How to stay warm when the house has no heating or electricity, the water has been drained from the system, and the recovery time is unknown: 7 useful life hacks

Let’s start with something that uses 10 times less energy than any heater. Wear several layers of clothing that will trap heat.

• Thermal underwear (merino or synthetic thermal)

• Fleece + down / synthetic insulation

• Warm socks (wool, alpaca)

• Hat + balaclava

• Fingerless gloves — you can work on a laptop in them)

A person dressed properly feels comfortable at +8…+10 °C.

Instead of heating the entire apartment, heat one room or area. You can create a «heat tent» around your bed or workplace. It can be 5–8°C warmer inside than in the room.

Will they help?

• Thermal blanket (mylar emergency blanket) — reflects heat back
• Thick blankets/wool blankets
• Sleeping bag (comfort 0…+5°C)
• Carpet or foam on the floor
• Window film + masking tape

If there is light or a powerful power source, the following will work best:

• Electric sheet / electric blanket (60–100W). Warms the body directly, not the air. You can sleep warm even at +5°C in the room.
• Infrared panel (300–600W). Heats objects and people, not air. Much more efficient than a fan heater.
• Ceramic heater. Stable, does not dry out the air.

You should not use heat guns, unprotected spirals, gas heaters in the apartment, and even more so generators (risk of carbon monoxide poisoning).

When there is no light and the charging station is already discharged, will they help?

Chemical heat sources:

• Crystal or iron oxidation heaters

• Reusable heat packs are special packs or pads that can be reused to warm the body, relieve pain, and relax muscles thanks to the heating gel inside, which is activated by pressing (usually a metal plate), and then recharged by boiling or heating.

• Tourist hand and foot warmers.

They can be put in your pocket, in your sleeping bag, under your blanket.

Candles and a clay heater will also help you warm up a bit — place 4–6 candles over ceramic pots. The main thing in this matter is ventilation.

In the cold, metabolism acts as a heater for the body.

Oatmeal, buckwheat, fatty soups, tea, coffee, cocoa, ginger, pepper, curry help to start the metabolism. The main thing is to know the means for warming up — a gas burner, a campfire in the yard, boiling water in a thermos, etc.

Hot food raises body temperature for 1–2 hours.

If the water has been drained, the house may be preserved.

You should definitely make sure someone helps:

• drain remaining water from siphons

• antifreeze for sewage

• warm covers for pipes near risers

• leave the bathroom door open

This will protect the apartment from bursting pipes at minus temperatures.

If you pack one backpack:

• thermal underwear;

• two pairs of wool socks;

• sleeping bag;

• electric sheet;

• power station with extension cord;

• lanterns, garlands;

• 10–15 candles;

• chemical heating pads;

• window film;

• thermal blanket;

• thermos;
• gas burner and cylinder;
• sufficient water for cooking hot food and drinking.

This allows you to live in an apartment even at +0…+5°C inside.