While oil is the primary fuel source for generating heat, your oil furnace does use electricity, albeit less than you might think.
In this article, we'll explore exactly how an oil furnace uses electricity, how much it consumes.
Key Takeaways:
- Oil furnaces do use electricity: While oil is the primary fuel, electricity powers essential components like the ignition, fuel pump, and blower fan.
- Electricity usage is relatively low: Oil furnaces consume considerably less electricity than electric furnaces or heat pumps.
- Typical usage: An oil furnace uses roughly 150-300 watts per hour during operation.
- Factors affecting usage: Furnace size, efficiency, thermostat settings, climate, and home insulation all influence electricity consumption.
- Power outages: An oil furnace will NOT function during a power outage.
Table of Contents
How Does an Oil Furnace Use Electricity?
While oil fuels the heat generation in your furnace, several key components rely on electricity to function. These electrical components are essential for the safe and efficient operation of your heating system. Here's a breakdown:
Ignition System
Modern oil furnaces use electronic ignition systems to ignite the oil. This is a significant change from older models that used a constantly burning pilot light, which wasted fuel. The electronic ignition creates a spark or uses a hot surface igniter to ignite the oil, requiring a small amount of electricity each time the furnace cycles on.
Fuel Pump
An electric motor powers the fuel pump, which draws oil from the storage tank and delivers it to the burner. This pump ensures a consistent supply of oil for combustion.
Blower Fan
The blower fan, powered by an electric motor, is responsible for circulating the warm air generated by the furnace throughout your home's ductwork. This is what distributes the heat to each room.
Control Board
The control board, sometimes called the circuit board, is the "brain" of the furnace. It's an electronic component that regulates all the furnace's functions, including the ignition, fuel pump, and blower motor.
It receives signals from the thermostat and controls the timing and operation of each component.
Understanding how these components work together helps illustrate why electricity is essential, even in an oil-fueled heating system.
Although the amount of electricity used is relatively small compared to an all-electric furnace, it's critical for the system's overall operation.
How Much Electricity Does an Oil Furnace Use?
So, we've established that oil furnaces use electricity. But how much are we talking about? While the exact amount varies depending on the size and efficiency of your furnace, as well as your climate and usage habits, we can offer some general estimates.
A typical oil furnace uses between 150 and 300 watts of electricity per hour during operation. This translates to roughly 1.5 to 3 kilowatt-hours (kWh) for every 10 hours of runtime.
How that Compares to Electric Furnaces & Heat Pumps
To put this in perspective, consider these comparisons:
- Electric Furnaces: Electric furnaces consume significantly more electricity, often requiring several thousand watts per hour.
- Heat Pumps: Heat pumps, while highly efficient, also rely heavily on electricity, with usage varying significantly depending on the outside temperature.
Factors Affecting Electricity Consumption
Several factors can influence your oil furnace’s electricity consumption:
- Furnace Size and Efficiency: Larger, less efficient furnaces generally consume more electricity.
- Thermostat Settings: The lower you set your thermostat, the longer your furnace will run, leading to increased electricity usage.
- Climate: Colder climates require more frequent furnace operation, leading to higher electricity consumption.
- Home Insulation: A well-insulated home retains heat better, requiring less furnace runtime and reducing overall electricity usage.
While the electricity cost associated with running an oil furnace is typically lower than that of electric heating systems, it’s still an important factor to consider in your overall energy budget.
Understanding your furnace’s electricity usage can help you identify potential areas for savings.