How to keep warm when the heating is off

Pick one room and make it the warm one. UKHSA asks people to heat rooms they use to “at least 18°C” and to “wear several layers of thinner clothing; this could keep you warmer than one thicker layer” (checked 29 August 2026). Layers, blankets, hot drinks and moving about do the rest.

One room, not a whole house

When the heating is off, or you are trying to make it go further, stop thinking about the house and think about one room. Usually the smallest room with the fewest outside walls, and the one everybody is in anyway.

UKHSA’s cold weather guidance sets the target: “try to heat rooms you spend a lot of time in, such as the living room or bedroom, to at least 18°C” (checked 29 August 2026). The NHS puts it the same way: “Heat your home to a temperature that’s comfortable for you. If you can, this should be at least 18°C in the rooms that you regularly use, such as your living room and bedroom” (checked 29 August 2026).

Then shut the doors between that room and the rest of the house, close the curtains as it gets dark, and let everyone be in there together. Bodies warm a small room. Four people, a closed door and drawn curtains is a genuine heating strategy, not a consolation prize.

Layers beat one big jumper

UKHSA’s advice is to “wear several layers of thinner clothing; this could keep you warmer than one thicker layer”. Its cold weather alert guidance puts the same thing more simply: “Wearing several layers of thinner clothing will keep you warmer than one thicker layer” (checked 30 August 2026). So three thin layers, not one thick one.

In practice: a base layer next to the skin, a fleece or jumper over it, and something windproof if you are going outside. Then the parts people forget, which are the ones that lose heat fastest. Socks, slippers with a sole, a hat indoors if it is really cold, and something over your knees when sitting.

Blankets go over a duvet, not under it, so the duvet keeps doing its job and the blanket adds another trapped layer on top. A sleeping bag on the sofa is warmer than a throw, and cheaper than an hour of heating.

Draughts: the cheapest warmth in the house

UKHSA’s list includes a specific, cheap action: “try to reduce draughts; you can fit draft excluders around doors cheaply”.

You can do most of it this evening for nothing. Close internal doors. Push a rolled towel against the gap under the front door. Close the curtains at dusk, and tuck them behind the radiator rather than over it if the heating is on. Shut unused rooms. Block an unused chimney with a proper chimney balloon rather than newspaper, and take it out before anyone lights a fire.

Hot water bottles, safely

A hot water bottle is the most efficient heating you own: it warms a person rather than a room. RoSPA’s guidance is worth following exactly (checked 29 August 2026).

Fill it properly: “Fill hot water bottles to a maximum of two-thirds capacity using hot (not boiling) water to reduce the risk of bursting.”

Check it first: “Before each use, inspect your hot water bottle or warmer for cracks, splits or signs of wear. If in doubt, replace it.”

Know how old it is: “Most hot water bottles have a date wheel - a small circular mark that resembles a daisy - usually stamped near the neck.” RoSPA does not give a replacement interval in years. What it says is: “As hot water bottles age, the materials can degrade, increasing the risk of splitting or leaking, so it’s important to check and replace older bottles regularly.”

Protect skin: “Always use a fabric cover or wrap the bottle in a towel to prevent direct contact with skin.”

And do not sit or lie on one, because as RoSPA notes, “Pressure can cause the bottle to burst or leak.”

RoSPA reports that hot water bottle burn injuries reached nearly 1,000 cases in 2024, the highest annual total in more than two decades, an 11% rise on 2023 and roughly double the 2019 figure, citing Children’s Burns Trust data (checked 29 August 2026). That is not a reason to avoid hot water bottles. It is a reason to fill them the way RoSPA says.

Electric blankets, safely

If you have power but you are keeping the heating low, an electric blanket warms the bed for pennies. London Fire Brigade’s rules, verbatim (checked 29 August 2026):

“Unplug blankets before you get into bed, unless it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use.”

“Never use an electric blanket if you have an air flow pressure relief mattress, or use emollient creams.”

“Never use a hot water bottle at the same time as using your electric blanket.”

“Do not buy second-hand electric blankets.”

“Remember to check regularly for wear and tear and replace at least every 10 years.”

“Store electric blankets flat, rolled up or loosely folded to prevent damaging the internal wiring.”

The Brigade says to replace a blanket if the “Fabric is worn or frayed”, if “Scorch marks are visible on the fabric”, if “Wires are poking through the fabric”, if “There is damage to any part of the electrical cord”, if “The control buttons are making a buzzing sound when switched on and/or is giving off a smell”, or if “The connector fitted to the blanket is damaged or over-heating”.

