Keeping Heat On
Last verified: September 2026
Everything you actually need to know, in plain English - no jargon, no rabbit holes. If you'd rather skip the reading and just have someone help, my number is (330) 200-8042.
Keeping Heat On
When a winter storm knocks the power out, a lot of folks are surprised to find the heat goes with it — even with a full tank of oil or a live gas line. A gas, oil, or propane furnace still needs electricity to run its blower, igniter, and controls, so no power means no heat until you replace that electricity. This guide covers how a right-sized generator brings the heat back safely, why clean inverter power is kind to a furnace's control board, how to stay warm and protect your pipes in the meantime — and the deadly mistake of ever burning fuel indoors for warmth. Here's the plain-English version, with a printable, 29-page guide up top if you'd like the full walk-through.
Common Questions
1 If I have gas heat, why does it quit when the power goes out?
Because a gas or oil furnace still needs electricity to run — the blower fan that moves warm air, the igniter that lights the burner, and the control board that runs it all. You've got plenty of fuel, but with no power the furnace can't light or push heat into the rooms. Restore the electricity with a generator and your heat comes right back.
2 What in the furnace actually uses the electricity?
Mostly the blower fan — the motor that pushes warm air through your ducts, and the hungriest part by far. The igniter and the control board use only a little, and the thermostat barely any. So it's one bigger load and a few small ones, which is why a right-sized generator can usually handle a furnace comfortably.
3 How do I run my furnace on a generator?
It depends on how your furnace is wired. Most are hard-wired into the electrical panel and need a transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician — the safe, legal way to feed generator power into your home. Some furnaces are simply plugged into an outlet, and those can run from a heavy-duty extension cord to the generator. Never back-feed the house through a dryer outlet — that can kill line workers and start a fire.
4 Are electric space heaters safe to run off a generator?
Yes, with care. Run one at a time, keep it three feet from anything that can burn, never leave it unattended, and plug it straight into a good heavy cord. And mind your watt budget — a space heater is a big draw that can eat much of a small generator's output on its own, so don't run one while the generator is already busy with heavier loads.
5 Can I heat the house with the gas oven or a portable fuel heater?
No — please never heat with a gas stove, oven, grill, or an unvented fuel heater indoors. Anything that burns fuel gives off carbon monoxide, an invisible, odorless gas that can kill in a closed house. Warmth should come from safe electric heating and your furnace, with a flame kept outdoors or in sealed, vented equipment only — and working CO alarms on every level.
6 Can you help me set up backup heat?
Gladly. I'll help you figure out whether your furnace is plug-in or hard-wired, size a generator to cover the blower's start-up surge, and set up safe fallback heat for the gaps. Because a hard-wired hookup and any furnace wiring or gas work belong to a licensed electrician or HVAC technician, I coordinate that part for you and handle the rest — one friendly point of contact. Give me a call and we'll make a plan.
Want a Hand With Yours?
Picking a generator, setting it up, and learning to run it safely is one of my most-requested visits. I bring the patience and the know-how - you keep your seat. We'll match a unit to your home, set it up right, walk through starting it and staying safe from carbon monoxide, and get your internet, TV, and devices happily back on. $99 flat, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free. (330) 200-8042.
Would you rather I just do this for you?
No shame in it — plenty of folks would rather hand it off, and that's what I'm here for. I'll come to your home, set it up right, and make sure it's working before I leave. Flat $99 per visit — no jargon, no upsell, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free.
Not a hardware job? I can often fix it remotely for $49 — a secure screen-share, up to 2 hours, that you watch the whole time and can end whenever (included free for $39/mo Support Plan members, and it counts toward the $99 if it turns out I need to come out).