For first-class furnace repair and maintenance services in Richmond Hill, Georgia, contact Georgia Air Cooling & Heating. Call 912-513-3361 today!
Few appliances benefit your family more during a winter power outage than a generator. Generators restore your property’s power and allow you to heat your home until the blackout passes. However, many people don’t understand how to use generators properly and wonder, “Will a generator damage my furnace?”
To help you understand generators and their uses, Georgia Air Cooling & Heating put together everything you need to know about these helpful appliances and their effect on residential furnaces.
Georgia Air Cooling & Heating is Richmond Hill, Georgia’s premier choice for top-notch HVAC repair, replacement, and maintenance services. If you need professional furnace repair in Richmond Hill, we have you covered.
What Is a Generator?
Think of a generator as a handy device that powers various fixtures, appliances, and accessories during power outages. It converts mechanical energy into electrical energy to supply your property with power until the city restores the electricity. They make the perfect choice during emergencies and allow you to continue your daily routine despite the blackout.
Although generators come in numerous models and designs, the most prevalent include:
- Portable Generators
- Standby Generators
- Inverter Generators
Portable Generators
Portable generators are relatively small appliances that usually run off propane, solar energy, or gas. Their convenient size makes them easy to store and transport, making them ideal for camping, fishing trips, and other outdoor activities.
However, portable generators sacrifice strength for size and portability. They aren’t as powerful as other generator types and can’t power large fixtures as well as other models. However, they provide ample power for small electronic devices and cost less than other varieties.
Standby Generators
Standby generators, also called whole-house generators, refer to massive appliances that connect to your home’s electrical panel. These semi-permanent devices power most, if not all, of your home’s fixtures and electronics during a power outage. They automatically activate during a blackout and provide efficient, uninterrupted power for several weeks or longer (depending on the model).
However, standby generators are incredibly expensive and require extensive maintenance, making them less ideal for many Richmond Hill homeowners. Most models also demand more space than a central air conditioning unit and don’t make the most attractive exterior features. That said, standby generators rank as one of the most powerful models and make waiting out blackouts a breeze.
Inverter Generators
Inverter generators are advanced models that come in portable and standby variations. They provide all the benefits of a traditional standby or portable generator but generate energy differently.
Unlike conventional generators that create unsteady electricity in a single phase, inverter varieties produce power in three phases. They generate a high-frequency AC (alternating current) before converting it to a DC (direct current), which transforms back into a stable AC output.
Their unique generation method protects sensitive electronics from power surges, making them perfect for laptops, phones, tablets, and other chargeable devices. However, inverter generators often feature high price tags and can cost hundreds, even thousands more than traditional models.
Will a Generator Harm a Residential Furnace?
Now that you understand the common generator varieties, you may wonder, “Will a generator damage my furnace?”
Most heavy-duty generators will power a furnace without causing harm. However, the generator must generate enough energy to support your furnace’s wattage. Most gas furnaces have wattages between 30,000 and 60,000 BTUs (British thermal units), making them more demanding than most other residential fixtures and appliances.
Your generator must have a capacity at least equal to the furnace’s fan wattage requirements. For example, if your furnace has a ½ horsepower fan with a 2,350 start wattage and an 875 run wattage, your generator must produce 3,225 watts to support operations.
If you need to power multiple electric residential fixtures, add their running-wattage demands together and combine the total with their highest starting watt requirements. Your generator’s wattage should be equal to or higher than the grand total.
Things To Consider When Shopping for a Generator
Again, your generator must provide ample power to support your furnace during extended blackouts. When shopping for a furnace, always examine the following:
BTUs
Generators come in dozens of sizes and range in BTUs. Typically, larger generators feature more BTUs, but that isn’t always the case. Always purchase a generator with equal or more BTUs as your furnace.
Climate
Furnaces in incredibly cold regions usually need more power to maintain a comfortable indoor climate than ones in warmer areas. For example, if you live in a cold, mountainous region with harsh winters, you’ll need a more powerful generator to support your furnace than someone in a tropical climate with an identical heating system. Using an underpowered generator in freezing temperatures will drastically reduce your furnace’s efficiency and make it more susceptible to wear.
To put it simply, the colder the region, the harder your furnace has to work, requiring a more powerful generator.
Wattage
Wattage is arguably the most important factor to examine when shopping for a generator. Again, your generator’s wattage should be equal to or more than your furnace’s fan start and run wattage requirements. Always assess your furnace’s BTUs and wattage to determine the best generator for your home to keep your furnace running at peak efficiency.
Fuel
Most generators run off natural gas, oil, or propane, with natural gas models being the most common. Some standby gas-powered generators connect to your property mainline and don’t require you to refill the tank. The mainline automatically replenishes the tank when necessary, allowing the generator to run continuously.
How To Connect a Generator to a Furnace
Each generator type connects to a furnace differently. If you have a standby generator, you won’t have to connect it to the furnace since installers hardwired it into your home. It will automatically activate once it senses a blackout and supply ample power to your furnace and other essential residential fixtures.
However, connecting a portable generator to a residential furnace becomes a bit more complicated. Many require a transfer switch to power a furnace efficiently.
Transfer switches take energy from multiple circuits within your home’s power supply and transfer it to the generator. Most sit next to the main electrical panel and don’t feature lengthy installation times. Although handy homeowners can install a transfer switch themselves, it’s best to contact a professional to handle the process and ensure optimal installation.
Once you install a transfer switch, follow the steps below to connect your portable generator to your furnace:
- Step One: Shut off the unit’s main circuit breaker and remove its grounding rod.
- Step Two: Clean the furnace to prepare it for connection.
- Step Three: Connect the furnace’s input terminal to your generator’s output terminal.
- Step Four: Turn the generator’s main circuit breaker back on.
- Step Five: Start the furnace to test the connection.
It’s important to note that these steps only apply to gas furnaces. Electric, oil, and propane furnaces may require different steps, so always research your furnace type and its generator connection method.
Additional Tips for Safe Connection and Operation
Now that you understand the common generator varieties and how to connect them to your heating system, you won’t have to ask a technician, “Will a generator damage my furnace?” However, incorrectly connecting the generator to the furnace and improper operation can harm your furnace and even result in health issues and injuries. Use the following tips to ensure optimal connection and operation.
Ensure the Generator Is Correctly Grounded
Before you use your generator, always ensure you have correctly grounded it. A grounded generator will transfer excess electricity to the ground through a grounding wire. Running your generator without properly grounding it will increase the chances of fires and injuries, making it incredibly unsafe.
If you don’t know how to ground your generator or don’t understand what to look for, contact a professional electrician. They will ground your generator and ensure it operates safely.
Place the Generator Ten Feet Away From Your Home
Most generators produce carbon monoxide while operating. As a dangerous gas, carbon monoxide can cause severe health issues and even death if inhaled in excess. Running your generator inside will cause carbon monoxide to fill your home, potentially harming you and your family.
Always place your generator at least ten feet away from your home to ensure safe operations. Use an extension cord to connect your generator to your furnace and allow the carbon monoxide to dissipate outside your residence.
Contact Georgia Air Cooling & Heating for All Your Furnace Needs in Richmond Hill, Georgia
Next time you wonder, “Will a generator damage my furnace?” contact Georgia Air Cooling & Heating. Our skilled technicians have extensive experience fixing, maintaining, and replacing all the leading residential furnaces and will have yours up and running again in no time. Whether you need help locating the blower motor on a furnace or routine heater maintenance, we are here for you.
Give us a call at 912-513-3756 and receive top-notch heating and cooling services in Richmond Hill, Georgia, today!