Tips for Running Your Backup Generator During a Storm or Power Outage

Your backup generator is meant to power your home in worst-case scenarios. With recent events like Hurricane Helene, we saw this worst-case situation cause widespread power outages and necessitate the use of backup generators.

Unfortunately, this caught many off guard, as they hadn’t been maintaining their backup generators and didn’t follow safety precautions to maximize their efficiency, longevity, and safety. In this article, Generator Services, Inc. will give you tips on how to stay safe. If you’d like, you can also watch this video for visual guidance.

10 Tips for Proper Generator Usage

During an emergency, it’s critical to use your generator safely and properly. Here are 10 tips to help you do that.

Read Your Owner’s Manual

Each generator is slightly different and has unique requirements or warnings. This is why it’s critical to read your instruction manual thoroughly to ensure you understand your generator’s specific manufacturing guidelines.

Keep Your Generator in a Well-Ventilated Area

Generators can be fueled by gasoline, diesel, natural gas, propane, or solar energy. Many of these fuels come with the danger of producing fumes as your generator works. When you don’t have your generator in a well-ventilated area, you risk carbon monoxide poisoning, as this is a common byproduct exhausted during operation. By having it in an open space with proper airflow, you minimize the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector

A carbon monoxide detector is an easy and necessary appliance to ensure your safety while operating a backup generator. This simple piece of equipment is easy to install and will alert you if dangerous CO levels are detected while your generator is in use.

Avoid Running Your Generator in Your Garage

An enclosed space like your garage can trap fumes even with the doors or windows open. If air isn’t flowing, fumes aren’t moving. This is why it’s crucial to always ensure your generator is operated in an open space.

Place Your Generator 5-6 Feet from Your Home

By ensuring this buffer of space between your generator and your home, you help prevent fumes from seeping into living spaces. We often think of our homes as impenetrable, but this isn’t the case. Doing this also helps to reduce noise pollution and minimize fire risks. Some areas even have regulations requiring generators to be a certain distance from the home because of safety and noise considerations.

Keep Your Generator Turned Off When Refueling

As with fueling up your car, there are fire hazards involved in refueling your generator. Sparks from static can ignite gas fumes. Something even more dangerous than this is that your generator’s engine will be hot after running for a while. It’s easy for gas to splash onto this hot surface and be ignited.

Don’t Overload Your Generator

Ensuring your generator is properly sized for your electrical needs is critical to its correct function. Overloading your generator can damage it and any devices connected to it, which is why generator load bank testing is so important.

Don’t Plug Your Generator Into Your Home

There are specific protocols for plugging in your generator for a reason. When you plug your generator directly into your home, you risk the backfeeding of electricity, which can harm utility workers who are trying to restore power to the area.

Plug Appliances Directly Into Your Generator

When plugging an appliance directly into your generator, you want to be sure it’s properly rated for the equipment you’re using. Once you’ve checked your generator’s rating, you want to use heavy-duty extension cords that are rated for outdoor use. These should match or exceed the wattages of your appliances. You’ll also want to ensure that the appliances are turned off before starting your generator.

Double Check for Exposed Wires

Anytime you use electricity, it’s critical to inspect your connections and ensure there are no exposed wires. Exposed wires pose the grave threat of electrocution and cause fires extremely easily. All it takes is one spark to arc off of the line.

Call GSI for Generator Repair & Sales in Columbia, SC

GSI is passionate about ensuring our clients’ safety. This is why we offer only the best generator repair and replacement services. Our generator installation process is quick and professional to get you up and running.

We offer an extensive inventory to fit various power needs and ensure you have exactly what you need. Working with our experienced service team also ensures the safe and efficient operation of your generator.

If you’re looking to add the peace of mind a generator brings to your life, contact GSI for an installation consultation today!