Most water heaters work without a power connection. Can a heating unit do this?
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Question by NIGHTHAWK620: Most water heaters work without a power connection. Can a heating unit do this?
When Sandy hit the east coast, a lot of people lost heat for homes but had hot water. I would like to know if a home heating unit be set up to operate like a hot water heater?
Gas water heaters use a (mlli-volt) something from the pliot on the lead? Can the principle be applied to a steam heating unit? If I have not asked the question correctly will try to re-submit later.
Feel free to answer in the comment section below
3 Responses to Most water heaters work without a power connection. Can a heating unit do this?
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YES AND NO, There are some green energy systems that would work. They are kinda expensive to set up initially but would continue to work during a power outage. They use solar and wind energy to charge battery banks which would power your furnace. Only gas operated waters heaters work without an electrical connection. If you had a gas fired furnace the solar and wind turbine systems would power you fan blower and give your home heat without being hooked to the electric company’s power grid.
JOHN
January 12, 2013 at 8:40 am
Most home heating is done by forced air furnaces. They require electricity to light, and run the fans etc. The same goes for in home gas fireplaces. They usually require power to light. You can pay an electrician to install a generator bypass onto either one. Then when the power is out you connect your generator and turn it on when you gas furnace or fireplace is running.
Another option is to get a stand alone kerosene or propane heater that is designed for indoor use. The kerosene ones seem to be the best for emergency uses from what I can tell.
Daniel Smith
January 12, 2013 at 9:32 am
In Sandy, remember that people lost gas service, too. If that happened, then I wouldn’t expect heat.
That said, a few kinds of OLD heaters would work fine. In our previous house, built in 1941, there was a floor heater. No thermostat, you just turned the gas on. It had a little pilot flame. Also, our fireplace today is gas. It still works when the power goes out, assuming we still have gas.
roderick_young
January 12, 2013 at 9:38 am