![]() Look for a generator with a wattage that exceeds your maximum requirements to ensure that it will run optimally. If too many items are connected, you may overload the generator and have too little power to maintain your heating. To ensure that your generator is properly matched to the furnace, you will need to know the exact wattage of your particular furnace as well as wattages for any other equipment or appliances the generator will be running alongside the furnace. This is about protection rather than practicality and convenience.Ī generator will be able to generate adequate wattage to start and run a gas furnace for as long as you need it. ![]() Companies like Tesla produce these energy storage systems which are integrated into your home and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.Ī portable generator is the better option for reliable backup power for your household’s furnace. They are designed to fully replace your power supply, becoming the primary energy source for your home during an outage. If you are serious about battery backup for your furnace, you may need to invest in a battery backup system, that stores energy from your electricity supply or solar panels and keeps it on hand for emergencies or as an alternate power source. The battery output would have to achieve well in excess of 1000 starting watts and perhaps slightly less for running, which is unlikely to be possible with a standard Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).Ī deep cycle marine battery with an inverter may be able to kick-start a smaller furnace but again the power would not last long, making the battery a rather insecure backup for a mains gas furnace. Using a battery with a gas furnace is not convenient as you need to be able to generate enough power to start and run the furnace. What can be achieved with power banks and battery power sources all comes down to the specifications of your boiler and a likely technical workaround that will require an electrician’s input. Batteries, after all, do not need fuel and are pretty much hassle-free.īut with a furnace, a powerbank or battery solution may get a little bit tricky, especially if the power to the furnace is via direct line and you have no plug. You may have a battery backup device for your sump pump, phone line, or other household appliances. The two main options for supplying backup electrical power to run your furnace during an outage are: What are the options for power backup for a furnace? ![]() Furnaces with glow plugs that use heat to start the gas burners will consume more electricity. The power requirements of furnaces may vary depending on their starting mechanism. The starting wattage can be as much as 2500 watts. How much electricity does a gas furnace use?Ī gas furnace with forced air typically uses between 600 and 800 watts of electricity. Blower motors: The blower consists of electrically powered fans that move the furnace’s heat into your ducts and ensure that exhaust gases leave via the flue.īecause these electrical components are integral to the functioning of the furnace, without electricity, the whole unit simply will not work, and attempts to start the furnace will be prevented by its safety mechanisms.Įlectricity is not only needed to start the gas furnace but also to keep it running meaning an alternative power source would need to supply power for as long as the furnace is used.Circuit boards: There are a number of electronic circuits that regulate the performance of the furnace and provide thermostatic control.The electrical ignition can take place by using a high voltage electrical spark to ignite a gas-fueled pilot that then ignites the boiler, or by powering a high resistance circuit to generate heat that then ignites your gas burners. Electronic ignition: Modern gas furnaces are ignited using an electronic ignition system rather than the old-fashioned pilot light.In a power outage, being able to use your pressurized natural gas supply would make all the difference in the world, but you need to know that despite being gas-fuelled, your furnace is reliant on electricity to power key components that enable it to operate safely. Can my gas furnace operate without using electricity?
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