When you’re forced to your own devices to heat your home, using a generator is a common alternative in lieu of your local electrical grid. But while gas-powered portable generators are a viable alternative source of energy when an electric grid is offline, they must be used properly, as a host of issues can arise—many of which are dangerous and fatal.
If you’re battling the cold amid blackouts (or just need to use a generator in less dire circumstances), here’s a few safety tips to keep in mind.Please, Never Use a Portable Generator Indoors
What is a generator?
A portable generator is basically a mobile, gas-powered engine that can provide an auxiliary option for powering various appliances while an electric grid is inactive. The rigs vary in size and bulk, and offer different options concerning wattage and overall power.
How to use a generator for basic needs
Using a generator is simpler in theory than in practice, because there’s a number of precautions one must take prior to turning one on.
First, let’s start with fuel and oil. As BobVilla.com explains, make sure you put the appropriate amount of gas in the tank, in accordance with your user manual’s guidelines. There should be a gauge to help you add the right amount. You should fill it up on level ground, however, so you can accurately read the gauge. When it comes to oil, there’s usually a dipstick somewhere on the rig that you can pull up, much like you do when checking the oil in a car. If the oil falls within the upper and lower limits specified on the stick after you wipe it off, dip it back in, and pull it out again, you’ve got the right amount of oil.
Make sure your generator is placed at least 15 feet away from any open windows in your neighborhood, and as a general best practice, keep it 15 feet away from your home and your neighbors’ homes. The Department of Energy recommends using it only on dry surfaces and “under an open, canopy-like structure and make sure your hands are dry before touching the generator. Do not use the generator in rainy or wet conditions.”
Whatever you do—and this is crucially important—make sure you place it outside. Using a portable generator indoors is incredibly dangerous, as carbon monoxide seeps from the apparatus. The toxic gas is odorless and tasteless and causes symptoms such as “headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion,” per the CDC. Never plug a generator into the wall outlet of your home, as this can overwhelm your house’s circuitry and cause a fire.
If you start to feel faint or ill while using a portable generator, turn the device off and get fresh air—far away from the generator—immediate