temperature as well as adults. They are also at risk of overheating if they’re bundled up too much, so getting the balance right matters.
- The NHS advises keeping a baby’s room at about 16 to 20°C, using a room thermometer if you have one.
- Check your baby’s temperature by feeling their chest or the back of their neck.
- Add or remove layers of clothing or lightweight blankets as needed. Remove a layer if their skin is hot or sweaty.
- Use a baby sleeping bag or lightweight blankets, not duvets or pillows.
- Don’t put a baby to sleep next to a radiator, heater or fire.
Our guide to looking after babies, older relatives and pets in a power cut covers feeding, sleep and care in more detail.
Older people and spotting hypothermia
Older people can get cold without noticing, especially if they’re sitting still for long periods. If you have an older relative or neighbour, ring or knock to check they’re warm, have food and drink, and have a working torch.
The NHS lists these signs of hypothermia:
- shivering
- pale, cold and dry skin (skin and lips may look blue or grey; on black or brown skin, check the palms and soles)
- slurred speech
- slow breathing
- tiredness or confusion
In babies, signs can include feeling cold to the touch, being floppy, unusually quiet or sleepy, and refusing to feed.
If you think someone has hypothermia, call 999. While you wait, the NHS advises moving them somewhere warmer, removing any wet clothing, wrapping them in a blanket, sleeping bag or dry towel with their head covered, and giving a warm non-alcoholic drink and sugary food if they are fully awake. Don’t use a hot bath, hot water bottle or heat lamp to warm them, don’t rub their arms and legs, and don’t give alcohol. If you’re worried someone is getting too cold but it isn’t an emergency, call NHS 111. Our emergency numbers page keeps all the key contacts in one place.
The Priority Services Register is free for people of state pension age, families with children under 5 and many others. In a long power cut, network operators may offer registered households extra help, such as priority updates and welfare support like hot food and drinks where available. Read our guide to the Priority Services Register to see who qualifies.
When the heating won’t come back
When the power returns, your boiler or heat pump may not restart by itself. Check the display for fault codes, reset the timer, and follow the manual’s reset instructions. If it still won’t work, call a registered heating engineer. Our guide to boilers, heat pumps and heating after a power cut walks you through it.
If the power is likely to be off for a long time in freezing weather, check your postcode for the operator’s latest estimate, and think about staying with friends or family who have power. Citizens Advice also suggests checking whether your local council runs any warm spaces you could use.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep warm in a power cut without heating?
Stay in one small room with the door and curtains closed, wear several layers including a hat and socks, use blankets, and have hot drinks from a flask. Keep moving if you can.
Can I use my gas cooker to heat the house in a power cut?
No. Fire services advise never using a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time, because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Does my gas boiler work in a power cut?
Usually not. Citizens Advice says most gas boilers need electricity to start, so you may have no heating during a power cut even though your gas supply is fine.
How cold is too cold for a baby’s room?
The NHS advises a room temperature of about 16 to 20°C for babies. If it is colder, add a layer of clothing or a lightweight blanket, and check their chest or the back of their neck to see if they’re warm enough.
What temperature should my home be in winter?
The NHS recommends at least 18°C in the rooms you use regularly, such as the living room and bedroom, if you can.
Your next step: before the next cold snap, put a flask, spare blankets, a hat for everyone and a working torch where you can find them in the dark. Our power cut emergency kit guide has a full checklist to work through.
Sources
- NHS u2013 Keep warm, keep well
- NHS u2013 Hypothermia
- NHS u2013 Reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue u2013 Safety advice in the event of a power disruption
- Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service u2013 Carbon monoxide: minimise the risk
- Citizens Advice u2013 Prepare for a power cut
- Somerset Council u2013 Hot water bottle safety
Checked against these sources on 28 October 2026. Rules and amounts can change – your network operator or Ofgem has the final word. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
More on home, food and health: The Priority Services Register Explained · All power cut guides