Staying warm in a power outage is safe when generators run outside at least 20 feet from the house and heaters stay 3 feet from anything combustible, with working carbon monoxide alarms on every floor.
A winter outage turns a cold house dangerous fast, and the wrong backup heat can be deadlier than the cold. Carbon monoxide (CO) from a generator or fuel-burning heater is the biggest threat; the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) repeats the same warnings every storm season because the same mistakes repeat. These rules take about ten minutes to set up and cover the equipment most U.S. households already own.
Where Can You Safely Run a Portable Generator?
Run a portable generator outside only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from the home and any other building. Never run one indoors or in a garage, basement, crawlspace, shed, porch, or carport. The CPSC notes a gasoline generator used during a weather outage can produce as much carbon monoxide as hundreds of cars, and opening doors or windows does not make an enclosed space safe — the gas builds faster than it clears.
Two habits cut the risk further:
- Buy a generator with a CO shut-off safety feature that kills the engine automatically when carbon monoxide rises.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, keep the machine dry, and test-start it before storm season.
How Do You Use an Electric Space Heater Without Starting a Fire?
Plug an electric space heater directly into a wall outlet, never a power strip or extension cord, and keep it at least 3 feet from beds, clothes, curtains, papers, and sofas. Cords overheat under a heater’s draw, and cords run under rugs trap that heat against the floor. Place the heater on a stable, level surface where it cannot be knocked over, and turn it off when you sleep or leave the room. If you are still deciding what to buy, our tested roundup of the best emergency heater picks for outages compares models that hold up under real cold-weather use.
What About Kerosene Heaters, Fireplaces, and Wood Stoves?
Any alternate heat source that burns fuel — a fireplace, wood stove, or portable kerosene heater — must vent to the outside, and stoves or outdoor grills should never be used to heat a home at all. Portable fuel-burning heaters carry one extra rule people break most often: never refuel while the heater is running. Turn it off and let it cool completely first, because fuel hitting a hot surface can flash.
How Do Carbon Monoxide Alarms Fit Into the Plan?
Install battery-operated CO alarms or models with battery backup outside sleeping areas and on every floor, then test each one monthly. Alarms are the backstop for everything above. If a CO alarm sounds, leave the home right away and call 911 if you suspect poisoning.
| Heat Source | Core Safety Rule | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Portable generator | Outside only, 20 feet from the house | Running it in a garage or near a vent |
| Electric space heater | Wall outlet only, 3 feet of clearance | Using a power strip or extension cord |
| Kerosene heater | Vent to the outside; cool before refueling | Refueling while it is hot or running |
| Fireplace or wood stove | Vented to the outside, chimney clear | Treating it as a sealed heat source |
| Gas stove or grill | Never used to heat living space | Running one indoors during an outage |
| CO alarms | Outside sleeping areas, every floor | Never testing them monthly |
The Mistakes That Cause Most Outage Deaths
- Running a generator in a garage or close to doors, windows, and vents.
- Powering a space heater through an extension cord or power strip.
- Parking a heater against bedding, clothes, or furniture.
- Refueling a heater or generator while it is hot or still running.
- Burning charcoal or running a grill or camp stove indoors.
Set up the generator distance, the heater clearance, and the alarms before the power fails, and a cold night stays uncomfortable instead of dangerous. The CPSC publishes winter generator and space heater safety tips that mirror every rule here, and its storm-season carbon monoxide warning repeats the same guidance.
FAQs
Can a generator run in a garage if the door stays open?
No. An open garage door does not prevent carbon monoxide from building up inside the house. The CPSC states that opening doors or windows does not make an enclosed or partly enclosed space safe, and generators must run outside at least 20 feet from the home with exhaust directed away.
How far should a space heater sit from furniture?
Keep at least 3 feet of clear space between a portable heater and anything combustible, including beds, curtains, clothes, papers, and sofas. That clearance prevents radiant heat from igniting fabric that never actually touches the heater.
Is it safe to sleep with a space heater running?
No. Turn heaters off before sleeping and never leave one running unattended in a confined space. If you need overnight warmth during an outage, rely on layered bedding and close off one room to heat instead.
References & Sources
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. “Keep Warm and Safe This Winter: Tips for Using Generators, Furnaces and Space Heaters” Supports generator placement, heater clearance, and CO alarm guidance.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. “Winter Storms Aren’t Over… CPSC Warns of Deadly Carbon Monoxide Risks and Fires During Power Outages” Supports generator carbon monoxide risk during weather outages.
- New York State Department of Health. “Carbon Monoxide: What You Need to Know” Supports alarm placement and what to do when a CO alarm sounds.