How to Safely Use a Portable Generator

You’re smart. You know better than to give an electrical outlet a “wet willie” or to stick your hand inside a moving lawnmower. In reality, a portable generator requires the same common sense as using a lawnmower or the electricity in your home. This article could easily recite the same two-pages of lawyer-written safety tips in your user’s manual. Yes, you should read it. Yes, you should understand it. But, we take the Barney Fife approach to lecturing to new generator customers. There are two rules when using a generator:

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Portable generator
• Common Sense
• Carbon Monoxide Detector

1. The first rule is “to obey all rules."
2. Never Use a Portable Generator Indoors The second rule is to “never use a generator indoors.”
   
   Why? Just like your car, generators emit carbon monoxide gas -- the same stuff that kills people who leave their cars running in the garage.
   
   Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas. It’s also a very deadly gas because most victims don’t realize that they are being poisoned.
   
   Unfortunately, some people think their bodily fluids don’t stink either. So, they place their generators in their garages or underneath porches to keep them out of the rain.
   
   Even with the garage door open, there still isn’t enough ventilation to keep the fumes outside. They simply invite themselves inside and slowly kill entire families.
   
   Rumor, no. Scare tactic, unfortunately not.
   
   Between October 1 and December 31, 2006, approximately 32 people died after severe weather knocked out power. The storms didn’t kill anyone. The people died from carbon monoxide poisoning from generators.
   
   The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission is now requiring manufacturers of portable generators to warn consumers of carbon monoxide (CO) hazards through a new “Danger” label. The label states that, “Using a generator indoors CAN KILL YOU IN MINUTES.”
3. Congratulations. If you read this much, you’re more than aware of the dangers. The ultimate question is how to avoid the problem.
4. The most obvious solution is to run the generator as far away from the house as possible. No kidding. And point the exhaust away from open doors and windows. Really?
5. In addition, a carbon monoxide detector should be mandatory. If you own a portable generator, you should buy one now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. You never know when the power will go out. Don’t put yourself or your family at risk.
   
   Which carbon monoxide detector should you buy? Simple. It’s all about power.
   
   Since your power will be going on and off, get one with a plug and a battery backup. If you shut off the generator, the battery backup will automatically keep the device going.
   
   It may sound too easy, but a little common sense and a simple carbon monoxide detector can be the difference between life and death.