How to Prepare Your Home for a Power Outage

Is the US Power Grid Reliable?

Recent studies have shown that the U.S. power grid is aging quickly, and power losses across the United States are more frequent and of longer duration than that of any other industrialized nation. Severe weather events between 2017 and 2021 account for 25% of utility company downgrades. While citizens of Japan only experience four minutes of “downtime” yearly, a person in Seattle might experience upwards of 250 minutes without power.

What Is the Most Frequent Cause of Power Outages in the Us?

It is also essential to understand that severe weather events cause 70 percent of all power outages in the United States. For example, during Super Storm Sandy in 2012, over 8 million households across 17 states were left without power. Due to global climate change, severe weather events are expected to increase in frequency and strength in the coming years, which only expands the probability of extended power outages.

What Causes Power Outages in the Winter?

There are several reasons why power outages occur during the wintertime. Firstly, frigid and freezing temperatures can affect parts of the electrical grid. While power lines, transformers, and other elements of our energy systems are designed to withstand freezing temperatures, extended cold spells can cause stress on the system and lead to power outages.

Secondly, ice storms are also responsible for long, winter power outages. Freezing rain can accumulate into a heavy, smooth ice glaze, and the weight of that ice often breaks branches—even whole trees that can fall on power lines. Or, the ice can form on utility poles and the power lines themselves. According to some estimates, a one-quarter inch of ice accumulation can add up to 500 pounds of weight per line span, leading to snapped power lines and tumbling utility poles.

How Can You Stay Warm During a Power Outage in the Winter?

Dressing for the occasion is the best thing you can do to keep warm. Wearing multiple layers of warm clothing is essential for cold temperatures, and you should also consider wearing a scarf over your mouth to protect your lungs from inhaling the frigid winter air. 

During extended power outages, you will want to close the doors to rooms you won’t use and huddle inside one room. The extra body heat of several people in one room will significantly raise the temperature. If you haven’t winterized your home with weather stripping, you can use duct tape and odd bits of plastic to cover windows and doors and stop cold air from infiltrating your house. Towels can be rolled up and placed under door frames to prevent cold drafts further. It is also important to close all the blinds and curtains of your home at night to protect you from further heat loss. During sunny days, you will want to open the shades on south-facing windows to add passive solar heat to your home.

How Do I Protect My Pipes When the Power Is Out?

It is best to prepare for power outages before they happen. However, there are also things you can do during a power outage to avoid frozen water pipes leading to disastrous bursts. First, wrap your exposed pipes in insulation. Even layers of newspaper can help to keep the pipes warmer. Letting your faucets drip is another way to keep the water inside your pipes moving, thus avoiding freezing. You should also know where your water valve is and how to shut it off.

If your pipes do freeze, open all the faucets in your home and pour hot water over the pipes (assuming you have a gas stove or another way to heat water without electricity). This can help avoid the miserable scenario of cleaning outstanding water in your basement during zero-degree temperatures.

What Is the Best Backup Source for a Power Outage?

The best way to protect your life and your home during an extended power outage in the wintertime is by having a backup power plan. While net-zero homes will produce all (or more) of the energy they use through residential renewable energy options, most homes are not net-zero energy. And many of the homes with solar panels are connected to the grid, meaning that they aren’t able to store the energy produced by their panels during the nighttime when temperatures are at their coldest. Backup power protection through whole home or portable battery backup allows homes to maintain essential services during power outages.

Are Backup Generators Worth It During a Power Outage?

Backup generators will cost you anywhere between $5,000 and $12,000, depending on the size. In most cases, they will be connected directly to your home’s main gas line and can burn various types of fuel to produce electricity. The problem with having a backup generator tied to your gas line is that gas outages can also occur during natural disasters. While a generator can be noisy and will release large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions through burning gasoline, diesel, or other fossil fuels, it is also relatively inexpensive to run. One gallon of gas is usually enough to give your home anywhere between 7 to 10 kWh of electricity, which should last you through the night. Of course, during extended power outages, your house would need to have several gallons of fuel stored in the garage.

Are Solar Panels Worth It During a Power Outage?

Unlike generators, backup batteries can be mounted in your garage or somewhere in your home and can be charged from any power source. If your house has a solar panel system, a battery system will store the energy generated during the day so your household can use it at night. Batteries can also be charged from the electrical grid for emergency use when a power outage occurs.

Are Wood Stoves Worth It During a Power Outage?

A simple wood stove made from either steel or cast iron can add an enormous amount of heat to your home. Besides offering heating during power outages, even a small wood stove is a great way to add a supplemental heat source to your home and thus cut back on your heating bills.  This EPA-certified wood stove only costs $528 and can heat up to 1,600 square feet. The primary consideration with relying on a wood stove for emergency heating is that you will need to have a dry, burnable firewood source. For homes in densely populated urban areas, this could present a problem.

Are Kerosene Heaters Worth It During a Power Outage?

Kerosene heaters can also be used for backup heating inside your home. These types of heaters burn relatively cleanly, and since there is no chimney, all of the heat produced will radiate into your home. This kerosene heater produces an impressive 75,000 BTUs and costs under $190. A full tank will allow you to keep your home warm for up to 11 hours. However, like firewood, you will have to keep kerosene stored at your home to be prepared for an unexpected power outage.