Plugging In Your Car in a Fairbanks Winter
By Alex, your Rewak Studios host since 2011 · Updated
Short answer
In a Fairbanks winter, cars get plugged in overnight so the engine block heater keeps the engine warm enough to start. Alaska DEC asks drivers to plug in at 20°F or colder during air quality alerts. Our free on-site parking at Rewak Studios has engine-block plug-ins, so bring or rent a car with a block heater and its cord.
Why Fairbanks cars have cords hanging out of the grille
If you visit Fairbanks in winter, you will notice an electrical cord poking out of the front of almost every car. That cord feeds an engine block heater (often with a battery warmer and oil pan heater too). Plugged into an outlet, it keeps the engine warm enough to start easily on a deep-cold morning.
Plugging in also matters for the air. Fairbanks winters bring temperature inversions that trap pollution, and the Fairbanks area is designated a nonattainment area for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The Alaska Department of Transportation says plug-ins make cold starts easier and cut engine idling time, which lowers vehicle emissions.
When to plug in
Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation lists "plug in at 20 degrees or colder" as a voluntary action in its Fairbanks air quality alerts. That is a good rule of thumb for the whole winter: if the overnight low is heading to 20°F or below, plug in.
- Plug in when you park for the night, not just before you leave in the morning.
- Unplug and stow the cord before you drive off. Driving away still plugged in is a classic first-winter mistake.
- Skip long idling to warm up. A plugged-in engine starts and warms faster, and idling adds to the inversion smog.
Plugging in at Rewak Studios
Every unit at Rewak Studios comes with free off-street parking right on site at 3483 Rewak Drive, and our parking has engine-block plug-ins for the real winter. That is one reason contractor crews, travel nurses and students staying for a season pick us. A truck that starts on a January morning matters.
Not sure where to plug in when you arrive? Your check-in instructions cover parking, and you can call or text us at (888) 299-8815. Our 24/7 virtual assistant answers common questions any time, and the team replies quickly from 8 AM to 8 PM Alaska time.
Driving a rental car?
- Ask the rental company whether your car has a block heater and where the plug is. Not every rental car does.
- Check that the cord reaches from the grille to an outlet before you need it on a cold night.
- Fairbanks International Airport is about 3 miles from us, roughly a 6-minute drive, so you are plugged in soon after you land.
Public plug-ins around Fairbanks
Alaska DOT&PF has added public plug-ins at several Fairbanks-area lots, including the Birch Hill Recreation Area, the Chena Lake Recreation Area and UAF's U-Park, so you can plug in for a ski, a walk or a day on campus.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to plug in my car in Fairbanks?
In winter, yes. Alaska DEC asks drivers to plug in at 20°F or colder during Fairbanks air quality alerts, and a plugged-in engine block heater makes deep-cold starts far easier.
Does Rewak Studios have engine-block plug-ins?
Yes. Every unit includes free off-street parking on site, and our parking has engine-block plug-ins for winter.
Do rental cars in Fairbanks have block heaters?
Many do, but not all. Ask the rental company when you pick up the car and find the plug before your first cold night.
At what temperature should I plug in my car?
Plug in when the temperature is 20°F or colder. That is the threshold Alaska DEC uses in its Fairbanks air quality alerts.