When you lose your power during a storm, it almost always means you will also lose your heat because heating systems cannot run without electricity—no matter whether your heating system is fueled by oil, propane, natural gas or electricity. (Only some very old heating systems can operate without power.)
When your home is without power for any extended period of time, it’s a good idea to unplug appliances and turn off circuit breakers. This step will prevent electrical surges when your power ramps up again.
Once your power is back, clear out any standing water in your basement. If by chance your system needs service to get it started again. For safety reasons, it cannot be worked on if water is pooling around it.
If flood water happened to reached your heating system, have a professional inspect it before you restarting. Valves and controls are vulnerable to water damage—even if such damage cannot be seen. Corrosion begins inside the valves where damage may not be apparent, even if the outside appears clean and dry.
If your heating system area has remained dry, verify that the system’s power switch and circuit breakers are on before restarting your system. Remember not to press your unit’s reset button more than once. Pushing the reset button too many times can flood your system with oil, resulting in a costly repair.
If a big storm is looming, there’s a strong possibility that you may lose power. Here are some tips to help you be ready: