Umair Gaines
Starting a furnace without electricity can be challenging, as most modern furnaces have components that require electricity to function. These include the blower fan, thermostat controls, relays, circuit boards, and electronic ignition. While a gas furnace may seem more reliable than electric heating units during a blackout, it still relies on electricity to power certain features. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how to operate your gas furnace when the electricity goes out, as well as explore alternative methods to keep your home warm and safe during a power outage.
How to start a furnace without electricity
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Before a power outage | Familiarize yourself with your furnace's manual, locate the control knob and pilot light, and keep matches or a lighter on hand for manual ignition. |
| During a power outage | Turn the furnace off to avoid issues when the power comes back on. |
| When power is restored | Turn the furnace back on. Check the control panel for error messages or lights alerting you to any issues. Check for blown fuses. |
| After a power outage | If the furnace doesn't work, check the gas valve and reset the safety lock. If this doesn't work, turn off the power supply and call a technician. |
| Keeping warm during a power outage | Insulate one central room, using towels or blankets to cover door gaps and hang over windows. Use hot water bottles or wear warm clothing. |
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What You'll Learn
Insulate your home to retain heat
Insulating your home is a great way to retain heat and save money on heating bills. Here are some ways to insulate your home effectively:
Loft and Attic Insulation
Loft insulation is essential as heat rises, and a significant amount of heat can escape through the roof in an uninsulated home. Insulating your loft can be a DIY project, but it's best to work with someone for safety. Use foam to cover pipes, insulate the loft hatch with double-sided tape, and seal any gaps with insulation tape. For attic spaces, you can use foam or a simple reflective foil material stapled to the attic roof rafters to reflect heat back into the living space.
Wall Insulation
Wall insulation is an effective way to make the most of your heating source. Depending on your budget, you can choose from various options, including cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation, or secondary glazing. Secondary glazing involves adding a pane of glass, plastic, or film in parallel to the window, which is a cheaper and temporary alternative to double glazing. It's essential to consult a professional if you're unsure about the type of insulation suitable for your walls.
Floor Insulation
Insulating floors above unconditioned garages or basements can help prevent heat loss and minimize the entry of contaminants from the garage. Seal all sources of air leakage and install an air barrier to prevent cold air from affecting the insulation. Floor insulation or carpet underlay with thermal properties can also help retain heat.
Seal Air Leaks
Use weatherproofing strips and caulking to seal any air leaks in doors and windows. Window insulation kits are affordable and easy to install, and they can significantly help contain heat in your home.
Other Tips
Other simple measures can make a difference in retaining heat, such as using thermal curtains and blinds, draft excluders, and smart thermostats. Additionally, keep curtains open during the day to let sunlight in and closed at night to contain warmth. These small changes can help make your home more energy-efficient and reduce heating costs.
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Use hot water bottles or warm clothing
If your furnace is not working due to a power outage, you can consider alternative heating methods to keep yourself and your family warm. One way to do this is by using hot water bottles. To make a hot water bottle, pour hot (but not boiling) water into glass bottles or hot water packs and wrap them in a cloth or towel. These can be especially useful if you are about to sleep and want to remain warm and comfortable.
Another way to stay warm is by dressing in warm clothing. You can keep thermal clothing in your emergency supply kit, along with other essentials like blankets, non-perishable food, bottled water, and extra batteries. If you use propane or kerosene heaters, make sure to keep a safe amount of fuel on hand.
Additionally, you can focus on insulating one central room where your family can gather. Choose a room with minimal windows, and cover door gaps and windows with towels, blankets, or carpets to prevent drafts and keep the heat inside.
While these methods can help you stay warm, it is important to note that your furnace may still have issues even after the power comes back on. You may need to reset the safety lock, check the gas valve, or call a professional to inspect the system and resolve any underlying issues.
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Turn off the furnace during an outage
If you experience a power outage, it is recommended to turn off your furnace to avoid any issues when the power comes back on. A power surge can damage some of the furnace's components. Keep a light on in your home so you know when the power returns, and turn your furnace back on once it does.
Before an outage occurs, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with your furnace's manual and locate the control knob and pilot light. Ensure you have matches or a lighter for manual ignition. Checking your system's components, such as the circuit breaker, and ensuring the gas line is functioning, are also crucial preparatory steps.
During an outage, you can use alternative methods to keep your home warm. Insulate one central room where your family can gather, choosing a room with minimal windows, and cover door gaps with towels or blankets to prevent drafts. You can also hang blankets or heavy sheets over windows to block out the cold air.
If your furnace doesn't start after a power outage, check if the gas valve has turned off or if you need to reset the safety lock. If these are not the cause of the problem, there may be a deeper underlying issue. Do not attempt a DIY repair, as this can cause more damage. Instead, turn off the furnace's power supply and contact an HVAC professional.
