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Making a thread here for my Texas friends (and honestly anyone in freezing temps without power) of some tips to stay warm & keep your pipes from bursting.
From a New Englander who has experienced having no heat at least once a winter season (yay Nor'Easters)
From a New Englander who has experienced having no heat at least once a winter season (yay Nor'Easters)
First things first, Get yourself in warm clothing. The full deal- socks, long pants, longshirt hoodie- layer up. And if you have outdoor winter gear, keep it handy if your house drops into the low 40s temp wise.
Bring out the blankets too- never underestimate a good blanket.
Bring out the blankets too- never underestimate a good blanket.
Next, turn your faucets on to a drip & open the under-sink cabinets. General rule of thumb- your house can get to about 20 degrees for six or so hours before your pipes are at risk of bursting. This is the worst time to flood your house. Don't forget your pipes!
Close doors to rooms you aren't using & create a micro-environment in your house. Try to pick a small room on the south side of the building so you get the help of southern sun exposure. Shut doors, towel up any drafts- close curtains.
You can also light some candles safely for light & an itty bit of heat. Flashlights are good- back up batteries for phones and stuff too if you have em. It's amazing how much human body heat helps keep a small room warm.
If your house or small room does not have doors, you can use blankets to drape over the threshold too. Some folks will go as far as taking plastic / trash bags and taping off the windows to seal them.
This article details how a family kept their house no lower than 46 degrees for 4 days. It may also give you some ideas of how to manage. Above is what we do when our oil runs out or we get hit with a wicked bad storm. Hope it helps! https://theprovidentprepper.org/surviving-a-winter-power-outage-how-to-stay-warm/
OH as for sleeping at night- try to have everyone sleep in the same room, be it a bedroom or space where you can crack out the sleeping bags. Lots of blankets- keep your layers on & windows sealed. Tents work fantastic for kiddos too as smaller space contains heat.
Don't forget about your animals too! I don't have advice for reptiles but for the furry ones, just because they have a fur coat doesn't mean they aren't cold. Keep them with you in the warm room as much as you can. Jade would always be in the blankets with me.
ALSO adding here- please don't use propane heaters in a small closed room space. They can cause carbon monoxide poisoning! They are meant for outdoor use!
