To stay warm without central heating, reduce the area you are trying to warm, stop avoidable heat loss and keep people warm directly. Close doors and curtains, use dry layers and blankets, move regularly if able, and concentrate activity in one suitable room. If electricity is available, a thermostatically controlled portable electric heater can warm that room while the main system is repaired.
Do not try to heat a home with a gas cooker, camping stove, barbecue, patio heater or any appliance intended for outdoor use. If an older person, baby, someone with limited mobility or anyone with a health condition cannot be kept comfortably warm, arrange a move to a safely heated place rather than waiting for the home to become dangerously cold.
Start with the reason and likely duration
A home without central heating may have a failed boiler, an interrupted gas or oil supply, a heat-network fault, an unaffordable system or no central system at all. The sensible response depends on how long the situation is likely to last.
| Likely situation | First priority | Heating approach |
|---|---|---|
| A few hours | Keep existing heat inside and confirm the fault | Layers, blankets, closed doors and local warmth may be enough |
| One or two days | Arrange repair and choose one occupied room | Use a safe portable electric heater if power is available |
| Several days in cold weather | Protect higher-risk people and prevent the building becoming very cold | Use a planned temporary setup or stay somewhere safely heated |
| No permanent central system | Assess insulation, tariffs and long-term heat demand | Compare professionally installed systems rather than relying indefinitely on portable heaters |
Check the thermostat, programmer, power supply and any visible fault code without removing a boiler cover or dismantling equipment. Follow the appliance manual for permitted user checks and resets. Report a communal-heating fault to the building manager or heat supplier, and arrange the appropriate qualified engineer for a fixed gas, oil, solid-fuel or electrical system.
If you smell gas, do not continue troubleshooting. Avoid flames and electrical switches, ventilate if advised and call the gas emergency service: 0800 111 999 in England, Scotland and Wales, or 0800 002 001 in Northern Ireland. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the property and follow the alarm and emergency-service instructions.
Warm people before trying to warm the whole home
Body-focused measures use less energy than heating several empty rooms. They are often enough during a short breakdown and remain useful alongside temporary room heating.
- Wear several dry layers. Use a comfortable base layer, insulating middle layers and an outer layer if needed. Add warm socks and suitable indoor footwear. Change damp clothing promptly.
- Use blankets or a sleeping bag. Insulate above and below the body when sitting or lying down, but keep the face uncovered and walking routes clear.
- Move at intervals if able. Light household activity or gentle walking can help maintain warmth. Avoid strenuous activity if a health condition makes it unsuitable.
- Eat and drink regularly. Normal meals provide energy. Warm non-alcoholic drinks can improve comfort, but alcohol is not a safe substitute for food, clothing or heat.
- Choose local electric warmth carefully. A heated throw or electric blanket normally draws much less power than a room heater because it warms the user rather than the room. Check the label and use it only as instructed.
- Use a hot water bottle safely. Check it for damage and age, use a cover, do not fill it with boiling water and avoid direct pressure that could make it split. Never combine one with an electric blanket.
The London Fire Brigade’s electric-blanket guidance says to unplug a blanket before getting into bed unless its thermostat is designed for safe all-night use. Do not use one if it is worn, scorched, smells unusual, has exposed wires or has a damaged lead, controller or connector. Extra restrictions apply to some pressure-relief mattresses and to people using emollient creams, so follow the relevant medical and product instructions.
Keep one occupied room warmer
Choose a room that is easy for everyone to reach, has enough sockets for the planned equipment and can be separated from colder parts of the home. A smaller internal room may retain heat well, but access, ventilation, daylight, sleeping arrangements and a clear escape route matter more than room size alone.
- Close doors to unused rooms. Keep the occupied zone together instead of spreading people and heaters around the property.
- Use daylight, then close coverings. Open curtains when direct sun can warm the room, then close them at dusk. Keep fabric well clear of heaters and flames.
- Stop removable draughts. Fit suitable door or window strips and use a draught excluder at a leaky internal or external door.
- Reduce discomfort from cold surfaces. Move seating away from single-glazed windows and outside walls where practical. Rugs can make a hard floor more comfortable if their edges are secured.
- Monitor the room. A simple thermometer shows whether the plan is working and how quickly the property is cooling overnight.
- Control moisture. Continue to use extractor fans and short periods of purposeful ventilation when cooking, washing or drying clothes. A sealed but damp room is not a healthy solution.
Draught proofing is not the same as sealing every opening. Energy Saving Trust draught-proofing advice says not to block extractor fans, airbricks, wall vents, trickle vents, chimneys or airflow required by a fuel-burning appliance. Controlled ventilation helps remove moisture and pollutants, while draught proofing deals with unwanted gaps.
