15 Ways to Stay Warm With No Heat

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Stuck with no heat? Warm yourself up with these toasty tips
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Whether you’re dealing with a power outage or living in an older home, one thing’s for certain: nobody likes dealing with a cold living space, especially when there’s no heater to rely on. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to keep your home as warm and snug as possible during the cooler months—many of which don’t even require electricity! We’ll walk you through all the hacks you need to know, so you can stay as comfortable as possible in your living space.

Things You Should Know

  • Preserve body heat by bundling up in plenty of layers, including warm socks and slippers. Snuggling with a pet or loved one is another great way to stay warm.
  • Warm your home naturally by opening up curtains when it’s sunny outside. Keep your curtains closed at night to prevent any cold from seeping in.
  • Keep your living space as warm as possible by sealing off unused rooms and laying out rugs over any hard floors.
1

Bundle up in lots of layers.

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  1. Choose a long-sleeve shirt to be your base layer, along with a warm vest. Keep bundling up with loose layers until you feel comfortable. If possible, choose garments that are extra warm and insulating, like fleece, wool, or cotton. [1]
    • Don’t forget about your feet, too! Slide into a warm pair of socks and slippers to keep your feet from getting too cold.
    • Want to make your hands and feet extra toasty? Slip some hand warmers and foot warmers into your gloves or mittens and shoes for an extra burst of warmth.
    • Loose layers are better since you’re less likely to sweat a lot in them. Getting your skin damp and sweaty may potentially boost your chances of getting hypothermia. [2]
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2

Enjoy a hot drink or bowl of soup.

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  1. Boil some water to make some decaffeinated tea or hot chocolate, or start heating up a delicious pot of soup on the stove. Sipping on hot drinks and soups is a great way to stay both warm and satiated when you’re struggling to stay warm at home. [3]
    • Be sure to enjoy alcoholic drinks in moderation. While these beverages can make you feel warmer, they don’t help you hold onto body heat. [4]
3

Bake something in the oven.

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  1. In the mood for cookies, banana bread, or another tasty food? Whip up a batch of your favorite baked good and enjoy the extra heat that fills your home while the food bakes. Once you’ve turned off your oven, open the door slightly to let that extra heat escape. [5]
    • Don’t leave your oven open and turned on, as this can potentially lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. [6]
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4

Snuggle with your pets and loved ones.

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  1. Have a pet, roommate, relative, or friend nearby? Invite them over to the couch or bed for a nice snuggle sesh as you both warm up together. Grab some cozy blankets to really amp up the toasty vibes and ward the chill away. [7]
    • Snuggling in bed? Swap out your sheets or duvet with a thicker, warmer version that’s better suited to the cooler temps.
5

Open your curtains when there’s lots of sun.

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  1. Locate the windows that get the most direct sunlight and open up the curtains while the sun is out. [8] Focus especially on any south- and east-facing windows in your home if you live in the northern hemisphere, as these will be exposed to the most sunlight. [9]
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6

Shut your curtains at night.

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  1. Once the sun starts to set, close your curtains completely. [10] If your windows are notoriously drafty, cover up the window with a sheet of bubble wrap to provide some extra insulation. [11]
7

Shut the doors to any empty rooms.

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  1. All the heat that’s currently in your home is precious, so closing off the doors to any surrounding, unused rooms, helps to collect and use that heat more efficiently. For entryways that don’t have doors, drape bedding or a thick curtain over the entrance to prevent heat from escaping. [12]
    • Want to confine your home’s heat to an even smaller space? Build temporary walls with leftover sheets of plywood or cardboard and set them close to wherever you’re spending the most time.
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8

Drape rugs over any hardwood floors.

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  1. Floors made with materials like vinyl or hardwood don’t hold onto heat very well. To counteract this, roll out an area rug over the exposed floor so you don’t have to walk on such a chilly surface. [13]
    • A thick blanket can also work in a pinch.
9

Set your ceiling fans to spin in reverse.

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  1. Traditionally, ceiling fans spin in a clockwise direction to help funnel cool air down and warm air up. By setting your ceiling fan to spin in a counterclockwise direction, the opposite will occur; you get to enjoy the warm air, while the cooler air gets lifted up. [14] Search around your fan’s motor housing for a switch—activating it will reverse the direction of the fan blades. [15]
    • Check your ceiling fan’s operational wall panel if it has one, as the reversal function might be there.
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10

Seal any gaps surrounding the doors and windows.

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  1. Notice any obvious gaps around your windows and doors? Seal them up by applying caulk and installing weather stripping . [16] Here are a few other ways to stop drafts in their tracks and keep your home warm:
    • Slide door snakes beneath each door. [17] Towels and rags can also work in a pinch. [18]
    • Insulate your windows with an at-home window insulation kit .
    • Fill in window pane cracks with clear nail polish. [19]
11

Hang out upstairs if you have a second floor.

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  1. Scientifically speaking, warmer air expands and loses density, which causes it to float above the denser, less warm air. [20] Use this law of nature to your advantage by holing up in an upper room of your home—chances are, it’ll be a lot toastier than the downstairs.
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12

Stay active and get some exercise.

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  1. Taking a walk around your home, moving along to a workout video, doing some yoga poses … anything that gets your blood moving is fair game! Try to get up and move once an hour rather than staying stationary. [21]
    • Whenever you sit down, prop your feet up on an elevated surface, like a table or ottoman—this can help your feet feel a little less cold.
13

Start a fire in the fireplace.

