---
title: Ice Storm Power Outage Prep for Appliances & HVAC in NKY
description: Ice storm coming to Northern Kentucky? Protect your fridge, freezer, furnace, and heat pump before, during, and after a power outage.
image: https://niceleys.com/hubfs/ice%20storm%20prep%20in%20nky%20Niceleys%20Heating%20Cooling%20Appliance%20Repair%20(1).jpg
---

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 November 2, 2026

# Ice Storm Power Outage Prep for Appliances & HVAC in NKY

![Picture of Jeff Niceley](https://niceleys.com/hs-fs/hubfs/jeff%20Niceley_Niceleys%20Appliance%20Repair%20Heating%20Cooling.png?width=50&name=jeff%20Niceley_Niceleys%20Appliance%20Repair%20Heating%20Cooling.png) By  [Jeff Niceley](https://niceleys.com/niceleys-notes-blog/author/jeff-niceley)  ·   7 minute read

If you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm goes off, get everyone outside first. Do not flip switches. Call the gas utility or 911 from outside.

Freezing rain is hard on Northern Kentucky's power lines. Ice builds on limbs and wires, branches come down, and power can be off for hours or days in the cold. Without electricity, your gas furnace will not run. Your heat pump will not run. Your refrigerator and freezer start warming. When power comes back, the surge can hit the same appliances again.

What follows is in the order you'll need it: before the storm, while the power is out, and after it comes back.

## ![Ice Storm Power Outage Prep- Niceleys heating cooling appliance repair (1)](https://niceleys.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ice%20Storm%20Power%20Outage%20Prep-%20Niceleys%20heating%20cooling%20appliance%20repair%20(1).jpg?width=500&height=500&name=Ice%20Storm%20Power%20Outage%20Prep-%20Niceleys%20heating%20cooling%20appliance%20repair%20(1).jpg) Before the storm: what to do the day ice is forecast

Make the refrigerator and freezer hold cold longer.  
Turn both to their coldest settings the day before. Fill empty freezer space with frozen water jugs or bags of ice. A full freezer holds a safe temperature for about 48 hours, and a half-full one for about 24 hours if the door stays closed, according to [FoodSafety.gov.](https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage) Put an appliance thermometer in each compartment. When power comes back, a thermometer tells you more than guessing.

![electrical panel Ice Storm Power Outage Prep- Niceleys heating cooling appliance repair](https://niceleys.com/hs-fs/hubfs/electrical%20panel%20Ice%20Storm%20Power%20Outage%20Prep-%20Niceleys%20heating%20cooling%20appliance%20repair.jpg?width=250&height=250&name=electrical%20panel%20Ice%20Storm%20Power%20Outage%20Prep-%20Niceleys%20heating%20cooling%20appliance%20repair.jpg)

Know where your shutoffs are before you need them in the dark.  
Find the water main, the electrical panel, and the gas shutoff at the furnace. Do not turn the gas off unless you smell gas or officials tell you to. Once it is off, only a qualified professional can turn it back on, the[American Red Cross notes.](https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/power-outage.html) That can mean waiting days in a cold house after a regional storm.

Test the sump pump backup.  
Ice storms are often followed by a thaw, and that water goes into your basement. A sump pump with no backup stops when the power does. If your plan is a battery backup, test it now. See [Sump Pump Testing & Maintenance Tips](https://niceleys.com/niceleys-notes-blog/sump-pump-testing-and-maintenance-northern-kentucky).

Check your carbon monoxide alarms.  
Outages bring out generators, camp stoves and space heaters. That is when CO alarms matter. Ready.gov recommends b[attery-backed CO detectors on every level](https://www.ready.gov/power-outages)of your home. Push the test button and replace the batteries.

Clear the outdoor equipment.  
Walk around the heat pump or AC condenser. Trim limbs hanging over it if you can do it from the ground. Do not cover a heat pump with a tarp. It still needs to run, and in winter it defrosts itself. Check that the furnace's PVC pipes on the side of the house are clear of leaves and drifted snow.

Get on the outage alerts.  
Duke Energy serves most of Northern Kentucky. Text REG to 57801 to sign up for outage alerts, per   
[Duke Energy](https://news.duke-energy.com/releases/duke-energy-urges-everyone-to-be-prepared-for-emergencies). If your electric bill comes from another utility, save the outage number printed on your bill now.

If you have a portable generator, plan the cords now.  
Decide what it will run — usually the refrigerator, the freezer, and the sump pump. Buy heavy-duty, three-prong outdoor extension cords rated for the load. Do not plan to plug the generator into a wall outlet. More on that below.

