Winter Storm Power Outage Plan: Heat, Water and Battery Math
What to keep running when a winter storm takes the grid down for days: furnace blower, well pump, fridge and phones, with the battery size each needs.
Updated October 27, 2026 · By the OutageWatt team · How we calculate
In short
Some links on this page are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. It never changes a runtime or a pick. How we make money.
Before the storm
- Charge every battery to 100% and top off the car.
- Read your furnace blower's label and type its watts into the planner: newer variable-speed blowers draw far less than our conservative default.
- Test the transfer switch or the extension-cord route while the grid is still on.
- Fill containers with water if you're on a well, and set the fridge a little colder.
Runtime, winter list
| Power station | Capacity | Runs it? | Runtime | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1.1 kWh | Output too low | — | $499 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | 1.0 kWh | Can't start it | — | $719 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | 1.0 kWh | Can't start it | — | $499.99 |
| BLUETTI AC180 | 1.2 kWh | Surge not published | — | $499 |
| Anker SOLIX F2000 | 2.0 kWh | Surge not published | — | $1,999 |
| Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 | 2.0 kWh | Yes | 3.5 h | $1,069 |
| Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus | 3.6 kWh | Yes | 6.1 h | $1,709 |
| BLUETTI Apex 300 | 2.8 kWh | Surge not published | — | $1,599 |
| Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus | 3.8 kWh | Yes | 6.6 h | $2,399.99 |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 | 4.1 kWh | Yes | 7.0 h | $2,799 |
| Jackery HomePower 3600 Pro Max | 3.6 kWh | Yes | 6.1 h | $1,799 |
| Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus | 5.0 kWh | Yes | 8.6 h | $3,149 |
| Battery | Usable | Output | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Powerwall 3 (1 unit) | 13.5 kWh | 11.5 kW | 24 h |
| Enphase IQ Battery 5P (1 unit) | 5.0 kWh | 3.84 kW | 8.8 h |
| FranklinWH aPower 2 (1 unit) | 15.0 kWh | 10 kW | 26 h |
| Tesla Cybertruck (Powershare) | 98.4 kWh | 11.5 kW | 7.2 days |
| Ford F-150 Lightning (Extended Range) | 104.8 kWh | 9.6 kW | 7.6 days |
| Kia EV9 (Long Range) + Wallbox Quasar 2 | 79.8 kWh | 12 kW | 5.8 days |
During the outage
- Close off rooms you don't need; the furnace runs less when it heats less space.
- Lower the thermostat to 60–62 °F at night and use blankets: blower hours fall fast.
- Snow on solar panels: clear what you safely can from the ground, or count solar as zero.
- Run any fuel generator outdoors only, far from windows, with working CO alarms inside.
If the fridge loses power, the food-safety timer tracks the USDA windows. Cold outside air is not a safe fridge: temperatures swing and sun warms coolers. Check how your state fares in our outage map.
Frequently asked questions
What should I keep running in a winter power outage?
In order: heat (a gas furnace's blower and controls, not a space heater), water (well pump, and heat tape on exposed pipes), the fridge, then phones, internet and lights.
How long do winter outages last?
Most last hours. Major ice storms can leave areas dark for a week: Winter Storm Fern in January 2026 left close to a million customers without power at its peak and some homes out for over a week.
How do I keep pipes from freezing without power?
Keep the furnace running on backup if you can. Otherwise let faucets drip, open cabinet doors under sinks, and if the outage will last days in freezing weather, shut off the main water valve and drain the lines.
Free tool
Open the winter scenario
72 hours of furnace, fridge, Wi-Fi and lights. Adjust to your blower's label.
OutageWatt is independent and not affiliated with any brand named here. Specs come from makers' spec sheets and are dated; anything wired into your home needs a licensed electrician and a transfer switch or interlock. Never backfeed through an outlet.