Choose the right temporary heat source
Where mains electricity is working, a modern portable electric heater is usually the simplest temporary room-heating option. Fan, convector, oil-filled and portable radiant heaters deliver heat differently, but the wattage, thermostat, controls, placement and time in use determine energy consumption more than marketing terms such as ceramic or energy efficient.
| Option | Most useful for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Fan heater | Warming a small room quickly while someone is awake | Noise, moving air and a concentrated high-temperature outlet |
| Oil-filled electric radiator | Steadier background heat in one room | Slower response, heavy to move and hot surfaces |
| Convector or panel heater | General room-air heating with thermostat control | Can be costly if used continuously or across several rooms |
| Portable radiant or infrared heater | Warming a person or occupied position directly | Uneven comfort outside its line of sight and a hot front surface |
| Heated throw or electric blanket | Keeping one seated person or bed occupant warm | Does not protect the room, pipes or building from low temperatures |
| Existing fixed stove or open fire | Heating where it is already correctly installed and normally used | Needs the correct fuel, ventilation, maintenance, alarms and supervision |
A heater with an effective thermostat and timer can avoid unnecessary operation. Tip-over protection is useful on a free-standing model, but it does not replace safe positioning and supervision. For a longer-term home without central heating, portable direct electric heaters can become expensive and awkward to manage across several rooms. Energy Saving Trust’s electric-heating guide explains the differences between storage heating, direct electric systems and heat pumps.
Calculate the running cost before using a heater
Use the rating label and your electricity tariff rather than a generic cost claim:
Power in kilowatts × hours used × electricity unit rate = estimated cost
A 2 kilowatt heater running at full output for three hours uses 6 kilowatt-hours. Multiply 6 by the unit rate shown on your bill. A hypothetical 120 watt heated throw is 0.12 kilowatts, so four hours at full rating uses 0.48 kilowatt-hours. Actual heater consumption may be lower once a thermostat cycles the element, but the label calculation is a useful upper estimate for continuous full-power operation.
Two heaters with the same rated power use the same amount of electricity while both are drawing full power. One may feel more effective because it directs heat at the user, warms the air faster or controls the temperature better, but a claim that an ordinary plug-in heater produces the same total heat from dramatically less electricity deserves caution.
Use portable electric heaters safely
- Plug the heater directly into a suitable wall socket. Avoid extension leads, multiway adaptors and daisy-chained connections, which can overheat under a high load.
- Keep a clear space around it. The London Fire Brigade’s portable-heater advice says to sit at least one metre away and keep heaters well away from bedding, blankets, curtains and furniture.
- Use a firm, level position. Keep the appliance out of walking routes and places where a child, pet or person with limited mobility could knock it over or fall against it.
- Never dry clothes on or immediately beside it. Do not cover the heater or obstruct its air inlet or outlet.
- Keep it away from water. Do not bring an ordinary portable heater into a bathroom or other wet location unless it was specifically designed and installed for that environment.
- Do not leave it running unattended or while asleep. Turn it off before leaving the room and follow the manufacturer’s operating limits.
- Inspect it before use. Do not use a heater with a damaged plug, cable, casing or controls, unusual noise, smell, scorching or repeated plug overheating.
- Check for recalls. Record the brand and model, register a new appliance and check the manufacturer and UK product safety alerts and recalls service.
- Maintain fire detection. Keep escape routes clear and test the home’s smoke alarms. A carbon monoxide alarm is also needed in rooms with fuel-burning appliances.
Do not improvise fuel-burning heat
A fixed wood burner, open fire or other fuel-burning heater should be used only if it is correctly installed, maintained and normally operated with the specified fuel and ventilation. A portable gas or paraffin heater should be considered only if the manufacturer explicitly approves indoor domestic use and every instruction on ventilation, clearance, refuelling and supervision can be followed. A working carbon monoxide alarm is not a substitute for correct installation or ventilation.
- Never use a barbecue, camping stove, outdoor heater or generator inside a home, garage, shed, conservatory, tent or other enclosed space.
- Never use a gas hob, cooker or oven as a room heater.
- Do not burn improvised fuel, rubbish, treated timber or unsuitable household material in a stove or fireplace.
- Do not introduce an unflued heater into a small sealed room or block ventilation to retain more warmth.
- Do not refill a liquid-fuel heater while it is operating or hot, and do not store fuel against the appliance.
- Do not use candles as a heating method. They add a naked flame but provide negligible useful room heat.
Carbon monoxide cannot be seen or smelt. Headache, dizziness, sickness, weakness, tiredness, confusion, chest pain or breathlessness can be warning signs. The NHS carbon monoxide guidance says to stop using the suspected appliance if possible, go outside and seek medical advice. Call 999 for severe breathing difficulty, sudden confusion, loss of consciousness, marked weakness, or chest or muscle pain. Do not return until you have received safety advice.
Protect people who are more vulnerable to cold
Current UKHSA cold-weather advice recommends trying to heat rooms used regularly, such as the living room or bedroom, to at least 18°C. Low indoor temperatures can affect anyone, but the risk is greater for older people and those with medical conditions. A room thermometer is useful, although comfort, symptoms and the rate at which the home is cooling also matter.
- Babies: follow safer-sleep guidance rather than adding improvised heat. The NHS safer-sleep advice recommends a room temperature of about 16°C to 20°C and says a baby should never sleep with a hot water bottle or electric blanket, next to a radiator, heater or fire, or in direct sunlight.
