ᐅ Multi-day Power Outage as Currently Experienced in Berlin: Risks for Heating Systems and Water Pipes?
Created on: 6 Jan 2026 10:01
P
Pianist
Good day!
As you probably know from the news, there is currently an extended power outage in the southern part of Berlin, which started on Saturday and is expected to last until Thursday. This makes me wonder: what impact does a multi-day power outage have on building systems when outside temperatures are below freezing?
Let’s assume that a house in an unprepared state would no longer be habitable by usual standards. The fresh water system can be drained, and the local water supplier can be asked to shut off the supply line in the street. This should take care of that aspect. But what about the circulation water in the heating system? It’s unlikely that every radiator or underfloor heating loop can be completely drained reliably.
How long does it take for a well-insulated house, constructed with materials that have good thermal mass, to freeze enough that there is a risk of heating pipes bursting? The consequences would be severe, potentially requiring the removal of the screed…
So, let’s assume minus ten degrees Celsius (14°F) and a week without power. Are there any experience reports from previous events?
Matthias
As you probably know from the news, there is currently an extended power outage in the southern part of Berlin, which started on Saturday and is expected to last until Thursday. This makes me wonder: what impact does a multi-day power outage have on building systems when outside temperatures are below freezing?
Let’s assume that a house in an unprepared state would no longer be habitable by usual standards. The fresh water system can be drained, and the local water supplier can be asked to shut off the supply line in the street. This should take care of that aspect. But what about the circulation water in the heating system? It’s unlikely that every radiator or underfloor heating loop can be completely drained reliably.
How long does it take for a well-insulated house, constructed with materials that have good thermal mass, to freeze enough that there is a risk of heating pipes bursting? The consequences would be severe, potentially requiring the removal of the screed…
So, let’s assume minus ten degrees Celsius (14°F) and a week without power. Are there any experience reports from previous events?
Matthias
wiltshire schrieb:
Those who can manage without heating during this time by combining warmer clothing with a slowly cooling living area don’t need any special heat precautions. People were not panicked, and everyone responded appropriately.
We had four children plus grandchildren staying with us; it was unusual but manageable.
The biggest problem was where to store the contents of the refrigerator and freezer when our own were nearly full.
We also kept in contact with those who stayed behind and already considered where four more could stay with us if it took as long as the BER.
M
MachsSelbst19 Jan 2026 16:04wiltshire schrieb:
No special conclusions need to be drawn from the power outage in Berlin; overall, the situation was handled quite well. The conclusion next time, if luck is not on our side, will likely be that people will sit in darkness for several weeks.
This needs to be understood: it was simply luck that Berlin was able to get replacement cables and specialist technicians so quickly. This was also due to the timing—many of these workers are at home during the Christmas holidays and New Year, not traveling around the world. If it had happened two weeks later, they might have had to be flown in from their construction sites or, in the worst case, wait until they were available again...
The very fact that, in the end, it was Austrians who repaired the cables does not reflect well on our own ability to quickly fix such damage...