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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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7

Shut the doors to any empty rooms.

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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]
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]
      • 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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      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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      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,991,233 times.

      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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