Heating Your Home Without Gas

In cold climates, loss of natural gas heating is a serious threat to health and safety. Hypothermia can develop indoors when temperatures fall below 16°C/60°F, particularly in elderly individuals, infants, and those with medical conditions. Preparing a backup heating strategy — and knowing how to conserve existing heat — can keep your household safe through a gas supply failure.

Step 1: Conserve Heat Before Adding It

The most efficient strategy is to retain existing warmth rather than generating new heat. Before attempting to heat a larger space:

1. Identify your smallest liveable room — a single interior bedroom is far easier to keep warm than an open living area.
2. Close all doors to unoccupied rooms — you are heating one room, not the whole house.
3. Block gaps under doors — draught excluders, rolled towels, or tape.
4. Close curtains and blinds — these provide significant insulation against cold windows.
5. Cover unused windows — cardboard, blankets, or bubble wrap taped over windows dramatically reduces heat loss.
6. Seal flues and fireplaces — if not in use, a chimney or disused flue is a major heat drain.
7. Layer clothing and bedding — maintaining body temperature with clothing uses no fuel.

Thermal Assessment

Before deciding on a heat source, determine how cold it is and how cold it is likely to get:

Indoor Temperature	Risk Level	Response
Above 16°C / 60°F	Low immediate risk	Conserve heat; monitor
10–16°C / 50–60°F	Elevated risk for elderly, infants	Active heating needed
Below 10°C / 50°F	High risk for all	Immediate heating or relocation
Below 0°C / 32°F	Pipes at risk of bursting	Emergency — heat or evacuate

Safe Indoor Heating Alternatives

Wood-Burning Stove or Fireplace

If your home has a wood stove or fireplace with a functional chimney:

• This is your safest and most effective alternative heat source
• Keep a supply of dry, split firewood on hand as part of your preparedness
• Burn only dry, seasoned wood — wet wood produces less heat and more smoke
• Carbon monoxide and smoke risks are managed by the chimney — ensure the flue is open before lighting

Electric Heater (If Power Is Available)

If your power grid is functioning when gas is out:

• Electric space heaters are safe for indoor use
• Ceramic or oil-filled electric heaters are efficient and safe
• Do not place them near curtains, bedding, or flammable materials
• A single 1500W electric heater is effective for a small room

Propane Indoor Heater

Some propane heaters are rated for indoor use (e.g., Mr. Heater "Indoor Safe" models):

• These include oxygen depletion sensors that shut off the heater before CO reaches dangerous levels
• Require ventilation — crack a window slightly when using any combustion heater indoors
• CO detector is mandatory when using any combustion heater inside
• Fuel: small or large propane tanks

⚠️ Never use outdoor propane heaters, barbecues, grills, or camp stoves for indoor heating. Only use heaters explicitly rated for indoor use. Install a CO detector before using any combustion heater inside.

Catalytic Propane Heaters

Low-flame, catalytic propane heaters produce heat without an open flame:

• Lower CO production than open-flame heaters
• Still require ventilation and a CO detector
• Efficient — one small canister can provide hours of heat
• Some models are rated for indoor use

Shared Body Heat and Insulation

Do not underestimate the heating value of:

• Multiple people in a small, insulated space
• Sleeping bags rated to appropriate temperatures
• Multiple layers of blankets and thermal clothing
• Hot water bottles (if you can heat water)

One sleeping bag rated to -10°C contains more "heating" potential than many electric heaters in terms of direct body warmth.

Carbon Monoxide — The Critical Safety Rule

CO poisoning from indoor combustion heaters kills people every winter during power and gas outages:

1. Install CO detectors — at least one on each floor; the most important safety device for any heating emergency.
2. Never use outdoor equipment indoors — this cannot be stated too many times.
3. Ventilation when using indoor-rated combustion heaters — a cracked window provides the oxygen needed for safe combustion.
4. Symptoms of CO poisoning — headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion. If these appear, get everyone outside immediately.

When to Leave

Consider evacuating to a warming shelter if:

• Indoor temperature cannot be maintained above 10°C / 50°F with available resources
• You have vulnerable household members (elderly, infants, medical needs)
• A warming centre or shelter is available and accessible

Warming centres are typically opened at schools, community centres, or libraries during extended cold emergencies.

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Quick Reference

Action	Priority
Identify smallest liveable room	Before anything else
Close doors; seal gaps; cover windows	Immediately
Layer clothing and bedding	No fuel required; high effectiveness
Wood stove or fireplace (if available)	Safest and most effective alternative
Indoor-rated propane heater + CO detector	Good; requires ventilation
Electric heater (if power available)	Safest indoor option
Outdoor equipment indoors	NEVER — CO hazard
Indoor temperature below 10°C	Consider evacuation to warming shelter