A furnace is a building or piece of equipment where heat can be produced for many purposes, such as heating homes, smelting ores, or creating steam. Are you unsure of what size generator to use to power the furnace so that your family can be warm and secure during the winter? Can a 2000-watt generator run a furnace?
Generally speaking, a gas furnace can be operated by a 2,000-watt generator employing a modest blower fan, a draft inducer motor, and a control board. A 15000–25000 watt generator is needed to power an electric furnace.
Can a generator with 2000 watts power a furnace? If you’re interested in learning more about the answers to the questions above, we suggest reading our article below.
Can a Generator operate a Furnace?
As long as there is sufficient output power and fuel supply, a generator should be able to run a furnace (or battery). You might want to use a sizable standby generator if your furnace (electric or heat pump) uses a lot of electricity.
A small battery-operated generator may power your gas or oil furnace with an inverter as a backup power source. As you are surely aware, not all generators can be installed indoors, but since solar or power stations produce no pollutants, they may be placed right next to your furnace to keep it running when the electricity is out.
As you attempt to connect your furnace to the generator, be sure to adhere to all safety precautions.
How Many Watts Does My Furnace Need to Run on a Generator?
Most domestic equipment can be powered by homeowners utilizing 3000 to 6500 watts. You can typically anticipate that 3000-5000 watts would suffice if your house has a smaller furnace and city water. A 5000–6500 watt generator will probably be required if you have a larger furnace and/or well pump.
Can a 2000-watt generator run a furnace?
Yes, a 2000-watt generator will be able to power your furnace if you want to use it exclusively for running your oil or gas furnace. Just check to make sure the generator is working and that the surge (or startup) watts are within the allowed range.
You can even keep your 2000-watt solar generator, often known as a power station, indoors if you wish. You don’t need actual solar panels to utilize battery-powered generators, and they don’t emit any emissions either.
How Many Watts Are Required to Operate an Electric Furnace in a Home ?
| Appliance | Typical Wattage | Estimated Average Cost |
| 1500 watt Portable SpaceHeater/ Oil Filled Radiator | 1500 | 15¢/hr |
| Electric fireplace (heating mode) | 1500 | 15¢/hr |
| Forced Air Systems The 15 kW central electric furnace | 15,350 | $1.5323/hr |
How to Pick the Right Size Generator for Running a Furnace
You must add the beginning and operating wattages of all the electrical and electronic components in your furnace in order to determine the total required wattage (W) for your furnace.
The correct generator size is 1.2 x W when you determine that number, and W must also consider the wattages of any additional appliances you might use simultaneously.
Electric Furnace Energy Requirements
Each of these components of an electric furnace requires power:
- Heated components
- Wind-up fan
- Transformer
- Control panel
- Electronics
The blower fan requires the most watts, followed by the heating components. The electronics, transformer, and control board all require regular electricity.
The total capacity of the heating components is equal to the watts needed for them. For instance, a 5 kW heating element needs 5 kW of power, while a 20 kW electric furnace requires a generator with a power output of at least 20,000 watts. Add the power requirements for the fan once you have that figure.
An electric furnace’s heating elements don’t have a definite starting wattage. It’s sufficient to cover the running watts. The blower fan does, however, have a beginning wattage that is different from the running watts. Blower fans, whether powered by gas or electricity, are comparable to those found in HVAC systems.
Gas Furnace Electricity Requirements
A furnace that runs on natural gas or propane does not require a generator to power the burners and heat exchangers, in contrast to an electric furnace. However, the following components of gas furnaces do require electricity:
- Wind-up fan
- Motor that induces drafts
- Control panel
- Lgniter
- Sensors
- Lights
The draft inducer motor and control board in a gas furnace use the most electricity, followed by the blower fan. There is no ongoing power consumption because the igniter is only activated when the furnace starts. The sensors and lights, meanwhile, consume very little electricity.
The most important calculation for determining the blower fan’s wattage requirement for a gas furnace is the most important one. This actual energy demand is based on horsepower, which for larger gas furnaces may range from 0.5 to 1 or more. Blows with variable speeds consume much less energy than standard fan motors.
Requirements for an Oil Furnace
Oil heaters provide a more enjoyable heating experience, despite taking longer to heat an area. The room’s size also impacts the cost-effectiveness of the space.
And sure, electricity is required for oil furnaces! They are dependent on electricity even though they don’t require nearly as much as an electric furnace. This applies to natural gas furnaces, which burn gas as their primary fuel.
- Ignition
- Oil Pump
- Blower Motor
- Circulator Pump
- Controls
Types of Running Generators in the Furnace
The following generators can power a furnace:
Fuel-powered Generators
It is the smallest, least expensive, and least powerful generator type available. Compared to its competitors, it also produces less electricity. Choose the smallest generator you can, but make sure it can generate enough power to keep the furnace operating.
Generators for Natural Gas
The furnace’s best option is this natural gas generator. While producing more wattage than versions powered by gasoline or diesel, this kind of generator doesn’t need to be refuelled frequently. However, the price is significantly greater.
A natural gas generator is ideal for meeting all needs because its power output spans from 5000 to 30,000 watts.
Diesel Generators
Another common use for this diesel generator is to power furnaces. This kind of generator is widely accessible, can generate the same amount of electricity as natural gas generators, and is considerably less expensive.
Link the Furnace and the Generator
If you want to be able to turn on your furnace from your main power source, make sure you have a transfer switch installed before you connect it to your generator. It can either be automatic or manual and will be wired for you by an expert.
- When the main power source goes down, your furnace will be powered by your generator if you opt for (or can afford) the automated version.
- A manual transfer switch, a highly common option, requires you flip it before using generator power.
Additionally, you can use extension cords that are directly linked to your generator.
FAQ
What Size Generator Is Necessary for My Furnace to Run?
A furnace usually needs 1,600 watts of starting power and 600 watts of running power. Therefore, the ideal generator size for a furnace is one that can produce more power than these starting and running wattages.
A 2000-Watt Generator Power What Is Inside a Home?
Almost every device in the house, including a small air conditioner, a washing machine, a dryer, a refrigerator, a microwave, hotplates, blow dryers, various power tools, water pumps, and more, can be powered by a 2000-watt generator. A 2000-watt generator can only operate a certain amount of power at once.
Can I Use a Portable Generator to Power a Furnace?
It enables homes to securely operate a number of electrical circuits, such as a heater or well pump, with the aid of a portable generator. The transfer switch is set up next to the main electrical panel, after which it is connected to the circuits and appliances you anticipate needing to operate in the event of a blackout.
Do Generators Harm Furnaces?
There’s really no need for you to be concerned about operating the furnace and harming the controls. If you have electronics that are extremely delicate, I would advise using the conventional generator for the entire house or a portion of it.
2000 Watts—Is It a Lot?
Living on 2,000 watts is more difficult than it sounds because that is just about a sixth of the average American rate of energy usage.
Ending Remarks
A generator that can run a furnace effectively is the one that is the “appropriate size” for a furnace. So, while choosing the appropriate size generator, wattage is an important factor to take into account. In conclusion, a 2000 operating watt generator won’t be able to run an electric furnace or heat pump.
For your convenience, each fact in this article has been highlighted. A 2000 watt generator can power an oil or gas furnace. We sincerely hope that the information above will be useful to you.