People are often surprised that Southern Arizona gets cold. Bisbee sits higher than Denver, and winter nights regularly fall below freezing. Many homes here were built for miners more than a century ago, with thin walls, single-pane windows and no central heat in some rooms.
Heat the room you are in
Instead of heating a whole drafty house, warm the room you actually use. A small ceramic heater brings a bedroom or office up to temperature quickly. Look for tip-over and overheat shutoff, and use a model with a timer so it does not run all night.
Portable Indoor Ceramic Space Heater$29.72
Portable Heater Space Heaters for Indoor$44.99
Space heater safety, every time
- Keep at least three feet of clear space around the heater
- Plug it straight into a wall outlet, never into an extension cord or power strip
- Turn it off when you leave the room or go to sleep
- Keep it away from curtains, bedding and anywhere pets nap
- Test your smoke alarms at the start of every winter
Layer the bed
Breathable cotton sheets handle the swing from warm afternoons to cold nights better than synthetic sets. Add a weighted blanket on top for steady, even warmth without piling on extra layers.
Weighted Blanket for Adults 15lbs$29.98
Miracle Made Breathable Cotton Bed Sheets$139.99
Block the drafts
Roll a towel along the bottom of exterior doors, close blinds after sunset and open them on south-facing windows during the day to let the strong Arizona sun do some of the heating for free.
Keep the kitchen safe
More cooking happens indoors in winter. A fire blanket mounted beside the stove is the fastest way to put out a small pan fire. Never use water on a grease fire.
Prepared Hero Emergency Fire Blanket$39.98
This guide is general information, not professional advice. For emergencies call 911. For local alerts, follow the National Weather Service in Tucson and Cochise County Emergency Management.