## ![unplug appliances Ice Storm Power Outage Prep- Niceleys heating cooling appliance repair](https://niceleys.com/hs-fs/hubfs/unplug%20appliances%20Ice%20Storm%20Power%20Outage%20Prep-%20Niceleys%20heating%20cooling%20appliance%20repair.jpg?width=500&height=500&name=unplug%20appliances%20Ice%20Storm%20Power%20Outage%20Prep-%20Niceleys%20heating%20cooling%20appliance%20repair.jpg)

## When the power goes out

Report the outage.  
For Duke Energy in Kentucky, call 800-543-5599 or text OUT to 57801, per [Duke Energy](https://news.duke-energy.com/releases/duke-energy-urges-everyone-to-be-prepared-for-emergencies). Treat every downed line as live.

Stay away from it and report it.

Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed.  
This is the most important appliance step. A closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours, per   
[FoodSafety.gov.](https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage) Every time you open the door, you shorten that window. If the outage looks long, move the things you'll need into a cooler with ice, and leave the refrigerator shut.

Turn things off before the power comes back.  
When power returns, it may come back with a momentary surge.   
Ready.gov recommends turning off or unplugging appliances and electronics.

In practice:

- Unplug the microwave, the TV, computers, and countertop appliances.
- Set the thermostat to Off. That keeps the furnace, heat pump, or AC from all starting at once the moment power returns.
- Switch the range or oven off at the controls.
- Leave one lamp switched on, so you know when power is back.

You do not need to unplug the refrigerator or freezer. Leave them on.

Do not heat the house with the gas oven or range.

It is a carbon monoxide and fire risk, and it can damage the appliance. Ready.gov is clear: never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home. The same goes for grills and camp stoves indoors.

Run a generator outside, and nowhere else.

Not in the garage with the door open. Not in the basement. Not on a porch next to a window. Ready.gov says at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages. Plug appliances straight into the generator with heavy-duty extension cords.

Never plug a generator into a wall outlet or the dryer outlet to power the house.

That is called backfeeding. It sends power back out through your service line. The [Consumer Product Safety Commission](https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/portable-generator-hazards-047.pdf?VersionId=x3BUmW15gAWj.37AWHQXjSpke0wcunX7) warns that it can electrocute utility workers and neighbors on the same transformer. It also bypasses your home's circuit protection.

Can a generator run my furnace?

A gas furnace needs electricity for its blower, control board, and igniter, and it is usually hardwired. You can't plug it into an extension cord. Powering it safely takes a transfer switch or a generator inlet, installed by a licensed electrician. A transfer switch keeps generator power and utility power apart, [ESFI explains.](https://www.esfi.org/portable-generators/) Do it before the next storm, not during this one.

Protect the pipes and the appliances on them.

A house without heat cools fast in freezing rain. Water lines to the refrigerator ice maker, the washer and the dishwasher often run along exterior walls or through unheated laundry rooms and crawlspaces. The [American Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm/frozen-pipes.html) recommends:

- Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to let warmer room air reach the pipes.
- Let cold water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes.
- Keep the garage door shut if water lines run through the garage.

If you leave the house, the Red Cross recommends setting the heat, once restored, to no lower than 55°F.

If the outdoor heat pump is coated in ice.

A light frost that clears on its own is normal when the unit is running; that is the defrost cycle. A unit encased in freezing rain while the power is out is different. Do not chip the ice off. The fins and coil damage easily, and a hammer or ice scraper can puncture a refrigerant line. Once power is back, let it run. If the unit stays solidly encased, or the fan is frozen and will not turn, set the thermostat to Emergency Heat if you have that setting, and call.

 

## After the power comes back

Wait before turning everything back on.

Give the power a few minutes to stabilize. Then plug things in a few at a time, starting with the refrigerator and freezer if they were unplugged. Bring the heat back last. If breakers tripped, the American Red Cross recommends having an electrician inspect them before turning them back on.

Restart the heat in order.

- Check that the furnace switch is on, and that the outside PVC vent pipes on a high-efficiency furnace are not iced over.
- Set the thermostat back to Heat. Some thermostats lose their schedule or time after an outage. Check it.
- Listen to the first cycle.

If the furnace does not light, or tries and shuts off, work through Furnace Won't Ignite: Diagnostic Steps for NKY Homeowners. Do not keep resetting it.

For a heat pump or central AC, follow the thermostat or the manufacturer's restart instructions. Some systems need time after an outage before the compressor will start. Waiting is normal. A compressor that hums, clicks repeatedly or trips the breaker is not. Call.

