Operating Your Power Generator  Safely

Always Operate Your Portable Generator Outdoors

Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide that can be lethal in minutes. ALWAYS run your generator outside of your home, and keep it far from any windows, doors, vents, or other openings that can allow exhaust to enter your home.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. Seek fresh air immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. CO detectors can act as an additional safeguard to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.

Be Mindful of Fire Hazards

Gasoline is extremely flammable and explosive. Always keep your generator as far as possible from any open flames or objects that can generate heat. Fuel vapors can travel long distances to flammable sources.

In addition, avoid overfilling the fuel tank: Fuel overflow can cause a hot engine to catch fire or explode. Only refuel your generator after shutting it down and giving it time to cool and make sure you store your gasoline in an approved container in a cool, dry location away from flames, heat or other ignition sources.

Finally, make sure you choose the right extension cords for use with your portable generator. When used improperly, the cord can overheat and catch fire.

Prevent Electrical Shock Hazards

Never operate your generator in the rain or on a wet surface. Electricity and water don’t mix!
 
Also, never plug a generator directly into your home’s wiring via an electrical outlet. This is called backfeeding, and not only can it cause electric shocks and damage to your home’s wiring, it can send electricity back through the utility lines and injure or kill line workers who are trying to restore electric power.

Instead, you should have a transfer switch installed by a qualified electrician. This is the only safe way to connect your portable generator to your home’s electrical system.