- Older people and people with health conditions: prioritise the warm room, regular food and drinks, prescribed medicines and early check-ins. Someone with limited mobility may also face a greater fall or burn risk around a portable heater.
- People using emollient creams or specialist bedding: ask the care team about electric blankets, heated throws and open heat sources. Emollient residue on clothing or bedding can increase fire severity.
- People living alone: arrange regular contact and keep a charged phone, written contact list, warm clothing and an agreed alternative place to stay.
- Pets: provide dry bedding and follow veterinary advice for young, old or unwell animals and species that depend on controlled environmental heat.
If someone is shivering, has pale cold skin, slurred speech, slow breathing, tiredness or confusion, consider hypothermia. A baby may be cold to the touch, floppy, unusually quiet or sleepy, or refuse feeds. NHS hypothermia guidance treats this as a medical emergency: call 999 or go to A&E. While waiting, move the person to shelter, remove wet clothes and wrap them in dry layers. Do not use a hot bath, heat lamp or hot water bottle, rub their limbs or give alcohol.
Know when to stay somewhere warmer
Temporary measures have limits. Move early if the repair will not be completed before a cold night, the occupied room continues to cool despite safe heating, electricity is also unavailable, or someone cannot be kept comfortable and alert. Family, friends or temporary accommodation may be more proportionate than buying several heaters for a short breakdown.
Consider the overnight forecast, transport conditions, the person’s health, whether medicines or mobility equipment can travel and whether the destination is genuinely warm and accessible. Do not wait for a particular thermometer reading if someone is already showing symptoms or their care plan sets a higher temperature requirement.
Arrange repairs and support
For a failed fixed system, record the fault code, when it started and any unusual sound or smell, then contact the landlord, managing agent, heat supplier or qualified repairer. Do not remove appliance covers, bypass safety controls or attempt gas, oil, flue or fixed electrical work yourself. If freezing weather is expected, ask the repairer or landlord whether any action is needed to protect pipework and follow the building insurer’s requirements.
Renters should report loss of heating in writing as soon as possible, explain any health risk and ask for the repair timescale and safe temporary provision. In England, GOV.UK private-renting guidance identifies heating and hot water as landlord repair responsibilities. Housing law and enforcement routes differ across the four UK nations, so use the relevant national guidance or ask the local council if the landlord does not act. Keep paying rent unless a qualified housing adviser tells you otherwise.
If the difficulty is paying for heat rather than a technical fault, contact the energy supplier before self-rationing to an unsafe level. Ofgem’s energy-bill guidance says suppliers must work with customers to agree a payment plan they can afford, based on their circumstances. The current GOV.UK energy-bill support page brings together national payments, council help and energy-efficiency support. Schemes and eligibility change, so check the live page rather than relying on an old list.
Prepare for a central-heating failure
- Service fixed heating appliances, chimneys and flues at the appropriate intervals through competent professionals.
- Keep one safe portable electric heater that suits the room, occupants and available wall socket rather than buying in a rush.
- Store warm layers, blankets and a sound hot water bottle where everyone can find them.
- Keep a room thermometer and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms according to their instructions.
- Fit suitable curtains and draught proofing without blocking required ventilation.
- Know the heating controls, appliance model, repair contact and landlord or heat-network reporting route.
- Write down a nearby heated place that could accommodate the household and any mobility, medical or pet needs.
- Keep enough credit or account access for the meter and know where to seek bill support before cold weather.
Staying warm without central heating checklist
- Confirm the cause, report the fault and get a realistic repair estimate.
- Choose one occupied room and close off unused areas.
- Use curtains, safe draught proofing and dry insulating layers.
- Use personal warmth before adding several room heaters.
- Calculate electric-heating costs from appliance wattage and your own unit rate.
- Plug a portable heater directly into a suitable wall socket and keep it clear of combustible material.
- Never use outdoor heating or cooking equipment indoors.
- Maintain ventilation and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms around fuel-burning appliances.
- Protect babies, older people and anyone with medical or mobility needs.
- Move to a safely heated place before conditions or symptoms become dangerous.
Alternative home-heating resources
- UKHSA guidance on keeping warm and well explains health risks from cold homes, the 18°C occupied-room advice and sources of support.
- Met Office advice on keeping a home warm in winter covers room temperatures, insulation, curtains and help with bills.
- Energy Saving Trust draught-proofing guidance distinguishes unwanted draughts from ventilation needed for air quality and fuel safety.
- Energy Saving Trust’s electric-heating guide compares direct heating, storage heating and other electricity-based systems for homes without gas central heating.
- London Fire Brigade heater and fire guidance explains clearances, supervision, carbon monoxide alarms and competent servicing.
- NHS hypothermia advice lists warning signs, emergency action and reheating methods to avoid.
- NHS carbon monoxide guidance covers sources, symptoms, medical action, alarms, ventilation and appliance maintenance.
- GOV.UK help with energy bills provides current links to national payments, local support and household energy schemes.
