Over the last few weeks, millions of Americans across the South have been left without power due to the damage from hurricanes and tropical storms. At the same time, in certain areas of the West, electrical power sources have been disrupted by wildfires. And as summer fades into fall and the weather gets colder, concerns about ongoing power outages are becoming more serious. Read on to learn more about the advantages of central gas heating for buildings in areas that are prone to power outages.
The Growing Problem of Power Outages Around the County
Large-scale natural disasters can cause power outages that leave homes and businesses out of power for weeks or even months on end, as power companies struggle to repair widespread damage and meet the needs of hundreds or even thousands of customers. This is a major inconvenience for homeowners and business owners — especially if your building relies on electricity for heating. Your family may end up shivering through dinner, your employees will be less motivated to work in a frigid office environment, or your customers will want to spend as little time as possible in your chilly store.
Losing heat due to a power outage can become an even more serious problem in the depths of winter, when things really start to get cold. Power lines may be damaged by an ice storm, or heavy snow could cause a tree to fall on a power line. When the weather is wet, windy, and cold, you could be waiting hours, days, or even weeks for the power to be restored.
Central Gas Heating As a Solution to Problems from Power Outages
One of the benefits of choosing central gas heating for your home or business is that the heat will stay on — even when the electricity goes out. That way, everyone in the building will remain warm and comfortable as you wait for the lights to turn back on, no matter how long it takes.
It is important to note that your furnace might not work perfectly during a power outage. Gas furnaces that rely on electric thermostats — including Wi-Fi thermostats — cannot send the signal to the furnace to provide heat when the power goes out. But the problem can be resolved relatively easily by installing a small electric generator to provide power to the thermostat in case of an emergency. That way, when the power goes out, the temperature of your building won’t be on your list of things to worry about.
If you’re looking for a gas furnace for your home or business, National Air Warehouse offers a broad selection of options. Contact us today to learn more about our central gas heating solutions!