A winter power outage can stop more than the lights. A gas furnace still needs electricity for its controls and blower, most boilers need powered controls and pumps, and a heat pump is entirely electric. When the temperature begins falling indoors, the priorities are preserving warmth, preventing carbon-monoxide exposure and knowing when it is safer to leave.
The short answer
First confirm whether the whole property has lost power or only the heating system has stopped. If it is a widespread outage, check the local utility’s official outage information, conserve indoor heat and use only approved backup equipment. If other lights and appliances work but the heating system does not, treat it as a heating fault and call for service rather than opening electrical or fuel-burning equipment.
If the home is becoming too cold for children, older adults, pets or anyone with a medical condition, move to a safely heated location. Do not wait for the house to reach a dangerously low temperature.
Keep the heat already inside the house
- Gather household members in one suitable room and close doors to unused areas.
- Wear dry layers, warm socks and a hat; use blankets rather than an unsafe heat source.
- Close curtains and blinds after dark. During daylight, use sun-facing windows for passive warmth when conditions allow.
- Limit unnecessary opening of exterior doors.
- Use flashlights or battery lanterns instead of candles.
A winter outage in Schomberg can become more serious as outdoor temperatures fall. Follow municipal and utility updates, including information about warming locations or estimated restoration times.
Never use outdoor cooking equipment for heat
Do not bring a barbecue, charcoal appliance, camping stove or other outdoor fuel-burning equipment into a home, garage, basement, shed or enclosed porch. These products can release carbon monoxide, a gas that cannot be seen, smelled or tasted.
Do not idle a vehicle in a garage, even with the garage door open. If a carbon-monoxide alarm sounds, leave immediately for fresh air, call 911 from outside and do not return until emergency personnel say it is safe.
Generator rules that prevent deadly mistakes
Government of Canada guidance says a portable fuel-burning generator should operate outdoors at least six metres—or 20 feet—from homes and buildings, with exhaust directed away from windows and doors. Keep nearby doors and windows closed and make sure carbon-monoxide alarms with battery backup are working.
- Never run a fuel-burning generator indoors, in a garage or in a shed.
- Never plug a generator into a household wall outlet.
- Never improvise a connection to a furnace, electrical panel or home wiring.
- A generator may connect to the home electrical system only through an approved transfer panel and switch installed by a qualified electrician.
- Follow the generator manufacturer’s operating, placement and refuelling instructions.
What about a portable electric space heater?
A plug-in heater will not operate during a normal outage unless it has a suitable, safely connected power source. If electricity is available, follow the heater’s manual and the clearance, outlet and supervision rules in our guide, Is It Safe to Use a Space Heater in a Cold Room?
Do not connect a space heater to a power bar or ordinary household extension cord. Turn it off and unplug it before sleeping or leaving the room.
Protect plumbing during an extended outage
Extended outages can allow pipes to freeze. Know where the main water shutoff is before an emergency, but do not guess at unfamiliar valves or attempt plumbing work in the dark. If indoor temperatures continue falling or the home has a history of frozen pipes, contact the municipality or a qualified plumber for advice appropriate to the property.
Never use an open flame to thaw a pipe. If a pipe has frozen or burst, shut off water only if you already know how to operate the correct valve safely, then arrange professional help.
When the power comes back
- Confirm that the utility has restored stable power to the area.
- Use the thermostat’s normal controls to select heat and a reasonable temperature.
- Allow the system time to complete its normal startup sequence. Heat pumps and some boilers may recover gradually.
- If the system does not start, repeatedly stops, trips electrical protection, shows a fault, or develops a new smell or noise, stop using normal thermostat controls and call for service.
Do not remove panels, bypass safeties, repeatedly reset electrical protection or attempt to restart gas or electrical components. If you smell gas, see smoke or hear a carbon-monoxide alarm, leave the home and call 911 from a safe location.
Prepare before the next outage
- Maintain a household emergency kit for at least 72 hours, as recommended by the Government of Canada.
- Keep charged power banks, flashlights, batteries, warm clothing, water and necessary medications accessible.
- Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms and ensure they have battery backup.
- Save official utility, municipal and emergency contact information.
- Have backup power equipment installed and inspected before an emergency, never during one.
When to call for heating service
If power has been restored but the furnace, boiler or heat pump will not operate normally, arrange an assessment. Note what the thermostat displays, whether the system starts at all and any new noise or odour, but do not investigate inside the equipment.
For heating help after power is restored, review our heating service options and call Schomberg Heating & Cooling at (905) 939-2350. For time-sensitive service, call rather than relying on the website form.