Winter storm power outage guide
Your Furnace Quits When the Power Does. Here's Plan B.
Most gas furnaces need electricity to run, so when snow or ice takes out your power, your heat goes with it. Here's how to stay warm, keep your pipes from freezing and stay safe until the power comes back.
- Warmth: a heated blanket on battery power
- Pipes: what to do before they freeze
- Safety: no flame or engine indoors
Quick answer
Most gas furnaces need electricity, so a winter outage usually means no heat. Close off one room and layer up. Then run a 100 watt heated blanket from a portable power station, about 8 hours on a 1,000 watt-hour unit. Keep a faucet dripping so pipes don't freeze. Never use a grill, oven or generator indoors.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product links on this page are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. Runtimes are estimates and vary with the device, its setting and the room temperature.
Plan for days, not hours
Why do ice storms knock out power for days?
Ice is heavy, and it keeps building. According to the National Weather Service, just a quarter inch of ice on branches and lines can snap limbs and bring down power lines, and wind makes it worse. When that happens across a whole region, repairs can take days.
¼ inch
of ice can bring down power lines
Ice coats every branch and wire. Even less can do it when the wind is blowing.
Source: National Weather Service
4.5M+
Texans lost power in the 2021 freeze
During Winter Storm Uri, some went as long as four days without electricity.
246
deaths tied to that storm in Texas
158 were from hypothermia and 19 from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Why winter repairs take longer
- Damage is spread out. Fallen limbs can break lines on hundreds of streets at once.
- Ice keeps falling. Branches can keep snapping until the storm passes and the ice melts.
- Roads slow the crews. Icy and snowy roads make every repair trip take longer.
- Your heat is out the whole time. Most furnaces need power for the igniter, controls and blower.
The takeaway: most of the deaths in that storm came from two causes, the cold and carbon monoxide. This guide covers both: how to stay warm on battery power for a multi-day outage, how to keep your pipes from freezing, and which heat sources never belong indoors.
Gas still flows. The heat doesn't.
Why does my gas furnace stop when the power goes out?
Most modern gas furnaces need electricity at every step. The thermostat sends the signal, the igniter lights the burner, the control board runs the safety checks, and the blower pushes warm air through your vents. When the power goes out, the whole chain stops, even though the gas is still there.
-
Thermostat
Calls for heat. Most wired thermostats go dark.
-
Igniter
Lights the burner with a spark or hot surface.
-
Control board
Runs the safety checks before the gas can flow.
-
Blower
Moves the heat through your ducts and vents.
Can you plug the furnace into a power station? Not safely on your own. Most furnaces are hard-wired, so backup power for one needs a transfer switch or power inlet installed by a licensed electrician. A portable power station is the right tool for keeping you warm, with a heated blanket. See how long one runs.
What should you do in the first hour without heat?
Start trapping heat right away, while the house is still warm. The CDC's winter storm guidance says to close off unneeded rooms, stuff towels in the cracks under doors and cover windows at night.
-
Pick one room
Choose a small room with few windows, and close the doors to the rest of the house. Everyone stays there, pets too.
-
Block the drafts
Roll towels or blankets along the bottom of doors and windows. Hang a blanket over any doorway without a door.
-
Work the windows
Open the blinds on sunny days to let the sun in. Cover the windows with blankets once it gets dark.
-
Layer up early
Put on a hat, wool socks and loose layers before you feel cold. Sleep in a warm sleeping bag.
-
Start the heated blanket
Run a heated blanket from a portable power station. A lower setting stretches the runtime. Check the runtimes.
-
Protect the pipes
Open the cabinets under your sinks and start a slow drip at the faucet farthest from your main. Full pipe steps.
Check on babies and older adults first. They lose body heat fastest, and the CDC calls them out by name. In the 2021 Texas freeze, most of the people who died from hypothermia were 60 or older, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. If an older neighbor lives alone, knock on their door.
Runtime by station size
How long will a portable power station keep you warm?
