# Grid-down living: power outage survival at home · Dark Grid Prep > Source: https://darkgridprep.cc/grid-down ## Grid-down living Light, heat, cooling, water, sanitation and safety in a house with the power off for days or weeks. ### Latest in Grid-down living [ ](/grid-down/carbon-monoxide-safety-during-power-outage) #### [Carbon monoxide safety when the power is out ](/grid-down/carbon-monoxide-safety-during-power-outage) Where the generator goes, which heaters and grills poison a house, how to keep CO alarms working with the grid down, and what to do when one sounds. 10 Nov 2026 [ ](/grid-down/safe-indoor-heaters-for-power-outages) #### [Safe indoor heaters for a power outage, and the ones that kill ](/grid-down/safe-indoor-heaters-for-power-outages) Which heaters can warm a house with the grid down (electric on a generator, indoor-rated propane, K-1 kerosene, a wood stove) and which ones fill it with carbon monoxide. 9 Nov 2026 [ ](/grid-down/long-term-power-outage-survival) #### [How to survive a long-term power outage at home ](/grid-down/long-term-power-outage-survival) What a family does in the first hour, day and week when the power stays out: food, water, heat, sanitation and generator safety. 8 Nov 2026 Other sections * [ Threats and scenarios](/threats) * [ Stockpiling](/stockpiling) * [ Home defense and security](/home-defense) * [ Bug-out and evacuation](/bug-out) * [ Communications](/communications) * [ Medical when help is delayed](/medical) * [ Family emergency plans](/family-plan) [See all eight on one page](/topics) ### The first 72 hours decide a lot When the grid goes down, the house you live in becomes your shelter, your storehouse and your workplace all at once. The families that do well in a long outage are rarely the ones with the most gear. They are the ones who knew in advance which of their daily routines depend on electricity and had a replacement ready for each. The federal floor is a good start: take an inventory of everything in the house that needs power, keep a flashlight for every person, and plan backup power for anything medical ([Ready.gov, power outages](https://www.ready.gov/power-outages)). This section builds on that floor for outages that last longer than the official guidance assumes. ### What this section covers #### Refrigeration and food A closed refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours and a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48, according to that same federal page. After that you need a plan to eat the perishables first and cook them safely. #### Heat and cooling Picking one room to heat or cool and insulating it comes first. Then the heater itself: our guide to [safe indoor heaters for a power outage](/grid-down/safe-indoor-heaters-for-power-outages) sorts electric, propane, kerosene and wood heat from the grills and job-site heaters that kill families every winter. #### Generators and fumes Generators belong outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, and every level of the house needs a carbon monoxide detector with battery backup. Our guide to [carbon monoxide safety when the power is out](/grid-down/carbon-monoxide-safety-during-power-outage) covers where each heater, grill and engine may run and what to do when an alarm sounds. We also cover sizing, fuel storage and running a generator quietly. #### Water and sanitation City water pressure can fail when pumping stations lose power, and rural wells stop the moment the pump does. We cover how to store, find and treat water, and how to handle toilets and trash when nothing flushes. #### Light and noise discipline A lit house on a dark street is a signal. Blackout curtains, headlamps and keeping a low profile matter more the longer an outage runs. ### Where to start Walk your house tonight with a notepad and list every electric thing you would miss in the first day. Then work through this section one line at a time. For the supplies themselves, see [stockpiling](/stockpiling). ### Common questions about Grid-down living How long does food last in a fridge when the power goes out? Around four hours with the door shut, and a full freezer about two days. Throw out food that sat at 40°F or above for two hours. Can I run a generator in the garage with the door open? No. The official rule is outdoors, 20 feet or more from windows, doors and attached garages, because the exhaust is deadly and invisible. Is it safe to heat the house with a gas oven during an outage? No. Using a gas stove or oven for warmth risks poisoning and fire, and federal guidance warns against it. --- [ ](/) Dark Grid Prep is a survival magazine for American families who want to be ready when the grid, the economy or the supply chain fails: the threats (EMP, long blackouts, collapse, civil unrest), and how a household plans, stockpiles, communicates and secures its home through them. 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