Note the third rule especially. An electric blanket and a hot water bottle are each fine. Together they are not.

Portable heaters: the fire service rules

A plug-in heater in one room is a reasonable way to heat one room. It is also, every winter, a cause of house fires. London Fire Brigade’s guidance, verbatim (checked 29 August 2026):

“Keep heaters well away from bedding, blankets, curtains and furniture.”

“Never use them for drying clothes.”

“Always sit at least one metre away from a heater as it could set light to your clothes or chair.”

“Before moving your heater, turn it off and allow it to cool first.”

“Make sure heaters are well maintained and in good working order.”

“Never install, repair or service appliances yourself.”

The Brigade also suggests, where appropriate, to “secure heaters against a wall to stop them falling over, or fit wall-mounted heaters”, which matters if someone in the house is unsteady on their feet. And check the model is not on a product recall list.

The drying rule is the one people break. A clothes horse pulled close to a heater to speed things up is exactly how a fire starts, and there is no safe distance that also dries clothes quickly.

What never comes indoors

This is the part where preparedness advice hurts people, so it is worth being flat about it. A barbecue, a camping stove, a patio heater or a generator is not an emergency heating option.

London Fire Brigade, verbatim: “Never take portable or disposable BBQs, grills or charcoal fuel burners into your home or any confined spaces such as a tent, houseboat or caravan.”

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland on generators: “Do not use a generator indoors or in partially enclosed spaces- including homes, garages, and crawl spaces”, and “Using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide build-up in the home.”

The gas cooker is the other one people reach for, and fire services say no to that as well. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service lists it among its carbon monoxide rules: “Do not use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time” (checked 30 August 2026). County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service puts the fire risk alongside it: “Don’t use your oven to heat the house: It’s not designed for that and can be a serious fire risk” (checked 30 August 2026). A hob or an oven is for cooking, and it is the one appliance in the house people forget is a burner.

UKHSA’s winter guidance asks two things that cost almost nothing: “have your heating and cooking appliances checked by a Gas Safe® registered engineer” and “have a carbon monoxide alarm (EN 50291 compliant) fitted”. Do the alarm this week. It works when the power is off, because it runs on a battery.

If your gas fire or log burner is your heat source, London Fire Brigade asks you to “Always have your chimney swept by a specialist – at least once a year for coal, twice if burning logs”, to “Make sure you use a fireguard to protect against flying sparks and hot embers”, and to “Keep clothing and fabric well away from open fires and log burners”.

Eat, drink and move

UKHSA’s tips include one about not sitting still: “try not to sit still for more than an hour or so”. Standing up, walking to the kitchen and back, or doing a few sit-to-stands from the sofa generates real heat and costs nothing.

Hot drinks and hot food are not just comfort. UKHSA’s cold weather alert guidance says: “Having plenty of hot food and drinks is also effective for keeping warm” (checked 30 August 2026). A flask filled while you still have power keeps tea available for hours.

If the power is off as well as the heating, see what to do in a power cut for the wider plan, and fill flasks early using the method on cooking without electricity.

If you or someone near you is more at risk

The NHS lists who is more vulnerable to the effects of cold weather: “people aged 65 and older, babies and children under the age of 5, people on a low income (so cannot afford heating), people who have a long-term health condition, people with a disability, pregnant women, people who have a mental health condition” (checked 29 August 2026). UKHSA’s list is similar and adds people with learning disabilities and those who are housebound.

If that describes you or a neighbour, the practical step is the Priority Services Register: UKHSA describes it as “a free support service that helps people in vulnerable situations”. Our page on the Priority Services Register explains how to join, and it takes about ten minutes.

Then knock on a door. A cold house is easier to spot from inside it than from the street, and a neighbour who says they are fine at 4pm may not be at 10pm.

This page describes official guidance rather than giving medical advice. If someone is very cold, confused, drowsy or shivering uncontrollably, contact NHS 111, or 999 if they are seriously unwell. Check with your GP if a long-term condition changes what cold weather means for you.

What this asks of your body

Warmth is partly something you generate. Muscle mass, and the habit of getting up and moving every hour, are the difference between a cold room being uncomfortable and being a problem. The five ready body tests show where you stand, and strength after 60 covers the version that matters most in a cold winter.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature should I keep my home at?