A 100 watt heated blanket runs about 8 hours on a 1,000 watt-hour power station, and about 23 hours on a 2,700 watt-hour station. Heated bedding warms your body directly, so it's the best use of stored power in a winter outage. Here's how the most common outage devices compare.
| Device | Typical draw | ~1,000 Wh stationElite 100 V2 or DELTA 3 Classic | ~2,700 Wh stationBLUETTI Apex 300 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heated throw blanketBest pick for warmth | 100 W | About 8 hours | About 23 hours |
| Heated mattress padOne side of a queen pad | 80 W | About 10 hours | About 29 hours |
| CPAP machineWith humidifier; less without it | 56 W | About 15 hours | About 42 hours |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | About 20 W | About 40 hours | About 4.5 days |
| Phone charging | About 15 Wh per charge | 50+ full charges | 150+ full charges |
| Full-size refrigeratorAverage, as it cycles on and off | 45 to 60 W | About 14 to 19 hours | About 39 to 52 hours |
| Space heaterFor comparison: heats air, not you | 1,500 W | About 35 minutes | About 1.5 hours |
Estimates use 85% of rated capacity to cover conversion losses (1,024 Wh and 2,764.8 Wh stations). Your runtime depends on the device, its setting, and how cold the room is. CPAP draw is the ResMed AirSense 11's typical spec; check the label on your machine.
Why a heated blanket beats a space heater
A space heater tries to warm all the air in a room, and that air leaks out through windows and walls. A heated blanket puts the warmth right on your body, so it uses a fraction of the power.
The same station that runs a space heater for about half an hour runs a heated throw through the whole night.
How to stretch your runtime
- Pre-warm the bed on high, then drop to a low setting.
- Layer a regular blanket or sleeping bag over the heated one to hold the heat in.
- Turn off the router overnight if you don't need it.
- Recharge with a solar panel on sunny days, or from your car while it runs outside.
Which size power station do you need for a winter outage?
| Your outage plan | ~1,000 Wh station | ~2,700 Wh station (Apex 300) |
|---|---|---|
| One person, one night of blanket heat | Yes, with charge left for phones | Yes, with plenty to spare |
| Two people, two heated blankets overnight | Low setting only, about 4 hours each on high | Yes, about 11 hours each on high |
| Blanket at night plus Wi-Fi and phones by day | Most of a day before recharging | About two days before recharging |
| A CPAP every night of a multi-day outage | About 2 nights (8 hours each) | About 5 nights (8 hours each) |
| Weight to carry | Lighter, easy to move room to room | About 84 pounds, set it in one spot |
Same 85% math as the table above. Apex 300 specs: 2,764.8 Wh, 3,840 W output, about 84 pounds. A day of use here means a blanket for 8 hours, Wi-Fi for 12 hours and 4 phone charges. Add solar recharging for outages longer than a couple of days.
Protect the house, too
How do you keep pipes from freezing when the power is out?
Open the cabinets under your sinks and let cold water drip from faucets on exposed pipes, as the American Red Cross recommends. Even a trickle helps. If the inside of your home drops below 40 degrees, Purdue Extension says it's time to shut off the water and drain the pipes.
Before the storm
Get ready
- Find your main water shut-off valve now, while you can see.
- Wrap exposed pipes in foam pipe sleeves, especially in garages, crawl spaces and under sinks.
- Disconnect garden hoses, close the inside valves to outdoor faucets, and cover the faucets.
- Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through it.
When the power goes out
Keep water moving
- Open the cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks. Move cleaners out of kids' reach.
- Let cold water drip from faucets on outside walls. Start with the one farthest from your main.
- Keep interior doors to the plumbing rooms open, and close off rooms with no pipes.
- Heat tape needs electricity, so don't count on it during an outage.
If it gets near 40°F inside
Shut off and drain
- Shut off the main water valve, or the well pump if it's inside the house.
- Open every faucet, top floor first, until they stop running. Flush the toilets.
- Turn off the water heater's power or gas before you drain anything from it.
- If you're unsure, call a licensed plumber before the pipes freeze.
What if a pipe freezes anyway?
- If a faucet only trickles, suspect a frozen pipe. Check pipes on outside walls first.
- Leave the faucet open. Running water helps melt the ice as it thaws.
- Warm the pipe gently. The Red Cross lists an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, a hair dryer, or towels soaked in hot water. A portable power station can run a heating pad for hours.
- Keep going until full water pressure comes back, then check your other faucets.
- Can't find it or thaw it? Call a licensed plumber.
