You notice it first in your feet. Then someone puts a jumper on, checks the thermostat and asks whether the radiators are working.
A heating failure on a mild afternoon is inconvenient. During a winter night, especially if the electricity has gone too, it needs a plan.
The useful steps are mostly straightforward: put on dry layers, keep the heat you still have, gather what you need and check how everyone is coping. Start early, while the house is still reasonably warm.
And if you cannot keep everyone warm enough, arrange somewhere warmer to go. You do not need to wait until someone becomes unwell.
Find out what has stopped working
Check whether the heating alone has failed or whether the electricity is off throughout the home.
If you still have power, look at the thermostat, timer and any message on the boiler display. Follow the checks in the manufacturer’s instructions. Avoid repeatedly resetting a boiler that keeps showing a fault, and leave repairs to a qualified professional.
If you rent, report the problem promptly to your landlord or managing agent. Otherwise, contact your heating engineer or cover provider.
Knowing whether help is coming in an hour or tomorrow changes what you need to do next. While someone makes that call, everyone else can start getting warm.
Put on layers before you feel properly cold
Several thinner layers let you adjust your clothing as needed. Start with a dry base layer, add a jumper or fleece, and use a warm outer layer if necessary. Warm socks and slippers help, too.
Change out of damp clothing. If you have just come in from rain or snow, deal with wet socks and trousers before settling under a blanket.
Keep extra clothing within reach of anyone who has difficulty moving around. A blanket over the lap can help someone sitting still, but check that they are comfortable rather than assuming they will ask.
England’s cold-weather guidance recommends layers and advises trying to keep frequently used rooms at least 18°C. Some people need warmer conditions. This is a guide for keeping well, rather than a precise boundary below which everyone suddenly becomes unsafe. UK Health Security Agency guidance
Choose one room and keep its warmth
Pick a room that is already relatively warm, has few draughts and is easy for everyone to reach. Bring in blankets, drinks, food, a torch, your phone and any essential medicines.
Close doors to unused rooms. Draw curtains as daylight fades and use a draught excluder at a draughty door, keeping walkways and exits clear.
Do not cover ventilation grilles, air bricks or vents needed by heating appliances. Retaining warmth must not interfere with safe ventilation.
A room thermometer is useful here. Your hands can tell you that you feel cold; they cannot reliably tell you how quickly the room temperature is falling.
Check the temperature periodically and pay attention to the people in the room. If someone remains cold despite extra layers, take that seriously.
Eat, drink and move a little
Keep normal meals and drinks going. If you have a safe way to prepare them, a warm drink or hot meal can be welcome. If cooking is unavailable, use your ready-to-eat food supply.
Gentle movement can help you keep warm: walk around the room, do a few light household tasks or move your arms and legs while seated, if that suits your health and mobility. Avoid exercising hard enough to become sweaty.
People who cannot move much need closer attention. Check that they have suitable clothing, food and drinks, and that they are staying comfortable. Northern Ireland’s winter guidance recommends staying active and keeping in contact with relatives and neighbours during cold weather. NI Direct winter guidance
Use extra heat carefully
If the electricity is working, a portable electric heater may help warm your chosen room. Use it according to its instructions.
Place it on a stable surface, at least a metre from curtains, bedding, furniture and other combustible materials. Plug it directly into a suitable wall socket, never an extension lead. Keep children and pets away, and switch it off before leaving the room or going to sleep. Never drape clothes over it to dry. Electrical Safety First guidance
If you can safely heat water, an intact hot-water bottle with a cover can provide comfort. Follow its instructions, use warm rather than boiling water, and avoid prolonged contact with bare skin. Never combine it with an electric blanket. Take particular care with anyone who has reduced sensation or cannot move it away themselves. NI Direct guidance
A hot-water bottle is not a treatment for suspected hypothermia.
Only use an existing fireplace or stove if it is properly maintained and you know how to operate it safely. Keep fabrics away and use suitable guards around children and pets. London Fire Brigade heating guidance
Avoid the dangerous shortcuts
Never bring a barbecue, charcoal burner or outdoor camping heater inside. Do not use an oven or hob to heat the room.
Fuel-burning equipment can produce carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell. Opening a window does not make outdoor equipment safe indoors. A working carbon monoxide alarm matters wherever you have fuel-burning appliances, but it does not make an unsuitable appliance safe to use.
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, or you suspect poisoning, get everyone outside immediately. Call 999 or 112 if someone is unwell, and do not re-enter until advised it is safe. London Fire Brigade carbon monoxide guidance
Candles and homemade tealight heaters are also poor substitutes for proper heating. Use a torch for light.
Think about bedtime before it arrives
Get dry nightwear, warm socks and suitable bedding ready while you still have daylight. Adults and older children may benefit from extra blankets or an appropriately rated sleeping bag.
Babies need a different approach. NHS guidance recommends a sleeping-room temperature of 16–20°C, with suitable clothing and light bedding or a well-fitting baby sleeping bag. Keep their head uncovered and their sleep space clear. Never put a hot-water bottle or electric blanket in a baby’s bed, or place the cot beside a heater. NHS baby temperature guidance
If you cannot maintain suitable conditions, seek advice and arrange a warmer place to stay.
Give pets dry bedding away from draughts. Animals with specialist temperature needs require a separate backup plan; ask your vet before an outage makes that urgent. RSPCA winter advice
Know when staying home is no longer the best option
There is no reliable number of hours that every household can safely manage without heating. The weather, building and people inside all matter.
Babies, older people and those with health conditions or limited mobility can be more vulnerable to cold. Arrange help early if the temperature keeps falling or someone cannot get comfortably warm.
Call a friend or relative, or ask your local council about available support. Confirm that any community venue is open and can meet your needs before travelling. Take medicines, warm clothing and essential supplies, and consider whether the journey itself is safe.
If you live alone, let someone know your heating has failed and agree when they will check in.
Recognise signs of hypothermia
Hypothermia can happen in a cold home. Warning signs include shivering, cold pale skin, slurred speech, slow breathing, unusual tiredness or confusion. A baby may feel cold, become floppy or unusually sleepy, or refuse feeds.
Call 999 or 112 if you suspect hypothermia.
While waiting, move the person somewhere sheltered, remove wet clothing and wrap them in dry blankets or a sleeping bag. Stay with them. Offer a warm non-alcoholic drink only if they are fully awake and able to swallow.
Do not use a hot bath, hot-water bottle or heat lamp to warm them, and do not rub their limbs. NHS hypothermia guidance
Before the next cold spell, put warm layers, blankets, a room thermometer and a torch somewhere easy to find. Keep your repair contacts handy and decide who you could call if home became too cold.
Then, if the radiators stop working, you can get on with looking after the people who depend on them.