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Check the gas valve and safety lock
If your furnace doesn't start up after a power outage, the gas valve may have shut off, or you may need to reset the safety lock. However, other issues could be causing your furnace not to start after a power outage. It is recommended to never conduct a DIY furnace repair as this can cause more damage to your gas furnace or home. Instead, turn off the furnace's power supply and contact an HVAC professional.
The gas valve is an essential component within your furnace and opens and closes based on your thermostat settings to provide a flow of gas to the pilot light and the burners. Your furnace requires two separate gas valves to operate, and they are located next to each other. The first, known as the primary valve, is also called the safety valve, and it is responsible for sending gas to the pilot light. The secondary valve is called the main valve and sends gas to the burner heads. Modern furnace gas valves are actuated by electromagnets to open and close, and to operate these electromagnets, a thermocouple is mounted within.
The gas valve manufacturer will usually have it pre-set to around 3.5″ water columns (wc). However, installers sometimes forget to set the valve correctly. This can cause issues with your furnace related to your gas valve. If 24 volts are coming from the board to the gas valve terminals and you don’t hear the little clicking noise the internal valve makes, you could have a bad gas valve. To double-check, take the leads off the gas valve and check there. If you have 24 volts, then something downstream of that 24 volts is not working.
To check the gas valve, make sure you have a socket set and a multimeter on hand. First, turn off the furnace at the wall control. Then, locate the bolts of the service panel on the side of the furnace and unscrew them with your socket wrench. Find the gas valve, which is typically located near the bottom of the unit next to the pilot light. Look on either the top or side of the gas valve for the two wires that are clipped to the solenoid. Pull the wires off the gas valve terminals. Each wire is connected to a push-on clip that should easily slide off the terminal. Write down where the wires connect to the valve to make it easy to reattach them later.
Turn the test control on your multimeter to mV or millivolt. Hold each tester wand on your multimeter to one of the terminals on the gas valve. A normal reading will show a range of 145-195 millivolts. If you see an mV reading outside of this range, it indicates that the gas valve is likely defective and needs to be replaced.
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Use a portable generator
Using a portable generator to start a furnace without electricity is possible, but it requires careful consideration and preparation. Here are the steps you need to take:
First, determine the wattage requirements of your furnace. A furnace with a 1/4 horsepower fan typically requires about 600 watts to run and an additional 1,000 watts to start. If you have a larger furnace with a 1/2 horsepower fan, it will need about 875 watts to run and an additional 2,350 watts to start. Calculate the total wattage requirements by adding the running watts and the highest starting watts of all the appliances you plan to run simultaneously.
Next, choose a generator with a capacity equal to or greater than the total wattage you calculated. For powering a furnace, most homes will require a generator with a capacity of at least 5,000 watts. However, if you plan to run multiple appliances or have a larger furnace, you may need a higher-capacity generator, such as a 7,000-watt model.
When selecting a generator, consider the type of fuel it uses. Gasoline is widely available but has a short shelf life, while propane burns cleaner but provides less power. Dual-fuel options offer flexibility, and natural gas provides unlimited runtime but requires professional installation. Choose a generator that provides clean power to reduce the risk of damaging sensitive electronics in your furnace.
Now, let's discuss safety. It is crucial to consult an electrician who understands generators and can ensure proper wiring and safety protection. Grounding is essential, and you should never start a generator without turning off your main breaker to avoid something getting out of phase and blowing up. Additionally, always place the generator outdoors, at least 10 to 20 feet away from your home, with the exhaust pointing away from windows and doors. Use heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cords to connect the generator to your furnace, following the manufacturer's instructions for specific safety guidelines.
Finally, consider installing a transfer switch or interlock device next to your home's main electrical panel. This will allow you to easily switch between utility power and generator power without the risk of overlapping power sources, ensuring safety for your household and utility workers.
By following these steps and staying safety-conscious, you can effectively use a portable generator to start your furnace during a power outage.
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Frequently asked questions
Check if the gas valve is off or if you need to reset the safety lock. If neither of these is the issue, there may be a deeper problem, so turn off the furnace's power supply and contact an HVAC professional.
You can use hot water bottles or wear warm clothing to keep warm during a power outage. Alternatively, you can focus on insulating one central room where your family can gather. Choose a room with minimal windows, and cover door gaps and windows with towels, blankets, or heavy sheets to prevent drafts.
Familiarize yourself with your furnace's manual and locate the control knob and pilot light. Ensure you have matches or a lighter on hand for manual ignition. Checking your system's components, such as the circuit breaker, and ensuring the gas line is functioning are crucial preparatory steps.
