Winterize Your Home: Inside and Out — 2026 Complete Guide
Part 16 of 22 in Winterize Your Home: Inside and Out. By Damon Fowler, Trends Kitchen & Bathroom Specialists.
Backup warmth is useful only when it is safe. A fireplace that has not been used for years, a portable heater beside bedding, or an ignored carbon monoxide alarm can turn cold-weather improvisation into a serious emergency. Make the safety decisions before the house is cold.
Have fuel-burning equipment assessed
Arrange inspection and service appropriate to the fireplace, chimney, stove, or heating appliance. Tell the professional about smoke entering the room, unusual odors, damaged components, water staining, or poor operation. Do not use an appliance with a known defect while waiting for a convenient repair date.
Different fireplace and vent designs have different operating instructions. Understand damper use, fuel requirements, glass doors, screens, and clearances for the actual unit. Decorative logs and accessories are not interchangeable simply because they fit in the opening.
Situation: the room needs warmth, but the fireplace is unfamiliar
Suppose you bought the house in summer and have never operated the gas fireplace. The safe preparation is to identify it, obtain instructions, and arrange assessment if its condition or service history is uncertain. Turning unfamiliar controls during a power outage is a poor time to learn what they do.
Know whether the unit can operate without utility power and which features depend on electricity. Do not assume every gas appliance will provide usable heat during an outage.
Check alarms and escape routes
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms according to their instructions. Check replacement dates, batteries where applicable, and whether the household recognizes the signals. Confirm placement with manufacturer guidance and local requirements. An alarm beyond its service life is not restored by a new battery.
Keep exits usable and discuss how people will leave if a fire or CO alarm occurs. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds or exposure is suspected, move everyone to fresh air and call emergency services. Do not stay inside searching for the source or assume that opening a window makes it safe to remain.
Use portable electric heaters within strict limits
CPSC advises plugging portable electric heaters directly into a wall outlet, keeping them at least three feet from combustible items, and avoiding unattended operation. Keep cords out from under rugs. Follow the product’s instructions, and stop using equipment with damage or signs of overheating. See CPSC’s winter heating guidance.
Do not treat a portable heater as a permanent correction for a freezing pipe in an inaccessible cavity. Solve the building exposure with an appropriate design. Never use an oven, grill, or outdoor combustion heater to warm the house.
Leave room for the equipment to work
Keep stored belongings, holiday décor, and furniture away from required clearances and service access. Inspect accessible exterior appliance vents after snow from a safe position. If obstruction, damage, or icing affects operation, contact the service professional.
Warmth, alarms, ventilation, and a clear escape route work together. None should be sacrificed to make the room more comfortable for one cold night.