Never use an open flame on a pipe. No torch, propane heater or charcoal stove. And never pour car antifreeze into your water lines. It isn't safe for drinking water systems.
In the kit: foam pipe sleeves and outdoor faucet covers are cheap insurance against a burst pipe. See them in the winter outage kit.
Sources: American Red Cross, Preventing & Thawing Frozen Pipes; Purdue Extension, Protect Your Plumbing During a Winter Power Failure. Every home is different. When in doubt, ask a licensed plumber.
Build it before the storm
What should be in a winter power outage kit?
Four things: a way to store power, a way to stay warm without a furnace, a way to protect your pipes, and a way to stay safe and informed in the dark. These are the picks I'd put in my own kit.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prices change often, so check the current price on Amazon.
Power
Runs the heated blanket, Wi-Fi, phones and a CPAP.
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2
Light enough to carry room to room, with enough power to run a heated blanket for about 8 hours. Recharges from the wall or a solar panel.
- 1,024 Wh
- 1,800 W output
- LiFePO4 battery
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic
Same size class as the Elite 100 V2, and a strong alternative if you prefer EcoFlow. It recharges fast from the wall when power comes back.
- 1,024 Wh
- 1,800 W output
- About 45 min to 80% on AC
BLUETTI Apex 300
For long ice-storm outages or a household with more than one person. It runs a heated blanket for about 23 hours, or a CPAP for about 5 nights. Add expansion batteries later if you need more.
- 2,764.8 Wh
- 3,840 W output
- Expandable
- About 84 lb
BLUETTI 200W Solar Panel
Puts charge back into any of the three stations on clear days, so a multi-day outage doesn't end when the battery does. It folds flat and stands on its own kickstands.
- 200 W
- Foldable
- MC4 connectors
All three stations take solar through an XT60 port. Check your station's box for an MC4-to-XT60 cable, and pick one up if it's missing. Winter sun is weaker, so expect slower charging than the rated 200 W.
Check price on AmazonNot sure which size fits your home? Compare the runtimes or read the BLUETTI Size Guide.
Warmth
Heat your body, not the whole house.
Bedsure Heated Throw
Draws about 100 watts, so a 1,024 Wh station runs it for about 8 hours. Wrap up on the couch or lay it over your bed.
- 50 x 60 in
- 6 heat levels
- About 100 W
It has a 3-hour auto shut-off for safety. Turn it back on when it clicks off.
Check price on AmazonSealy Heated Mattress Pad (Queen)
Warms the bed from underneath, with a separate controller for each side. Run just one side to make the battery last longer.
- Queen
- Dual controllers
- Auto shut-off
Coleman Heritage Big & Tall Sleeping Bag
No power needed at all. Rated for cold nights and roomy enough for most adults, so it works as your backup if the battery runs low.
- Rated 10°F
- Fits up to 6'7"
- No power
GENVU Rechargeable Hand Warmers (2-Pack)
Pocket heat for checking on neighbors or clearing the walk. They double as small power banks for a phone.
- 2-pack
- 14,000 mAh total
- Charging case
Pipes
Cheap insurance against a burst pipe.
Foil-Faced Foam Pipe Insulation (1/2 in)
Slip it over exposed pipes in the garage, crawl space and under sinks. It slows heat loss, so your pipes stay above freezing longer.
- 1/2 inch pipe
- Foil-faced foam
- Multi-pack
Sized for 1/2-inch pipe, the most common size under sinks. Measure first. Main lines are often 3/4 inch.
Check price on AmazonInsulated Outdoor Faucet Covers (4-Pack)
Outdoor faucets are among the first to freeze. Close the inside valve, drain the faucet, then strap one of these over it.
- 4-pack
- Insulated pouch
- Strap closure
Step-by-step: how to keep your pipes from freezing.
Safety & light
Stay safe, informed and able to see.
Kidde 10-Year CO Alarm with Display
Carbon monoxide has no smell. A sealed battery means this alarm keeps working when the power is out, even if your wired alarms don't.
- 10-year sealed battery
- Digital readout
- Works in outages
Midland ER10VP NOAA Weather Alert Radio
Gets National Weather Service alerts even when cell service and internet are down.
