Safety First
For safe operations always read and follow the manufacturer’s operating manual and instructions before running a generator and pay close attention to safety considerations.
Personal Safety
- Engines emit carbon monoxide (CO) a colorless and odorless poisonous gas that can kill you.
- Do not run a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, basements, sheds, or similar areas, even when using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of CO can quickly build up in these spaces and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.
- Follow the manufacturer’s operating and maintenance instructions that come with your generator before operating. Locate the unit outside and far from doors, windows, vents and other openings that could allow CO to come indoors or be drawn into potentially occupied spaces. Direct the engine exhaust away from potentially occupied spaces.
- Install and maintain battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery back-up in your home, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. CO alarms should be certified to the requirements of the latest safety standards (UL 2034, IAS 6-96, or CSA 6.19.01). Test batteries monthly. Smoke alarms cannot detect CO.
- Get to fresh air right away if you start to feel dizzy or weak.
- Gasoline and its vapors are extremely flammable. Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool down at least 2 minutes before removing fuel cap. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could ignite. Never add gasoline to a hot or running portable generator. If gasoline spills, wait until it evaporates before starting engine. Always use fresh gas in your generator. If you do not plan to use your generator in 30 days, stabilize the gas with fuel stabilizer.
- Never store fuel for your generator in the home. Gasoline, propane, kerosene, and other flammable liquids should be stored outside of living areas in properly-labeled, non-glass safety containers. Do not store them near a fuel-burning appliance, such as a natural gas water heater in a garage.
- To reduce the risk of fire keep at least 5 feet of clearance on all sides of generator including overhead. DO NOT operate the generator near combustible materials.
- Generators pose a risk of shock and electrocution, especially if they are operated in wet conditions. Wait for the rain to pass before using a generator. If you must use a generator when it is wet outside, protect the generator from moisture to help avoid the shock/electrocution hazard, but do so without operating the generator indoors or near openings to any building that could be occupied in order to help avoid the CO hazard. Operate the generator under an open, canopy-like structure on a dry surface where water cannot reach it or puddle or drain under it. Dry your hands, if wet, before touching the generator.
- Connect appliances to the generator using heavy-duty extension cords that are specifically designed for outdoor use. Make sure the wattage rating for each cord exceeds the total wattage of all appliances connected to it. Use extension cords that are long enough to allow the generator to be placed outdoors and far away from windows, doors and vents to the home or to other structures that could be occupied. Check that the entire length of each cord is free of cuts or tears and that the plug has all three prongs. Protect the cord from getting pinched or crushed. Coiled cords can get hot, always uncoil cords and lay them in flat open locations.
- Never try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as “back feeding”. This is extremely dangerous and presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same utility transformer. It also bypasses some of the built-in household circuit protection devices. If you are connecting a generator into your home electrical system, have a qualified electrician install a power transfer switch.
Equipment Safety
- Use fresh gas in your generator. If you do not plan to use your generator in 30 days, stabilize the gas with fuel stabilizer.
- Gasoline and its vapors are extremely flammable, allow engine to cool at least 2 minutes before refueling.
- Maintain your generator according to the maintenance schedule for peak performance and safety.
- Coiled cords can get HOT, always uncoil cords and lay them in flat opens locations.
