Articles · Warmth
How to Keep Warm in a Power Cut (Without Heating)
The quick answer
Most gas boilers stop working in a power cut, so plan to stay warm without heating: pick one small room, close the door and curtains, wear several thin layers and a hat, keep hot drinks in a flask, and use blankets or sleeping bags. Never use a camping stove, BBQ or generator indoors.
Power cuts in the UK are most common in winter storms, which is also when you need heating most. The good news: a well-insulated house holds its heat for several hours, and with a little planning your family can stay comfortable for a day or more.
First: will your heating still work?
Probably not. Most modern gas combi and system boilers need electricity for their controls, ignition and pump. Heat pumps and electric storage heaters stop too. Things that usually still work:
- A gas fire that doesn’t plug in
- A wood burner or open fire (with a working carbon monoxide alarm)
- Hot water already in your tank, for a while
Not sure about your boiler? Check the manual now, before you need it.
1. Keep the heat you already have
Your house is full of warmth when the power goes. The job is to keep it.
- Choose one room for everyone, ideally small, south-facing, with few outside walls. Close its door.
- Close curtains and blinds at dusk, and keep them open on sunny days to let the sun warm the room.
- Block draughts with a rolled towel along the bottom of doors.
- Keep doors shut to rooms you’re not using.
2. Warm the people, not the house
- Layers beat one thick jumper. Several thin layers trap more warm air. Thermals are excellent.
- Wear a hat, socks and slippers. You lose a lot of heat from your head and feet.
- Get under blankets together on the sofa. Shared body heat helps.
- Sleeping bags are the single best piece of kit for a cold night. Camping ones are rated for far colder than a British bedroom.
- Move around a little every hour, even just walking up and down the stairs.
3. Eat and drink warm
- Hot drinks and food keep your body temperature up. Age UK recommends plenty of hot food and drinks through the day.
- If you get any warning of a cut (for example, a storm forecast or a planned outage), boil the kettle and fill flasks. A good flask keeps water hot for 12+ hours.
- Fill hot water bottles from the flask or from hot water still in the tank, and wrap them in a cover.
- Keep food that needs no cooking ready, as in our 72-hour kit checklist.
4. Battery power that actually helps
Battery kit can’t heat a room, but it can keep a person warm very efficiently:
| Kit | Uses | What it can do |
|---|---|---|
| Electric blanket (double) | ~100W | Most of a night on a 1,000Wh power station |
| Heated throw | ~100W | Similar. Great on the sofa |
| USB heated gloves or socks | 5–10W | Hours from an ordinary power bank |
| Fan heater | ~2,000W | Under half an hour even on a large power station, so not worth it |
Work out your own numbers with our free power cut calculator, and see our ranked power banks for power cuts.
Never use these indoors or in a garage: camping stoves, BBQs (even “disposable” ones), patio heaters, or petrol or diesel generators. They produce carbon monoxide, which you can’t see or smell and which can kill within minutes. Fit a battery carbon monoxide alarm if you have any fuel-burning appliance.
Candles are a fire risk, so use LED lanterns and torches instead. If you do use candles, never leave them in an empty room.
Babies, older relatives and pets
- Babies and young children lose heat fast. Layer them up, keep them in the warm room, and keep their sleeping area away from heaters and candles.
- Older people feel the cold more and may not notice they’re getting too cold. Check on older relatives and neighbours. Age UK suggests offering hot food, drinks or help with shopping.
- Pets: bring them into the warm room and give them extra bedding.
Join the Priority Services Register. It’s free, and run by your electricity network. Anyone who may need extra help can join, including people over 60, people with a long-term illness or medical equipment that needs power, and households with children under five. You’ll get priority updates and, in long power cuts, practical help such as hot meals and charging points. Call 105 to find your network, or search “Priority Services Register” with your network’s name.
If the power is off for a long time
- Call 105 for updates on when power will be back. It’s free in England, Scotland and Wales.
- Ask your council about warm spaces such as libraries and community centres.
- In long outages, networks often send welfare vans with hot food and drinks.
- If anyone becomes very cold, confused or drowsy, that can be a sign of hypothermia. Call 999.
When the power comes back
- Your boiler may need resetting. Check the manual.
- Switch appliances back on one at a time to avoid tripping the power again.
- Move any heaters and furniture apart first, so nothing overheats when power returns.
- Top up your power banks and flasks, ready for next time.
Sources: Citizens Advice, SSEN customer guide, Age UK, Ealing Council, Maldon District Council, gov.uk/prepare.
Frequently asked questions
Does my gas central heating work in a power cut?
Usually not. Most modern gas boilers need electricity for the controls, ignition and pump, so they stop when the power goes. Heat pumps and electric storage heaters stop too. Gas fires that don't need a plug can still work. If you're unsure about yours, check the manual or ask a Gas Safe engineer.
What is the quickest way to warm up in a power cut?
Get the whole household into one small room, close the door and curtains, put on a hat and several thin layers, and have a hot drink from a flask. Getting into bed or a sleeping bag under extra blankets is the fastest way to warm up at night.
Can I use a camping stove or BBQ indoors to keep warm?
No, never. Camping stoves, BBQs, patio heaters and petrol generators produce carbon monoxide, which you can't see or smell and which can kill. Only use them outdoors, well away from doors and windows.
Can a power bank or power station run an electric blanket?
A power bank can't, but a portable power station can. An electric blanket uses roughly 60–100W, so a 1,000Wh power station can run one for most of a night. It's one of the most efficient ways to stay warm on battery power.
Who can get extra help during a power cut?
Anyone who may need extra support can join their electricity network's free Priority Services Register. That includes people over 60, people with a long-term illness or medical equipment that needs power, and families with children under five. You'll get priority updates and, in long cuts, practical help.