While gas central heating may seem separate from a home's electricity supply, a power cut can leave residents without either.
That takeaway kicked off a U.K. Reddit discussion about whether buying a generator was worthwhile on a post by a homeowner with gas central heating.
Here's what to know
The original poster in Reddit's r/PreppersUK community said that rather than relying on a generator alone, they were considering backup power that also used an uninterruptible power supply, or UPS.
"Wiring it via a UPS and using the generator to keep the battery charged might be a better alternative," they wrote.
For one household, the equipment of choice was a dual-fuel generator with a large propane bottle. An electrician then charged £250 (~$337 USD) to install an inlet by the patio, armored cable, and a manual changeover switch beside the home's consumer unit.
The household's plan for an outage was to start with battery backup, then run the generator for two one-hour periods each day to operate the heating system and recharge the batteries.
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"I hope I'll never need it, but it's peace of mind," they said.
More background
Another commenter put the price of a 3.5-kilowatt generator at under £500 (~$673), saying it would be enough to heat one room and power a few additional loads. Larger batteries were a lower priority for that commenter than extra fuel and spare parts, provided there was room to store them.
Ongoing upkeep became a concern for one commenter who had bought a gasoline generator. They realized that even testing the machine meant adding oil and fuel and taking on maintenance from that point forward.
A home battery system, changeover gateway, grounding rod, and solar panels became their savings goal after they returned the generator.
For many people, the cost of that setup would be prohibitive, the commenter acknowledged. They described their choice as the "luxury route."
What can be done?
Long stretches of disuse were another concern for the same commenter. They advised against keeping a generator unused in a shed for months.
Other commenters were bullish on Honda and Yamaha generator options for their durability. Another commenter added a power bank or balcony solar as potential alternatives for the original poster.
Where can I learn more?
Keeping a gas boiler running during a power cut takes some planning.
• A U.K. homeowner learned that gas boilers need electricity, too, when planning for blackouts.
• A prepper spent $80 on an EZ Generator Switch to power a gas furnace.
• A U.K. parent planned an outage rehearsal, but preppers advised leaving the gas on.
• A U.K. homeowner asked whether a home battery could heat the house using cheaper overnight electricity.
• An Idaho homeowner considering generator-powered heating learned to use the gas furnace during outages.
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