Generators save lives in long outages, and they also cause deaths every year. These rules prevent nearly all of them.
Carbon monoxide
- Never run a generator indoors, in a garage (even with the door open), in a basement or crawl space, or on a covered porch.
- Place it at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointing away from doors, windows and vents.
- Put battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms on every floor. CO has no smell; if you feel dizzy or sick, get outside and call 911.
- Newer portables have CO sensors that shut them off automatically. Look for that when you buy.
Backfeeding
Never plug a generator into a wall outlet or the dryer outlet with a "suicide cord". Power flows back into the utility lines and can kill line workers, and it can start fires in your home. Use a transfer switch or a breaker interlock kit installed by a licensed electrician, or run heavy-duty extension cords directly to appliances.
Fuel
- Turn the generator off and let it cool before refueling.
- Store gasoline in approved containers, away from the house, with fuel stabilizer if it will sit more than a month.
- Run the generator for 20 minutes every month or two so it starts when you need it.
Electrical
- Use outdoor-rated, heavy-gauge extension cords and keep connections dry.
- Don't overload the generator: stay within its running watts. The calculator keeps about 20% headroom for you.