![\"Gas](\"http:\/\/www.oasiscooling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/1-gas-furnace.jpg\")
When the weather outside is cold and windy, there\u2019s nothing as enjoyable as a nice warm furnace inside your home. After all, it\u2019s much more reliable than a baseboard heater or other form of electric heat, right? If you lose power in a storm, those electric types of heat will falter and leave you with a cold house. Your natural gas furnace would never do that, right?<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, that\u2019s not entirely true. If you\u2019ve ever asked yourself if a gas furnace works during a power outage, the answer is that it is just as susceptible to power outages as electric heaters. While it might seem counterintuitive and confusing, your gas furnace still depends on electricity to power itself and heat your home. If the power is out, the odds are good your furnace will be out as well.<\/p>\n
There are plenty of reasons why your furnace works the way it does and how you can interpret what\u2019s going on in your current situation. There are also many options you can try if it seems like the power has returned, but your furnace hasn\u2019t. If you\u2019re experiencing a gas furnace with no power and wondering what to do when the power\u2019s out, we\u2019ve compiled this quick and easy guide just for you.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"Modern](\"http:\/\/www.oasiscooling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/2-modern.jpg\")
<\/h2>\nDoes a gas furnace use electricity? And, will a gas furnace work in a power outage? To answer these questions, it\u2019s crucial to understand the difference between modern and traditional gas furnaces. In old-fashioned gas furnaces, there was something called a pilot light, or a pilot flame\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a standing flame that burned at all times.<\/p>\n
This little and constantly lit flame was responsible for igniting the natural gas and causing your furnace to work, allowing heat to flow through your home. If this flame were ever to go out, the furnace would turn off. In other words, there was no electricity involved. This explanation is an oversimplification, of course, but it serves our purpose for now.<\/p>\n
Having one tiny flame controlling the entire furnace\u00a0led to problems, such as the pilot light going out and turning the furnace off at inconvenient times. To fix these issues, innovators figured out how to do away with this older system, and modern gas furnaces rely on new methods of operation. Our current system is typically\u00a0called electric ignition<\/a>. As the name suggests, this system uses electricity to kickstart a flame and get the natural gas flowing. Therefore, if there\u2019s no electricity, modern furnaces won\u2019t start, as opposed to the traditional furnace that could likely continue without issue.<\/p>\n Does gas heat work when the power goes out? We\u2019ve established that the answer to this question is most likely no. But what exactly is going on inside your furnace that causes this? How does a power outage affect gas heat? Let\u2019s get some quick answers.<\/p>\n There are several reasons for this, a few of which we\u2019ve touched on. But the truth is that this is a question with multiple answers, so let\u2019s look at all the reasons separately.<\/p>\n Even though gas heat doesn\u2019t work when the power is out, this won\u2019t usually be something you have to worry about. Most power outages are occasional blips that only last a few seconds or minutes. In cases like these, you\u2019ll likely barely even notice your heat ever switched off.<\/p>\n However, there are rare events when the power is out for days or even weeks, perhaps as the result of an intense storm or a flood. In cases like these, as your home begins to grow cold and the furnace refuses to turn back on, what should you do?<\/p>\n So your power was out. Maybe it was for a few hours or a few days. Either way, it\u2019s back on now, and your furnace should be working just fine. Except maybe it isn\u2019t. What if your heat doesn\u2019t automatically come back on? How do you restart a gas furnace after a power outage?<\/p>\n Before we even begin to troubleshoot, it\u2019s worth noting this eventuality is unlikely. In most cases, your furnace should turn back on automatically as the power comes back online. Things should continue without a hitch. Think of it the same way you would think of a light bulb. If the power went out when a light was on, that light should automatically turn back on as soon the power gets restored, provided no one turned the switch off.<\/p>\n If this doesn\u2019t happen, however, there\u2019s no need to panic. Here are\u00a0a few things you can try<\/a>.<\/p>\n Are you struggling to get your furnace working after a power outage? Don\u2019t tough it out alone. If you\u2019re in the Northern Virginia area, contact Oasis<\/a> today, and we\u2019ll help you get your furnace up and running again<\/a>. We\u2019re a family-owned and -operated business with multiple generations of experience in the industry, so you can be sure you\u2019ll receive the high-quality help and know-how to get your furnace running again in no time.<\/p>\n Fill out our contact form<\/a>\u00a0today or give us a call now<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n *Last Updated 06\/11\/2021<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n “Great timely service. Knowledgable and neat techs. Good value.”<\/em><\/p>\n “Would absolutely use their services again. Arrived on schedule.”<\/em><\/p>\n -Springfield, VA<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n![\"Power](\"http:\/\/www.oasiscooling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/3-what-a-power-compressed.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWill Gas Heat Work in a Power Outage?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
<\/strong>In most modern furnaces, it isn\u2019t as simple as being unable to function without electricity. With some furnaces, it’s a failsafe mechanism, not a malfunction. Because it\u2019s not safe to try to light many furnaces without electricity, the furnace will sense when there\u2019s no power, and the gas valve will close, cutting off the flow of gas and preventing the furnace from functioning. This safety feature is something you should appreciate, not tamper with.<\/li>\n
