Power and Heat When It Gets Cold: A Winter Plan for Homes and Job Sites

Winter storms knock out power. Cold snaps stop work on construction sites. Both problems are easier to handle when you plan before the first freeze.

This guide covers backup power for homes and temporary heat for commercial and construction sites. Use the sections that apply to you.

Backup Power at Home

Know Your Risk

Ice storms are a common cause of winter outages in the South. Ice weighs down branches and lines until they snap. The February 2014 ice storm caused widespread, multi-day outages across the Augusta area. If your home lost power for more than a day in the past, plan for it to happen again.

List What You Need to Run

Write down what must stay on during an outage:

Furnace blower or heat pump
Refrigerator and freezer
Well pump, if you have one
Sump pump
Medical devices
A few lights and phone chargers

This list sets the size of the generator you need. An electrician can measure your loads and match a unit to them.

Portable or Standby?

A portable generator costs less and runs a few circuits through a transfer switch or extension cords. You must start it, fuel it, and move it outside.

A standby generator sits outside your home on a pad. It runs on natural gas or propane and starts on its own when the power drops. It can power most or all of your home.

Install It Safely

Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. This sends power back into the utility lines and can injure line workers. A transfer switch or interlock keeps your home’s power separate from the grid.

The CDC warns that generators produce carbon monoxide, which can kill. Run portable generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from your home, with the exhaust pointed away from doors and windows. Never run one in a garage, even with the door open.

Homeowners who schedule generator installation in the fall avoid the rush that follows a big storm. Electricians at A W Electric in Augusta recommend booking before the first cold front, since permits, gas line work, and pad prep can take time.

Test It Before You Need It

Run your generator under load once a month. Many standby units run a short self-test each week. Keep fresh fuel for portable units and replace it on the schedule in your owner’s manual.

Temporary Heat for Commercial and Construction Sites

Why Temperature Matters on a Job Site

Cold affects materials as well as crews. Many materials need heat to cure or dry.

Concrete: ACI guidance treats air temperatures at or below 40°F as cold weather for concreting. Fresh concrete must be protected from freezing while it gains strength.
Drywall compound and paint: Most manufacturers list a minimum application temperature, often around 50°F, before, during, and after application.
Adhesives and flooring: Many products list minimum room temperatures for install and cure.

Read the product data sheet for each material. Build heat into your schedule for the weeks those materials go in.

Direct-Fired or Indirect-Fired?

The two main heater types work differently.

Direct-fired heaters burn fuel and blow the flame’s heat and exhaust into the space. They heat quickly and use fuel efficiently. They need strong ventilation and suit open or partly enclosed areas.
Indirect-fired heaters burn fuel in a chamber and pass clean, heated air through ducts. Exhaust vents outside. They suit enclosed spaces where people work or materials are sensitive to moisture and fumes.

OSHA limits worker carbon monoxide exposure to 50 parts per million averaged over an 8-hour shift. Place CO monitors in any enclosed space with fuel-burning heaters.

Contractors who compare temporary heating solutions often start with the size of the space and the fuel available on site. The team at Rankin Group, which rents temporary heating and cooling equipment, suggests sharing your square footage, ceiling height, and target temperature when you request a quote. Those three numbers drive the equipment size.

Plan Fuel and Power

Temporary heaters run on propane, natural gas, diesel, or electricity. Confirm what your site has before equipment arrives. Electric heaters need enough service capacity. Fuel-fired heaters need safe fuel storage and a refill plan for long cold spells.

Protect Pipes in Buildings Under Construction

New water lines in unheated buildings can freeze and burst. Keep the space above freezing once plumbing is charged with water. Drain lines that are not in use.

Your Winter Prep List