How to stay safely warm in extremely cold weather

It’s going to be extremely cold this week. A night with wind chills in the NEGATIVE 20s is enough to cause worry that the furnace may not be able to keep up. I want to share some tips on how to keep safely warm when the furnace is inadequate or you live without heat.
 
Top priorities:

1. Keep people and pets warm enough to be safe.
2. Have water.
3. Have food for several days.
4. Prevent the pipes from bursting.
5. Be prepared to bug-in.

 
 
Here’s what you need to do or be prepared to do if it gets cold enough.
 
 
Block the draft.

• All outer doors should be covered. Hang a blanket over each outer door. You can nail 3 nails above the doorway or use tacks. If you have time to stop at the store, pick up enough shower curtains to hang or tape over each outer door between the door and the blanket. That plastic will stop draft pretty well. The Dollar Tree has shower curtains if you’re prepping on a budget.
• Seal plastic over the windows.
• Hang blankets over the windows in extreme cold. You want to use a blanket that is not heavy. Fleece blankets work well at blocking cold, they’re not too heavy, and they are cheap.
• If you don’t have heat, close all vents. Also cover them with rugs or towels.
• If you have an inner room that doesn’t have windows or touch the outside, this is a good room to set up in.
• If it’s extremely cold, pitch a tent away from outer walls.

 
Identify your heat sources.

• I really hope that you have heat and your furnace works well. Clean your furnace filter before a cold front is expected. If it snows, make sure to clear the path around your furnace exhaust pipe. 
• You need to own several space heaters.
• If you have a fireplace or wood burning stove, wonderful. Make sure you have enough firewood and have it ready.
• If you have an indoor dryer vent, those cold days are a good time to do a lot of laundry.
• Are you in the mood to bake? Use your stove to heat up the kitchen. When you’re done baking, leave the oven door open (away from kids and pets).  
• Do you have any heating pads?
• Make or buy rice packs and corn bags that can be heated in the microwave or oven.  
• Candles can provide a small amount of heat. More importantly, they are a good source of light should the power go out.
• If you are going to be without hot water for several days, boil water. Pour it in a cooler. It stays warm for quite a while. Use this for “camper wash-up” bathing.

 
Keep pets and people as warm as you can, especially extremities.

• Shut the doors to all the rooms. Rooms will heat up faster when there is less space to heat.
• Layer warm socks and wear your warmest boots. Keep moisture away from your feet.
• Thermals, fleece leggings, and sweats or winter pajamas are best for staying warm. You can layer up. Wear hoodies or coats inside. Feel free to walk around your house wrapped up in a blanket. Winter bath robes are a comfy way to stay a little warmer.
• Keep your pets bundled as well.
• You can never have too many blankets.
• Sleep in a sleeping bag for camping. Bring your pets in with you.
• Sleep with gloves on. You can also sleep with a hat on.
• If you’ve pitched a tent in extreme cold, point a space heater towards the opening.
• Boil water and place it in a crockpot or dutch oven. It will stay warm for hours. Use this to warm your hands.
• Body heat makes a difference. Now is a good time to gather in the same room. Snuggle under a blanket. Cuddle up with your pets and little ones.
• Enjoy some hot beverages: hot chocolate, coffee, or tea.

 
Be aware if it’s cold enough for water pipes to burst.

• Keep the cabinets open under any sinks.
• Leave the faucet on just a bit to let it drip or barely trickle. Note: This is only for extreme cold.  
• Know how to turn off the main water line if your pipes do freeze and burst. In addition to that, you might want to already know the names of some plumbers to call if you end up with a busted pipe.

 
Be prepared to hoard up for a few days.

• Have water storage. I don’t typically buy bottled water because it is bad for the environment, but it’s good to keep a pack on hand for emergencies.
• Always have enough food storage for at least one month.
• Have 72 hour kits ready for the whole family (including pets) to be able to eat food that does not require cooking or refrigeration.
• Have an alternative cooking plan. In case the power goes out, do you have another way to cook?

 
If you have the time and money to prepare before winter comes,

• Make sure your house, and especially your attic, is well insulated.
• Install storm windows.
• Get foam insulation or heat tape for your pipes.
• Stock a good first aid kit.

 
 
I hope this blog was helpful information to somebody. Stay warm out there. 

If you’re struggling with your heating bill, I’d love to teach you ways to save on your utilities and other expenses. Check out my book Happily Frugal: a wise money management workbook. It has over 700 ways to save money. Visit this page for a free budget spreadsheet and to learn more about the book. 
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