What to Do if Your Furnace Breaks Down in Freezing Weather

Alternative Heating Sources

When considering alternative ways to provide some heat to your home, it’s essential to consider the risks. You do not want to generate too much carbon monoxide or risk starting a fire with uncontained flames, so avoid using gas ovens, stoves, and outdoor grills. Check out some relatively safe strategies for keeping warm below.

• Heat One Room: If your temporary heat supplies are limited, focus on keeping one room warm.
• Block Cold Air: Use blankets or towels to block cold air from entering under doors or around drafty windows, and avoid opening and closing exterior doors as much as possible.
• Use Extra Clothes and Blankets: Extra clothes and blankets will help you take advantage of your body heat to stay warm.
• Do Laundry: Your dryer is a safe appliance to run in the house that also generates heat, and think of the warm clothes you can put on after a load is done!
• Turn on Fireplaces: If you have a fireplace, use it! These are well-ventilated and contained heat sources that will help keep your house from getting too cold.
• Electrical Space Heaters: These can be very effective for keeping your house or a single room warm, but they draw a lot of power. Avoid using too many on one circuit, or you could cause an electrical fire.