How to Stay Warm and Safe This Winter (and Save on Heating)

Winter brings cozy evenings, but it also brings higher bills, slippery sidewalks, and real health risks, especially for older adults, young children, and anyone living alone. A little preparation goes a long way. This guide covers how to stay warm without breaking the bank, how to stay safe, and where to find help.

Behind on your heating bill? See How to Get Help With Heating, Cooling, and Electric Bills, or dial 211 for local help.

Stay warm for less

Dress in layers, including warm socks, slippers, and a hat indoors if you need it. A lot of body heat escapes from your head and feet.
Seal the drafts. A rolled towel at the bottom of a door, weatherstripping, or clear plastic window film can make a room noticeably warmer for a few dollars.
Use the sun. Open curtains on sunny windows during the day and close them at night to hold in heat.
Heat the rooms you use. Close doors and vents to rooms you don't use, and spend more time in one warm room.
Warm your bed, not the whole house, at night. Flannel sheets, extra blankets, or a hot water bottle help. If you use an electric blanket, follow the directions and replace old or damaged ones.
Eat warm meals and stay hydrated. Your body needs fuel to make heat.
Get a furnace check before the coldest weather, and change the filter. A well-maintained system runs safer and cheaper.
Ask about free weatherization. If your income is limited, the Weatherization Assistance Program may add insulation and seal leaks for free. Ask your local Community Action Agency.

For older adults: the National Institute on Aging recommends keeping your home at least 68°F in winter. Older bodies lose heat faster, and hypothermia can happen indoors in a cool house. If that's hard to afford, ask for help with the bill rather than turning the heat down too far.

Use heaters safely

Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires in winter. A few simple rules prevent most of them:

Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, including curtains, bedding, furniture, and paper.
Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet, not an extension cord or power strip.
Choose a heater that shuts off automatically if it tips over, and turn it off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Never use an oven or stovetop to heat your home.
Have chimneys and wood stoves inspected and cleaned once a year.
Test your smoke alarms monthly. Many local fire departments install free smoke alarms for people who need them.

Protect against carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas you can't see or smell, and it can kill. It comes from furnaces, gas stoves, fireplaces, generators, and cars.

Put a carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your home and near sleeping areas. Test it monthly.
Never run a generator, grill, or camp stove indoors, in a garage, or near a window. Keep generators at least 20 feet from the house.
Never warm up a car in a closed garage.
Headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, or confusion, especially if several people in the house feel it at once, can be signs of CO poisoning. Get everyone outside into fresh air and call 911.

Know the signs of hypothermia and frostbite

Hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature) can look like shivering, slurred speech, confusion, clumsiness, sleepiness, or very cold, pale skin. Older adults may not shiver much. It's an emergency: call 911, move the person somewhere warm, remove wet clothing, and wrap them in blankets.
Frostbite most often affects fingers, toes, ears, and the nose. Skin may look white or grayish and feel numb or waxy. Get indoors and warm the area gently with warm (not hot) water. Don't rub it. Get medical care.

Be ready for storms and power outages

Keep a small kit: flashlights and extra batteries, blankets, a few days of water and food that doesn't need cooking, a phone charger or power bank, and any medicines you need.
If you use medical equipment that needs power, tell your utility company. Many keep a list of customers who need priority help.
If your home gets too cold, go to a warming center, library, or a friend's home. Call 211 to find warming centers near you.
Keep a printed list of emergency contacts and medications. Our free Emergency Contact and Medical Information Sheet fits on the fridge.

Getting help with heating costs

LIHEAP (the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) helps pay heating bills and can step in during a shutoff emergency. Funding is set by Congress each year and money often runs out, so apply as soon as your state opens. Call 211 or see our energy bill guide.
Call your utility company before you fall far behind. Ask about payment plans, budget billing, low-income or senior discounts, and hardship funds.
Know your shutoff protections. Many states limit winter shutoffs or protect households with serious medical conditions. Ask your utility or state utility commission.
For other bills that are squeezing your budget, see Help Paying Bills.

Look out for each other

Cold snaps are hardest on people who live alone, older neighbors, and anyone without a warm place to stay. A little neighborliness can save a life.

Check on older or isolated neighbors during cold weather and storms. See How to Help Isolated Elderly Neighbors This Winter.
Offer to shovel a walk, pick up groceries, or give a ride during icy weather.
Donate warm coats, hats, gloves, and blankets to shelters and coat drives. See 12 Care Package Ideas for People Experiencing Homelessness.
If you see someone outside who seems in danger from the cold, call your local outreach line through 211, or 911 in an emergency.

More help

Warmth is one of the simplest gifts we can give each other. Stay safe, stay cozy, and check on someone who might need a little extra care this winter.

For a step-by-step look at heating assistance, utility discounts, payment plans, and shutoff protections, see Help Paying Utility Bills on our sister site Cheap101.

Sharing chances creates good karma 😃