- NOAA alerts
- Runs on 3 AA
- No cell needed
AYL Rechargeable LED Lantern (2-Pack)
Bright, safe light with no flame, so you can skip the candles. It can also charge a phone in a pinch.
- 2-pack
- 1,800 lumens
- Up to 12 hrs per charge
Kmivo Rechargeable Headlamps (2-Pack)
Hands-free light for draining pipes, checking the breaker panel or walking out to the street.
- 2-pack
- Rechargeable
- Hands-free
Ready when the lights go out
How do you keep a power station ready for winter?
Keep it indoors, keep it charged, and charge it in a warm room. All three stations in the kit run on LiFePO4 batteries, which handle cold well when powering your devices. They only charge above freezing, so where you keep the station matters more than anything else.
Store it inside the house
Keep it in a heated, dry room, not the garage or shed, and off cold concrete floors. Anker's winter guide gives the same advice for any brand.
Top it off before the storm
When the forecast calls for ice or heavy snow, charge it to 100% the night before. Check the charge every couple of months the rest of the winter.
Keep it in the warm room with you
A battery station makes no fumes, so it's safe indoors. Set it in the one room you're heating with your heated blanket. You stay warm, and so does the battery.
Panel outside, station inside
When recharging from solar, put only the panel out in the sun. Run the cable through a door or window gap so the station stays warm while it charges.
Let a cold station warm up first
If it's been sitting somewhere cold, bring it inside and give it time to reach room temperature before you plug it in to charge.
Recharge as soon as power is back
Ice storms can knock power out more than once. Plug the station in right away so it's full for the next outage.
What temperatures can these power stations handle?
Each station can power your devices well below freezing, but charging starts at 32 degrees. Here are the manufacturer specs.
| Power station | Charges at | Powers devices at |
|---|---|---|
| BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 | 32°F to 104°F | -4°F to 104°F |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic | 32°F to 113°F | 14°F to 113°F |
| BLUETTI Apex 300 | 32°F to 104°F | -4°F to 104°F |
Sources: BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 specs; EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic specs; BLUETTI Apex 300 published specs. EcoFlow lists 68°F to 86°F as the best range for storage.
The bottom line: kept inside and charged, a portable power station is the safest way to power backup warmth in your home. There's no flame, no fumes and no fuel to store. See the power stations in the kit.
Carbon monoxide warning
What should you never use to heat your home in a power outage?
Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or gas oven to heat your home. They all give off carbon monoxide, a gas you can't see or smell. The CDC says people who are asleep can die from it before they ever feel sick, which is why winter outages are so dangerous at night.
~100
deaths a year, on average, come from portable generators alone.
Never use these indoors
-
Gas generators
Not in the house, garage, basement, crawl space or shed, even with the doors open. Not on a porch or in a carport either.
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Charcoal or propane grills
Never burn charcoal indoors or in a garage, even with the garage door up.
-
Camp stoves
Portable gas camp stoves are for outdoors only, no matter how cold it gets.
-
Your gas oven or stovetop
Never leave the oven door open or the burners on to heat a room.
-
A running car in the garage
Don't warm up in a car inside an attached garage, even with the door open.
-
Blocked vents
After heavy snow, clear snow from the outside vents for your furnace and water heater so exhaust can escape when they restart.
If you run a gas generator
- Outside only, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents.
- Point the exhaust away from your home and your neighbors' homes.
- Keep a battery-powered CO alarm near every sleeping area.
- Plug appliances in with a heavy-duty outdoor extension cord. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.
Know the warning signs
The CDC lists headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. It often feels like the flu, without a fever.
If your CO alarm sounds or anyone has these symptoms: get everyone outside into fresh air right away, then call 911.
Your hard-wired CO alarms may go silent when the power is out. Keep at least one alarm with a sealed battery in the room where you sleep. The Kidde alarm in the kit has a digital readout and a 10-year battery. See it in the kit. For heat, a heated blanket on a battery power station gives off no fumes at all.
Your winter outage checklist
What should you do before, during and after a winter power outage?
Charge everything before the storm, stay in one warm room during the outage, and bring your home back online slowly afterward. Screenshot this checklist so you have it when the power is out.
When ice or snow is forecast
Before
- Charge the power station to 100%, plus phones, lanterns, headlamps and hand warmers.
