What Candles Are Safest for Power Outages?

Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanic activity—no matter where you live, there is a risk of some kind of natural disaster, and you need to be prepared. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, when a major event occurs, the average household may be without power for 20 hours. These are just averages, and your outage may be longer depending on natural disasters and local infrastructure conditions. You don’t want to be that family hunkered down in a dark house waiting for the power to come back on. There are many options for emergency lighting, but there’s only one that doesn’t require electricity or the foresight to charge ahead of time—candles!

Why are candles a good choice?

Candles are a great option during a power outage because they are cheap, easy to store, and require no electricity. If the power goes out, all you need are matches and your house is no longer in the dark. They will help heat your home if it's cold outside, which can play a big role during winter power outages. Candles also provide strong protection from electromagnetic pulse events, which is especially important when you need emergency lighting during a lightning storm.

Worried about your emergency candle catching fire? Use UCO Candle Lanterns to hold candles. While you still shouldn't leave candles unattended, placing them in a lantern will help prevent accidental fires. The UCO Gear Candle Lantern also comes with a handle so it can be taken from room to room, and at 6.4 ounces, you won't strain your arms while carrying it. If you need to use your light source outdoors in inclement weather, candle lights also provide candle flame protection from inclement weather.

Which emergency candle should you buy?

So, what type of candle should you buy in an emergency? Let's start with what you should avoid. Scented candles can be great when you burn them one at a time. If you need to light multiple candles during a power outage, all those different smells can quickly become annoying. Save scented candles for other uses. You should also avoid candles made from paraffin wax, as it produces more smoke and can be toxic.

For power outages during natural disasters, we recommend our beeswax candles. They have a battery life of 12-15 hours, which is more than enough for most people to spend the better part of 20 hours without power. Beeswax has a higher melting temperature, which reduces dripping because the last thing you want to do after a power outage is clean up melted wax. They also burn cleaner than paraffin candles and are designed to fit our candle lanterns perfectly.

When should you not use candles?

While candles are a good choice for most power outages, there are times when you should avoid using them. Do not use candles if there is an earthquake or if you suspect a gas main burst near you. Instead, keep a UCO Gear rechargeable lantern (like the Rhody+) fully charged and be prepared for situations where an emergency candle isn't an option.

Hopefully these tips will help you prepare for lighting your home during a power outage. It is too late to develop a disaster plan after a disaster occurs. So do yourself and your family a favor and slowly start stocking up on the items you’ll need if the worst happens.