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A gas furnace burns gas, but it still needs electricity for its blower, igniter and control board, so a winter outage can leave you cold even with a full gas line. The best power station for a furnace gives you clean, quiet power indoors for several hours of heat, and a few can be wired into your home for a hands-off setup. We compared specs, expert testing and owner reviews to pick eight options, including two inverter generators for long outages.
Part of our Home Comfort, Backup Power & Tool Guides.
Quick picks
Price tiers: $ under $1,000, $$ $1,000-$2,000, $$$ $2,000-$3,500, $$$$ $3,500+. Prices change often, so check the current price.
| Product | Best for | Price range | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery HomePower 3000 | Best overall | $$ | See price |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 | Whole-home backup with 240V | $$$$ | See price |
| Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus | Most output and solar input | $$$ | See price |
| ALLPOWERS R4000 | Most capacity for the money | $$ | See price |
| BLUETTI Apex 300 | Fastest switchover and deep expansion | $$ | See price |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max | Budget furnace backup | $ | See price |
| Honda EU2200i | Quiet gas inverter generator | $$ | See price |
| Champion 2500-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter with CO Shield | Propane-powered long outages | $ | See price |
1. Jackery HomePower 3000: Best Overall
Jackery’s HomePower 3000 (the US name for the Explorer 3000 v2) packs 3,072Wh of LiFePO4 storage and 3,600W of continuous output into a unit that weighs about 60 pounds, which is remarkably light for this class. That is plenty of headroom for a furnace blower’s startup surge, and the roughly 20 ms UPS switchover means many furnaces will ride through a blackout without a hiccup. Jackery also sells a 30A manual transfer switch for up to six circuits, so an electrician can wire in the furnace and a few essentials.
Key specs
- Capacity: 3,072Wh LiFePO4
- Output: 3,600W continuous, 7,200W surge
- AC recharge: about 2.2 hours; up to 1,000W solar
- Weight: about 59.5 lb
- UPS switchover: about 20 ms
- Expansion: none
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners like that one person can actually move a 3,600W unit and that it is simple to run. Common gripes are the lack of expansion and an app that feels less polished than rivals.
2. EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3: Best for Whole-Home Backup
If you want the furnace plus the fridge, well pump or other 240V loads, the DELTA Pro 3 is built for it. It stores 4,096Wh, puts out 4,000W at 120V or 240V, and can expand with extra batteries or link with other units. OutdoorGearLab measured about 3,790Wh usable in testing. EcoFlow’s inlet box, transfer switch and Smart Home Panel 2 give you several ways to connect it to the house, and it recharges from the wall, solar, a gas generator or even a Level 2 EV charger.
Key specs
- Capacity: 4,096Wh LiFePO4, expandable
- Output: 4,000W continuous, 8,000W surge, 120/240V
- Recharge: 0-80% in about 50 minutes on AC; up to 2,600W solar
- Weight: about 113.5 lb
- UPS switchover: under 10 ms
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Reviewers and owners praise its ability to run several big appliances at once and its quiet overnight operation. The weight, the price and a somewhat complex feature set are the usual complaints.
3. Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus: Best for High Output and Solar
The F3800 Plus offers 3,840Wh and up to 6,000W of AC output through its 240V L14-30 port, with up to 2,400W available from standard 120V outlets. Its 3,200W solar input is the highest here, which matters if an outage drags on for days and you have panels. Anker’s Home Power Panel, a transfer switch or an inlet box can tie it to your furnace circuit, and it expands with BP3800 batteries. The trade-off is size: at about 137 pounds it is the heaviest pick.
Key specs
- Capacity: 3,840Wh LFP, expandable with BP3800 batteries
- Output: up to 6,000W (120/240V)
- Recharge: 1,800W AC in under 3 hours; up to 3,200W solar
- Weight: 136.7 lb
- UPS switchover: 20 ms
- Warranty: 5 years
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners like that it holds its charge between uses, has a straightforward app and stays fairly quiet at light loads. Most complaints focus on the weight, since the wheels do not help on stairs.
4. ALLPOWERS R4000: Best Capacity for the Money
ALLPOWERS’ R4000 delivers 3,456Wh of LiFePO4 capacity and a 3,600W continuous rating in its spec table (6,000W peak), often for far less per watt-hour than the big-name rivals. It recharges in about two hours from the wall, accepts up to 2,000W of solar and rolls on wheels with a trolley handle. ALLPOWERS lists UPS capability but does not publish a switchover time, so test it with your furnace before you rely on it.
Key specs
- Capacity: 3,456Wh LiFePO4 (3,500+ cycles to 80%)
- Output: 3,600W continuous, 6,000W peak
- Recharge: about 2 hours on 2,000W AC; up to 2,000W solar
- Weight: 99.2 lb
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Testers like the large capacity and app control. The weight and partly uncovered ports come up as drawbacks, and some owners wanted clearer guidance on linking accessories.
5. BLUETTI Apex 300: Best Switchover and Expansion
BLUETTI’s Apex 300 is a modular 2,764.8Wh LiFePO4 unit with 3,840W of continuous output. Its standout feature for furnace owners is a 0 ms UPS mode when configured properly, which helps sensitive furnace control boards stay on when the grid drops. You can add up to six B300K batteries per unit, and its NEMA 14-50 output is meant for a transfer switch or home integration kit installed by an electrician.
Key specs
- Capacity: 2,764.8Wh LiFePO4, expandable to about 19.35kWh
- Output: 3,840W continuous
- Recharge: 80% in about 45 minutes in Turbo AC mode; 2 x 1,200W solar
- Weight: 83.78 lb
- UPS switchover: 0 ms when configured properly
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Reviewers praise the modular design and strong output. The missing USB ports, add-on costs and a confusing accessory lineup are the common complaints.
6. EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max: Best Budget Pick
For a smaller furnace and shorter outages, the DELTA 3 Max is an affordable way in. It holds 2,048Wh and delivers 2,400W continuous with a 4,800W surge, enough for most blower motors. It recharges from the wall very quickly, idles efficiently and switches over in under 10 ms. Capacity is fixed, though, so expect a few hours of continuous blower runtime rather than a full day.
Key specs
- Capacity: 2,048Wh LiFePO4
- Output: 2,400W continuous, 4,800W surge
- Recharge: 0-80% in about 68 minutes on AC; up to 500W solar
- Weight: about 45 lb
- UPS switchover: under 10 ms
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners see it as a dependable, affordable basic backup. Complaints center on the fixed capacity, slow solar charging and EcoFlow’s confusing DELTA 3 model names.
7. Honda EU2200i: Best Quiet Gas Generator
A battery runs out; a generator keeps going as long as you have fuel. Honda’s EU2200i makes 1,800W rated and 2,200W maximum, runs about 8 hours at quarter load on under a gallon of gas, and is quiet for a generator. It has a CO-MINDER shutoff and can pair with a second unit. A larger 1/2 HP blower’s startup surge can approach its maximum, so check your furnace nameplate first. It must run outdoors only, far from the house.
Key specs
- Output: 1,800W rated, 2,200W max
- Fuel: gasoline, 0.95 gal tank
- Runtime: about 8.1 hours at 1/4 load
- Weight: 47.4 lb dry
- Noise: 48-57 dB(A)
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Honda’s inverter generators have a long reputation for quiet running and reliability. The higher price compared with other 2,000W-class inverters is the usual sticking point.
8. Champion 2500-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter with CO Shield: Best for Long Outages on Propane
Champion’s 2500-watt dual fuel inverter runs on gasoline or propane, and propane is easier to store for winter than gas. On a 20-pound tank it is rated for up to 25 hours at quarter load, and its CO Shield system shuts it down if carbon monoxide builds up. It is the cheapest way to keep a furnace blower running for days, as long as it sits outside and an electrician has given you a safe connection.
Key specs
- Output (gasoline): 2,500W starting, 1,850W running
- Output (propane): 2,500W starting, 1,665W running
- Runtime: up to 11.5 hours on gas or 25 hours on 20 lb propane at 1/4 load
- Weight: 43.2 lb
- Noise: 53 dB(A) at 23 ft
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Buyers generally choose it for the dual-fuel flexibility and value. Expect typical small-engine upkeep, like oil changes and periodic test runs.
How to choose the best power station for a furnace
Start with your furnace’s nameplate, then size up. For a quick estimate for your whole home, try our power station and generator sizing calculator.
- Blower watts and startup surge: Utility sizing guides put a furnace fan at roughly 400-700 running watts depending on horsepower, with a startup surge two to three times higher. Multiply nameplate amps by 120 for a rough wattage, and pick a unit whose surge rating clears the startup load comfortably.
- Pure sine wave output: Furnace control boards and modern ECM blower motors are electronic loads. Every power station on this list, and both inverter generators, produce clean inverter power; avoid cheap modified sine wave inverters.
- A safe connection: Most furnaces are hardwired. A licensed electrician can install a transfer switch, a power inlet box or a dedicated furnace plug. Never backfeed house wiring through a dryer outlet or homemade cord.
- Runtime math: Hours ≈ (battery Wh x 0.85) ÷ blower watts. A 3,072Wh unit gives about 5.8 hours at a constant 450W, and the blower cycles, so real runtime is usually longer.
- UPS switchover: A fast switchover (20 ms or less) lets the furnace keep running without a reset when the grid fails.
- Cold-weather charging: LiFePO4 batteries should not be charged below freezing (32°F). Keep the power station indoors, where it produces no fumes.
- Battery vs gas: Batteries are quiet and safe indoors but finite. Generators run for days but must stay outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house, with exhaust pointed away.
FAQ
Can a portable power station run a gas furnace?
Usually, yes. A typical furnace blower draws roughly 400-800W while running and two to three times that for a moment at startup, so a pure sine wave power station rated around 2,000W or more continuous handles most furnaces. The furnace still needs a safe connection, such as a transfer switch or an inlet installed by an electrician.
How long will a power station run a furnace?
Divide the battery’s watt-hours by the blower’s running watts and multiply by about 0.85 for inverter losses. A 2,048Wh unit gives about 3.9 hours of nonstop blower time at 450W; because furnaces cycle on and off, you will usually get more heat time than that.
Can I run a generator in my garage to power the furnace?
No. The CPSC says to run generators only outdoors, at least 20 feet from the home, never in a garage, basement or shed, even with the door open. Install carbon monoxide alarms on every level and follow the manufacturer’s safety limits.
Do I need a transfer switch for a power station?
If your furnace is hardwired, a transfer switch or inlet is the safe way to power it, and it should be installed by a licensed electrician. Some furnaces can be converted to a plug-in cord by an electrician so you can plug them straight into a power station.
Related guides
- Best Power Stations for a Space Heater
- Best Home Battery Backup Systems
- Best Home Standby Generators
- Winter Storm Power Outage Prep
- Home Comfort, Backup Power & Tool Guides
Sources
EWEB generator sizing guide, DTE Energy appliance usage guide, CPSC winter generator safety, OutdoorGearLab DELTA Pro 3 review, T3 Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 review, AppleInsider Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus review, and manufacturer spec pages from Jackery, EcoFlow, Anker, ALLPOWERS, BLUETTI, Honda and Champion. Owner feedback is summarized in our own words from public reviews. Photos courtesy of Unsplash.