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  1. Double-check that your fireplace has proper ventilation to the outside of your home before lighting the fireplace —this prevents any toxic gases like carbon monoxide from entering your home. [22] Only keep the fireplace lit when you’re nearby, and be sure to keep any small children or pets a safe distance away while it’s burning. [23]
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14

Set up an indoor campsite.

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  1. Have some extra camping equipment lying around? Pitch your tent in your living space and invite your roommates, pets, and/or loved ones to crowd inside. For extra warmth and insulation, bundle up in a sleeping bag while you’re nestled inside the tent. [24]
15

Invest in a portable space heater.

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  1. Space heaters are much safer heating options than a stovetop. In the event of a power outage (or just a brutally cold winter day), portable space heaters can be an invaluable source of warmth. Ideally, look for a model that turns off automatically and lacks a glowing heating element. [25]
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      Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Layer on clothes made of insulating fabrics like fleece or wool. The more layers the better! Put on a base layer, then a sweater, then maybe a fleece jacket over that. Getting all bundled up in cozy layers is key when you're trying to stay toasty.
      • If you have pets, cuddle up with them while relaxing on the couch or in bed. Their body heat can help keep you warm. Your dog will love to curl up on the couch with you under a blanket. The combined body heat makes it much warmer!
      • At night, make sure to fully close any curtains or blinds. This creates an extra barrier to block out the cold. Don't give that cold air any chance to sneak in! Close it up all nice and tight so you stay insulated.
      • Do some light exercise like stretching or walking around the house periodically. Getting your blood pumping warms you right up. Even just getting up and dancing around for a few minutes gets your blood flowing.
      • If possible, drink something warm like tea or hot chocolate. The heat will warm you up from the inside. A hot cup of cocoa on a cold day always makes you feel cozier. Just be careful not to burn your tongue!
      • Wear thick socks or slippers to keep your feet nice and warm. Cold feet make it hard to get cozy. Wearing furry slippers will make it feel like you're walking around with a blanket on your feet!
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      Warnings

      • Hypothermia is a very serious health condition that can set in quickly when you’re exposed to cold temperatures for a long period of time. If you start shivering, feeling sleepy, forgetting things, feeling confused, and/or slurring your speech, get medical help right away. [27]
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      • Keep an eye out for frostbite if you’re stuck in an extremely cold environment. Coldness and numbness are common symptoms, as well as white-, red-, blue-white-, purple-, gray-yellow-, or brown-tinted skin. [28]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/beat-the-cold/keeping-warm
      2. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/emergency-preparedness/ways-to-stay-warm-during-winter-power-outage-a1049480018/
      3. ↑ https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/beat-the-cold/keeping-warm
      4. ↑ https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/cold-weather-safety-older-adults
      5. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/news/winter-hacks-to-warm-your-house/
      6. ↑ https://nasdonline.org/2012/d001480/staying-warm-in-an-unheated-house-coping-with.html
      7. ↑ https://www.co.delaware.in.us/egov/apps/document/center.egov?view=item&id=4332
      8. ↑ https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/beat-the-cold/keeping-warm
      9. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/why-it-matters-which-direction-your-home-faces/
      1. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/duringstorm/indoorsafety.html
      2. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/are-your-windows-drafty-try-these-12-solutions-for-every-budget-48200
      3. ↑ https://nasdonline.org/2012/d001480/staying-warm-in-an-unheated-house-coping-with.html
      4. ↑ https://www.redcross.org.uk/stories/health-and-social-care/health/tips-on-keeping-warm-this-winter
      5. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/news/winter-hacks-to-warm-your-house/
      6. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/ceiling-fan-direction/
      7. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/emergency-preparedness/ways-to-stay-warm-during-winter-power-outage-a1049480018/
      8. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/are-your-windows-drafty-try-these-12-solutions-for-every-budget-48200
      9. ↑ https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-during
      10. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/are-your-windows-drafty-try-these-12-solutions-for-every-budget-48200
      11. ↑ http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=3901
      12. ↑ https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/beat-the-cold/keeping-warm
      13. ↑ https://nasdonline.org/2012/d001480/staying-warm-in-an-unheated-house-coping-with.html
      14. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/emergency-preparedness/ways-to-stay-warm-during-winter-power-outage-a1049480018/
      15. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/emergency-preparedness/ways-to-stay-warm-during-winter-power-outage-a1049480018/
      16. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/home-maintenance-and-safety/keep-your-home-warm-and-safe-winter
      17. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/emergency-preparedness/ways-to-stay-warm-during-winter-power-outage-a1049480018/
      18. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/winter-weather/prevention/
      19. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frostbite/symptoms-causes/syc-20372656

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To stay warm at home without a heater, close the door to any rooms you don't use regularly so there's less space you need to heat. Also, put up heavy curtains over your windows, which will help block out drafts and the cold. Just make sure you keep the curtains open during the day on windows that get sunlight since the sun will help warm up your home. You can also stay warm by sealing any gaps around your doors with weather stripping or a door sweep. Even just putting down rugs and lighting some candles can help warm up your home. To learn how to warm up your home using your oven, scroll down!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Kali Lananger

        Nov 1, 2017

        "I have a small apartment and it's impossible to heat. I will be trying these out soon."
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