It's minus 12 outside, and we have no fireplace . What can we do? any tips?
The heating company coming to fix the system isn't arriving until tomorrow afternoon. My 3-yr-old and my 14 yr old daughter are with me while my husband's out of town.
2007-12-20 11:37:52 · 30 answers · asked by xtwizzl3r 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If you have to stay in the house with no other heating, put hats and gloves and long socks on as well as other warm clothes. Keeping the head covered helps. Stay together to use each others body warmth. Sleep in a large bed or sofa with as many covers on as you can. Put extra blankets or even coats over feet. We slept in the Ice Hotel and it was -26 (but we had a choice) and they told us to wear hats. We were fine. Do you have any sleeping bags? zip two together, and snuggle right down all together. Make it a game for the children so they don't worry. Indoor camping. Good luck.
2007-12-20 12:25:56 · answer #1 · answered by Sue J 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You have had some helpful and ridiculous answers. The best tips I read: 1) Wear hats - if you did nothing else, you would still feel a difference with 20-30 minutes 2) Wear warm socks/slippers 3) Stay in one room of the house with a space heater if possible 4) cuddle up with lots of blankets and eachother. I'm not sure if this was mentioned but check if you have a hot water bottle or heating pad. Also, throw the covers over your heads to trap the warmth of your bodies and breath. You could take a very warm bath (without getting hair wet) but I would only do that if you have a space heater to put in the bathroom.
2007-12-24 01:51:50 · answer #2 · answered by Jill 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unlike some who've responded, I'm going to assume the worst... that you have no electricity, no transportation to get to family or friends, and no money for a motel, otherwise you wouldn't stay in this awful and dangerous situation. If you do have electricity, transportation, or money, then for goodness sake use them in the manners that others have suggested!
However, if the worst case scenario is true and you have none of these options, first of all, you all need LOTS of layers of clothing, especially socks, long underwear, sweats, sweaters, coats, etc. WEAR HATS. Use mittens instead of gloves. Share the largest bed to take advantage of sharing your body heat. Dig up every single blanket and sleeping bag you have in the house. Put the 3 year old in the middle between you and the 14 year old, as she should be mature enough to tough it out a bit more than a toddler. Close all doors in the house to limit the amount of air traveling between rooms. Stuff towels under the doors of the room you're in to keep out drafts. If this still does not seem to be enough, call 9-1-1 to inquire if they have any way to help you.
Do NOT build a fire in your house. And tomorrow, take measures to prevent this situation in the future - find a number of a 24 hour heating repair, get to know your nearest neighbor, and have on hand special supplies for when the power and/or heat go out - canned heat, long underwear, wool socks, a portable bbq, etc. Maybe even look into installing an old-fashioned pot-belly stove for building a safe fire when you need it. For now, bundle up, hunker down, and try to sleep so you won't worry all night. As long as you do everything you can, you'll be ok for one night.
2007-12-20 22:38:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you don't have an electric heater then the best thing I could suggest is to, while your awake, sit together on the couch with a blanket to cover you. That will allow you to use each others body heat to keep warm. At night since you all probably won't want to sleep in the same bed, I would should use two or three good blankets to sleep with. Good luck. I will be praying that you guys are ok tonight.
2007-12-20 19:47:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anna S 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
ok, stay in one room that has a door, preferably that has a bed with lots of blanets and a tv to keep the kids occupied, close the door to keep the heat in and use 2-3 radiator type electric heaters. You can always return them after tomorrow to get your money back! These things are great and get really hot so be careful with the 3 year old. Keep the kids in the room when you need to make food and bring the food to the room. Most importantly keep the kids warm!! Good Luck!!
2007-12-21 08:33:14 · answer #5 · answered by Jaime S 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
get the heating company back on the phone. let them know your dire situation. if any other heating companies are around, try calling them. by law you can't refuse no heat service. most of them have 24 hr emergency service. find a neighbor or call an emergency number. in the mean time keep moving generating bodyheat, and use any clothing or blankets available. boil water on your stove to hold your hands near it for some sort of heat. good luck!!!
2007-12-22 18:34:33 · answer #6 · answered by xxaceshigh 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you have probably already spent the night, how did you manage? what did you do?
my suggestions would have been.. stay at the neighbours' or the three of you spend the night in one small room, cuddle in close, drink hot drinks, if you dont have any electrical heaters, surely you have a hair dryer? use that to keep warm. put a lot of layers on the three year old. worst comes to worst go spend the night in a local supermarket which is open 24 hours. its warm there!
anyway how have you managed?
2007-12-21 16:04:08 · answer #7 · answered by ... 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm guessing you don't have any family you can stay with for one night or more if needed? Or a hotel you can go to. What about an electric blanket, electric heater. Stay away from candles you could catch the house on fire. If you stove is gas maybe you could turn it on.
Close off all the rooms you don't need. This is what we just did through the ice storm in Oklahoma without electric becasue without electric our heater doesn't work.
2007-12-21 00:58:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Do not turn on the oven and just let it run...definite fire hazard, and do not start a fire "somewhere in your house"...another fire hazard, and carbon monoxide is another potential hazard in that scenario. Do not bring your grill inside...
The only safe way to heat your house at this point is with electric space heaters. You could all huddle in one room with doors closed tight, wear warm clothes and sleep together. If you can't get somewhere to purchase them, perhaps neighbors or friends have some you could borrow. A hotel is a great alternative if you have the money...but this close to christmas, with two kids, that might be unlikely....Do you have a friend you could stay with?
Good luck and stay warm!!
2007-12-20 19:53:48 · answer #9 · answered by Cindy 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
This has happened to me when i was young the best way would be to use heaters but if you dont have any, make sure you all sleep close- like in same bed itl help keep you warm.cook something in oven too maybe, this may heat the house up and close all doors in house to avoid any drafts or cold air coming through, huddle together get wrapped up drink warm drinks e.g tea, or milk and use alot of quilts wen in bed.u shud soon get warm!!
hope this helps
2007-12-20 19:43:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