- Put fresh batteries in the weather radio.
- Test your CO alarm, and put a battery one in the room where you'll sleep.
- Pick your warm room, and gather blankets, sleeping bags and hats there.
- Find your main water shut-off. Insulate exposed pipes and cover outdoor faucets.
- Fill empty freezer space with jugs of water so it stays cold longer.
- On a well? Fill the bathtub and a few jugs. The pump won't run without power.
- Refill prescriptions and stock food you can eat without cooking.
While the power is out
During
- Report the outage to your utility, not 911. Save 911 for emergencies.
- Move into your warm room, block the drafts and start the heated blanket.
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed. A closed fridge keeps food cold about 4 hours, and a full freezer about 48.
- Don't count on a snowbank as a fridge. Outdoor temperatures swing, and sun can warm food fast.
- Drip the faucets, and watch the indoor temperature. Near 40°F, shut off the water and drain.
- Unplug electronics and appliances, but leave one light switched on so you know when power is back.
- Treat every downed line as live. Stay far away and report it to your utility.
- Check on older neighbors and anyone living alone.
Once the lights come back
After
- Plug things back in slowly, a few at a time, so you don't overload the circuits.
- Clear snow from your furnace and water heater vents before they restart.
- Check your food. Toss perishables that sat above 40°F for 2 hours or more. When in doubt, throw it out.
- Frozen food with ice crystals, or at 40°F or below, can be refrozen.
- If you drained the pipes, open one cold faucet, turn the main on slowly and check for leaks.
- Refill the water heater before you turn its power or gas back on.
- Recharge the power station right away, in case the power goes out again.
Food safety times from FoodSafety.gov, including its winter outage guidance. Pipe steps from Section 6 above.
Quick answers
Winter power outage questions
Does a gas furnace work when the power is out?
No, most modern gas furnaces won't run without electricity. The thermostat, igniter, control board and blower all need power, even though the gas is still flowing. Plan to stay warm another way until the power comes back.
How long will a portable power station run a heated blanket?
About 8 hours on a 1,000 watt-hour station, for a 100 watt heated blanket. A 2,700 watt-hour station like the BLUETTI Apex 300 runs one for about 23 hours. A lower heat setting stretches the runtime even further.
Can a portable power station run a space heater?
Yes, but only for a short time. A 1,500 watt space heater drains a 1,000 watt-hour station in about 35 minutes. A heated blanket warms you directly and runs all night on the same charge.
Is it safe to use a portable power station indoors?
Yes. A battery power station burns no fuel and gives off no carbon monoxide, so it's safe in the room where you sleep. Keep it dry, give it some airflow, and follow the maker's instructions.
How do I keep my pipes from freezing when the power is out?
Open the cabinets under your sinks and let cold water drip from faucets on exposed pipes. If the inside of your home drops near 40 degrees, shut off the main water valve and drain the pipes.
How long is food safe in the fridge during a power outage?
About 4 hours, if you keep the door closed. A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours, or about 24 hours if it's half full. Throw out perishables that sat above 40 degrees for 2 hours or more.
Where should I put a generator during a winter storm?
Outside only, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents. Never run it in the house, garage, basement or crawl space, or on a porch, even with the doors open. Keep a battery carbon monoxide alarm inside.
Can I charge a power station in freezing weather?
Not below freezing. The power stations in this guide charge at 32 degrees and up. Keep the station inside, and let a cold one warm up to room temperature before you plug it in.
What should be in a winter power outage kit?
A portable power station, a heated blanket, a warm sleeping bag, a battery carbon monoxide alarm, a weather radio and rechargeable lights. Add pipe insulation and faucet covers if your pipes could freeze.
More detail: runtime table · pipe steps · the winter outage kit · BLUETTI Size Guide
Get ready before the next storm
Is your home ready for the next winter outage?
Build your kit now, while stores still have stock and roads are clear. Start with a power station and a heated blanket, then add the safety gear and pipe protection.
Live in California? Winter storms there bring rain, wind and planned power shutoffs instead of ice. Read the California winter storm outage guide for advice by utility.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate or referral links, at no extra cost to you. This guide is general safety information. Follow your equipment manuals and local emergency officials.