UKHSA advises heating the rooms you use most “to at least 18°C” if you can, and the NHS says the same: “at least 18°C in the rooms that you regularly use, such as your living room and bedroom”. If you cannot heat the whole house, concentrate on one room and get that one to 18°C.

Is it cheaper to heat one room?

Heating a smaller space costs less than heating a larger one, which is why the one-warm-room approach is the standard advice when money or fuel is tight. Close the doors to it, close the curtains at dusk, and spend the evening there together.

Can I use a hot water bottle with an electric blanket?

No. London Fire Brigade’s rule is explicit: “Never use a hot water bottle at the same time as using your electric blanket.” Use one or the other. If you want the bed warm before you get in, the blanket alone will do it.

How old is too old for a hot water bottle?

RoSPA says to look for the “date wheel - a small circular mark that resembles a daisy - usually stamped near the neck”, and to inspect for “cracks, splits or signs of wear” before each use, replacing it if in doubt. It sets no fixed age limit: “As hot water bottles age, the materials can degrade, increasing the risk of splitting or leaking, so it’s important to check and replace older bottles regularly.”

Can I dry washing on a portable heater?

No. London Fire Brigade’s instruction is “Never use them for drying clothes”, and it asks you to keep heaters “well away from bedding, blankets, curtains and furniture” and to sit “at least one metre away”. Dry clothes on an airer well away from any heat source.

Can I use a camping stove or patio heater to warm a room?

No. London Fire Brigade says “Never take portable or disposable BBQs, grills or charcoal fuel burners into your home or any confined spaces”, and lists portable LPG heaters and generators among carbon monoxide sources. Carbon monoxide, the NHS notes, “is colourless and does not smell, so you cannot tell if it is around you”.

What should I do first if the heating fails in winter?

Pick one room, close its doors, close the curtains, put on layers, and get the kettle on while you still can. Then check on anyone older or unwell nearby, and report the fault. If the electricity is off, dial 105 free in England, Scotland and Wales.

Sources & review

UKHSA: Top tips for keeping warm and well this winter. Checked 29 August 2026 (page last updated 28 April 2026). At least 18°C in rooms you use; reduce draughts; several layers of thinner clothing; do not sit still for more than an hour or so; at-risk groups; Gas Safe checks; EN 50291 carbon monoxide alarm; Priority Services Register.
UKHSA: Cold weather alert issued by UKHSA. Checked 30 August 2026. “Wearing several layers of thinner clothing will keep you warmer than one thicker layer”; “Having plenty of hot food and drinks is also effective for keeping warm”; heat the living room during the day and the bedroom before sleep if you cannot heat every room; check in on people more vulnerable to the cold.
NHS: Keep warm, keep well. Checked 29 August 2026. At least 18°C in rooms you regularly use; list of people more vulnerable to cold weather.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service: Carbon monoxide: minimise the risk. Checked 30 August 2026. “Do not use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time.”
County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service: Safer heating. Checked 30 August 2026. “Don’t use your oven to heat the house: It’s not designed for that and can be a serious fire risk.”
London Fire Brigade: Portable heaters, gas fires and open fires. Checked 29 August 2026. Away from bedding, blankets, curtains and furniture; never for drying clothes; one metre; cool before moving; maintenance; securing heaters; chimney sweeping and fireguards.
London Fire Brigade: Electric blankets. Checked 29 August 2026. Unplug before bed unless thermostat-controlled; no hot water bottle at the same time; no second-hand blankets; replace at least every 10 years; storage; signs it must be replaced.
London Fire Brigade: Carbon monoxide safety. Checked 29 August 2026. Never take portable or disposable BBQs, grills or charcoal fuel burners indoors or into confined spaces; portable LPG heaters and generators listed as CO sources.
Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland: Safety tips – using a portable generator in an emergency. Checked 29 August 2026. No generators indoors or in partially enclosed spaces; fans do not prevent carbon monoxide build-up.
RoSPA: Keeping safe as well as warm: reducing the risk of burns from hot water bottles. Checked 30 August 2026. Date wheel; materials degrade with age, so check and replace older bottles regularly (no interval in years is given); inspect for cracks and splits; two-thirds capacity with hot not boiling water; fabric cover; do not sit or lie on them; injury figures attributed to Children’s Burns Trust.

This page carries fire safety and health-adjacent guidance. It quotes Fire and Rescue, NHS, UKHSA and RoSPA guidance verbatim and is awaiting review (reviewedBy: TBC-first-aid).