How To Operate a Generator Safely

While generators are useful, they are also potentially dangerous if proper precautions aren’t taken. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind to use a generator safely.

• Read the instructions from the owner’s manual carefully when operating a portable generator. Familiarize yourself with how to operate the generator before you need it so you’re completely prepared when the time comes.
• Use a fuel stabilizer when storing gas for an extended period of time. Unstabilized gas can become a fire hazard.
• Avoid refilling your generator when it’s hot or near warm objects to ensure you’re operating it safely.
• Connect your generator to a transfer switch to reduce the risk of getting electrocuted or damaging your appliances. When in doubt, call an electrician to apply the transfer switch for you.
• Keep your generator at least five feet away from surrounding surfaces. This can help reduce the risk of overheating the items and causing them to catch fire.
• Never operate a gas generator in an enclosed area. This can lead to a buildup of carbon monoxide, which could be potentially lethal. Make sure you’re always operating your generator at least 20 feet from your home.

“If you’re running a portable generator, you’re going to have to take it out of storage, put it in place somewhere safe outside, away from intake vents and not on a screened-in porch,” says Tydrich. “Take that carbon monoxide seriously. […]Have a carbon monoxide detector in the home so if all else fails, at least you’ve got another backup. People don’t realize that it’s an undetectable gas until it’s too late.”