Check the food. Use the thermometer, not your nose.

[FoodSafety.gov](https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage) says to discard refrigerated perishables — meat, poultry, fish, eggs, leftovers — after 4 hours without power. You can refreeze frozen food if it still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or below. Do not taste food to decide. When in doubt, throw it out.

Give the refrigerator time to recover.

A warm refrigerator can take several hours to get back down to temperature. Keep the doors shut while it does. If it is still warm the next day, is running but not cooling, or is making a noise it did not make before the outage, the outage was not the only problem. See [Refrigerator Repair in Northern Kentucky](https://niceleys.com/refrigerator-and-freezer-repair-in-nky) and call.

If there is a boil-water advisory, turn the ice maker off.

Throw out the ice already in the bin. When the advisory is lifted, run water through the dispenser and replace the water filter per the manufacturer. See How Often Should You Change Your Refrigerator Water Filter.

Check the water lines before running the washer or dishwasher.

If the house got cold, run a faucet first. A trickle or no water means a pipe may still be frozen. Do not run the washer, dishwasher, or ice maker into a frozen line. The Red Cross says to thaw a frozen pipe with a hair dryer, a heating pad, or warm towels — never an open flame. If a pipe cracks, shut off the main and call a plumber. Then check behind the washer and under the dishwasher for water before using them.

Watch for surge damage.

Power surges often show up as a dead control panel, a display that will not light, a microwave that runs but doesn't heat, or an appliance that trips its breaker. If something worked before the outage and does not now, write down what it does and call.

 

## When to call Niceley's

Call after an ice storm if:

- The furnace will not light, or keeps shutting down, after power is restored
- The heat pump is still encased in ice, or the fan will not turn
- The compressor hums, clicks, or trips the breaker
- The refrigerator or freezer is still warm the next day
- An appliance with a control board or touch panel is dead
- The washer, dishwasher, or ice maker leaks after a freeze

Call Niceley's at [859-342-9900.](tel:8593429900)

We are at [11 Price Avenue in Erlanger,](https://maps.app.goo.gl/RWjkZEiBphQi6r3h9) family-run since 1994, and our heating and cooling technicians are ready to help. 

You talk to a person here, not an out-of-state call center.

Our trucks carry parts for all major brands. Before any repair starts, the technician tells you what's wrong, what it takes to fix it, and the price.

After a regional outage, phones get busy. Tell us whether you have heat, whether there's water on the floor, and whether food is at risk. That helps us reach urgent calls first.

Before next winter, book a Precision[Tune-Up for the furnace or heat pump](https://niceleys.com/heating-cooling). It includes carbon monoxide testing, at no extra charge.

![ice storm- Niceleys heating cooling appliance repair](https://niceleys.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ice%20storm-%20Niceleys%20heating%20cooling%20appliance%20repair.jpg?width=500&height=500&name=ice%20storm-%20Niceleys%20heating%20cooling%20appliance%20repair.jpg)

## Ice storm and power outage questions we hear

How long will food last in the refrigerator without power?

About 4 hours with the door closed. A full freezer holds a safe temperature for about 48 hours, and a half-full freezer about 24 hours. Discard perishable refrigerated food that has been above 40°F for more than 2 hours.

Will my gas furnace work during a power outage?

No. A gas furnace needs electricity for its blower, controls and igniter. Running it on a generator requires a transfer switch or generator inlet installed by a licensed electrician.

Can I plug my generator into a wall outlet to power the house?

No. That is backfeeding. It can electrocute utility workers and neighbors, and it bypasses your home's circuit protection. Plug appliances directly into the generator, or have an electrician install a transfer switch.

Should I unplug appliances when the power goes out?

Unplug electronics, the microwave and countertop appliances, and set the thermostat to Off, so they are not hit by a surge when power returns. Leave the refrigerator and freezer plugged in.

Is it safe to use my gas oven to heat the house?

No. It is a carbon monoxide and fire risk and can damage the oven.

My heat pump is covered in ice after the storm. Should I chip it off?

No. Chipping can damage the coil and puncture a refrigerant line. Once power is back, let it run its defrost cycle. If it stays encased or the fan will not turn, switch to Emergency Heat if you have it, and call Niceley's at [859-342-9900.](tel:8593429900)

My furnace won't start after the power came back. What should I check?

Make sure the furnace switch is on, the thermostat is set to Heat, and the outside vent pipes are not iced over. Reset once. If it still will not light, call Niceley's at [859-342-9900.](tel:8593429900)

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