<\/strong>Because the gas valve has shut, the gas cannot flow and ignite, meaning the heat will stop working. There is an exception to this rule, however. If you have a generator, you will likely\u00a0be able to use your gas furnace<\/a>\u00a0during a power outage. Without a generator, however, this is unlikely.<\/li>\n
<\/strong>Will a gas water heater work without electricity? The answer is no. If the heating systems in your house are connected, a gas furnace with no power will affect your water as well. The furnace will be without power, meaning your hot water heater won\u2019t be working either. You\u2019ll be limited to strictly cold water.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nWhy Doesn\u2019t a Gas Furnace Work During a Power Outage?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
![\"After](\"http:\/\/www.oasiscooling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/4-what-to-do.jpg\")
<\/h2>\nHow to Handle a Gas Furnace After a Power Outage<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
<\/strong>If you\u2019ve ever had experience with furnaces, fixtures, electronics or heating equipment, you may think you have the know-how to tinker with your furnace and get it working again. We strongly discourage this.Remember, when there is no power, the gas valve shuts off for safety reasons, cutting off the flow of gas to prevent the furnace from working. Even if you were to get the gas flowing, you would have no way to control it. The entire process would be extremely hazardous and has the potential to result in disaster.No matter how much experience or technical know-how you may have, do not tamper with your furnace in an attempt to bypass these safety features.<\/li>\n
<\/strong>The electricity is out, but that doesn\u2019t mean there might not be odd spikes and surges of power if the power lines have become damaged somewhere. To prevent these power spikes from damaging your furnace \u2014 or any other sensitive electronics, for that matter \u2014 unplug the item in question. This way, even if the power does fluctuate, it will have no way to reach your furnace and damage it.<\/li>\n
<\/strong>If you have a generator, this is one of the only courses of action you can take during a power outage that has the potential to safely get your generator running again. You can hook it directly up to your furnace, powering it with electricity and getting it running.This process is not as simple as it may seem from the outside, however, and you should not attempt it blindly. Read the instructions carefully. If you don’t have an instruction manual, look up a tutorial or instructions online. Even then, complete the process with extreme caution.If mechanics and technology are not your strong suit, perhaps it might be best not to attempt this process at all. If these are the types of jobs you\u2019re much more comfortable passing off to someone else, there\u2019s no harm in doing so. Ask a friend or family member with strengths and a background in this area. Or, even better, you can always\u2026<\/li>\n
<\/strong>Furnaces are often highly tricky and temperamental pieces of equipment that are usually best to leave in the capable hands of trained professionals. Rather than tinkering with your furnace and trying to connect a generator on your own, you are likely far better off calling a professional and letting them connect it for you.If you attempt to do this yourself, but are unsure of the correct way to do it, it’s possible something could go wrong and potentially damage the furnace or the generator. It\u2019s always better to get something done right the first time around, to save you from having to do it twice. If that means calling a professional, there\u2019s nothing wrong with that. They\u2019ll be able to do it quickly and correctly, or, if it\u2019s impossible, they\u2019ll be able to tell you this as well.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nWhat to Do After a Power Outage<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Furnace Checks After Power Outage:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
<\/strong>We mentioned earlier that it might be a smart idea to cut off the flow of power to your furnace during an outage. If you did this, remember to check that this connection has been restored, allowing the now-working power to reach your furnace.<\/li>\n
<\/strong>In many cases, the control panel may be flashing with an error message, alerting you to the need for a replacement or repair. If this is the case, your furnace will not work, and you\u2019ll need to call a repair professional.<\/li>\n
<\/strong>Was the power outage the result of a\u00a0severe lightning strike? If so, it\u2019s possible a fuse has blown. Again, it\u2019s best to call in professionals to fix this type of problem.<\/li>\n
<\/strong>When you attempted to restart your furnace, did you hit the reset buttons multiple times in quick succession? That has the potential to engage a child-safety lock. Essentially, the furnace designers built in a mechanism that assumes if someone is hitting the button many times, it may be a child, and the furnace will shut down as a safety precaution. Wait a while, then hit the reset button once firmly.<\/li>\n
<\/strong>Did your thermostat switch off during the power outage as well? Check to make sure it is back online, and turned up high enough to engage the furnace and start warming your home again. Set it\u00a0at least five degrees hotter<\/a>\u00a0than the current room temperature and see if that makes a difference.<\/li>\n
<\/strong>Occasionally, power outages can result in a tripped breaker. The good news is, this is a straightforward fix. Visit your breaker panel\u00a0\u2014\u00a0usually in the garage, laundry room or other out-of-the-way space\u00a0\u2014\u00a0locate the correct breaker, and flip it back on.<\/li>\n
<\/strong>If your furnace is relatively new, it may be connected to a GFI outlet. These are protected outlets, designed to trip if they get overloaded with power. This outlet may have become tripped during the power outage. If this is the case, all you need to do is reset it by pressing the reset button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n![\"Contact](\"http:\/\/www.oasiscooling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/5-contact-oasis.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nContact Oasis Heating, A\/C & Refrigeration Today<\/strong><\/h2>\n