A quiet house in January feels cozy right up until the power flickers, the walk to the mailbox ices over, or the only heat source is the oven door left open. For people who live alone, winter mistakes tend to go unnoticed because nobody else is there to notice.
Two official sources lay out what to avoid: the National Institute on Aging, in its cold-weather safety guidance for older adults, and the American Red Cross, in its winter storm preparedness page. Together they point to 6 winter mistakes worth avoiding, and the advice suits anyone whose household stops at one.
1. Never Let the Heat Slide Below 68
The National Institute on Aging advises setting the heat to at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and it specifically calls out homes that hover between 60 and 65 degrees as a concern. The agency’s page was last reviewed on Jan. 3, 2024. It also suggests placing a rolled towel in front of doors to keep out drafts, a low-cost trick that works in any home.
Keeping the thermostat steady is the cheapest safeguard on the list, and a look at steps to take before turning on the furnace helps make sure the equipment is ready. A roundup of energy-efficient home improvements covers ways to keep a house warm without a bigger bill. For anyone leaning on a portable heater, there is also a guide to 6 things never to do with a space heater, which notes the appliances are involved in 44% of home heating fires.
2. Never Run Low on Charge or Supplies
The NIA tells people to keep a mobile phone fully charged and to have warm blankets and extra covers ready in case the power goes out. The Red Cross adds a bigger picture, recommending a stay-at-home kit with at least two weeks of supplies and at least one gallon of drinking water per person per day.
For a household of one, that math is simple: 14 days of water means 14 gallons, plus food that needs no cooking. A related piece covers 6 things never to do during a winter power outage, and a frenzhub guide on seasonal storage offers ideas for keeping a supply shelf organized.
3. Never Go Without a Check-In
Living alone means nobody is around to notice a problem. The NIA recommends asking someone to check in during cold weather, and if the power fails and the home loses heat, it suggests staying with a relative or friend until it returns.
Anyone who lives alone may also like a longer list, 14 things never to do when living alone, which covers year-round habits from spare keys outside to dark windows. A piece on smart home trends shows gadgets that can make a home easier to run solo, and a list of easy-to-use products that simplify everyday life at home adds more ideas.
4. Never Leave Walkways Icy or Errands Unplanned
Icy steps are a hazard that nobody else will clear. The NIA says to keep outside walkways clear of snow and ice with an ice-melt product or sand.
The agency also suggests using services that deliver prescriptions, groceries and other necessities, so a storm day can be spent inside.
5. Never Heat the Home With the Oven or Stove
The Red Cross is blunt about this one: never heat a home with a cooking oven or stove.
Safer warmth is also on the Red Cross list, including battery-backed smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors that are installed and tested.
6. Never Park Flammables Near a Heater or a Generator Indoors
When a space heater is the main source of warmth, the Red Cross says to keep anything that could catch fire at least 3 feet away. It also says generators, grills and camp stoves belong outdoors and away from windows. The NIA makes a similar point, noting that some space heaters are fire hazards or can raise the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Between them, the two agencies keep the message consistent: heat that was meant for cooking, camping or outdoor use stays out of the living space, and anything that burns stays well clear of any heater that is running.
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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Image: Michael Scialdone – CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons
