| Every year unfortunate accidents related portable | | | | DO IT! It's not worth jeopardizing your physical |
| generators end up causing physical injury and | | | | well being, life or property. |
| death. The majority involve CO poisoning from | | | | Improper Set-Up and Installation |
| generators used indoors or in partially enclosed | | | | A portion of the portable generator related |
| spaces. The others are related to improper set-up | | | | accidents arise from improper set up and |
| and installation and not knowing or ignoring clearly | | | | installation. Here is our list of do's and don'ts to |
| stated safety rules. Notably, these tragic incidents | | | | insure that your set-up and installation won't put |
| and accidents could have been altogether avoided. | | | | you in harm's way.o DO NOT ever attempt to |
| Simply put, when used improperly, portable | | | | use your portable generator to power any house |
| generators become hazardous to your health, | | | | using a practice known as, "back feeding." This is |
| safety, life and property. Set up and used | | | | when the output from a generator is plugged into |
| properly, you can enjoy the benefits of portable | | | | a wall outlet. The theoretical thought is; the |
| generators without any hitches. There are six | | | | generator will feed all of the other outlets in the |
| eminent dangers associated with these devices. | | | | house. This dangerous practice usually bypasses |
| With the advice of the experts, you can spare | | | | the built-in household circuit protection devices and |
| yourself and others from these dangers: | | | | even worse, presents an electrocution risk to |
| Carbon Monoxide Poisoning | | | | utility workers and neighbors served by the same |
| Portable generators, when running, emit a highly | | | | utility transformer. |
| toxic gas known as carbon monoxide or CO. | | | | We never advise anyone to connect a portable |
| What makes this gas so dangerous is that it is | | | | generator to house wiring unless it is done by a |
| literally impossible to detect because it is both | | | | qualified and licensed electrician in accordance with |
| odorless and colorless. Remember, you cannot | | | | local electrical codes. Moreover, only use a |
| smell or see CO. | | | | portable generator to power a house as a |
| More often than not, people succumb to carbon | | | | temporary solution in emergencies. If this is an |
| monoxide poisoning without ever realizing they | | | | ongoing scenario, a permanently installed standby |
| were in harm's way. You can avoid carbon dioxide | | | | generator is better for your needso DO Plug |
| poisoning by placing the portable generator only in | | | | appliances directly into the generator. If you must |
| areas specified by our experts. Here is our list of | | | | use an electrical cord, use a heavy duty, outdoor |
| do's and don'ts concerning this potential | | | | rated extension cord; one that is properly rated |
| hazard.oDO NOT ever run a portable generator | | | | to handle the sum total of the appliance load. |
| indoors; that means DO NOT run them in: rooms, | | | | Check the entire cord from end-to-end to confirm |
| basements, garages, crawlspaces or any other | | | | that the cord is free of frays, cuts or rips and |
| enclosed space. Even if the room or area has | | | | that the cord has all three prongs, particularly the |
| ventilation, take note: portable generators were | | | | grounding pin. |
| not meant to run indoors, not even in partially | | | | Electrical Hazards |
| enclosed spaces.o DO NOT ever position a | | | | Treat portable generators with the same safety |
| portable generator beside any window, door or | | | | precautions as you would a normal power source. |
| vent or near any opening in which people or | | | | Remember, most generators lack protection |
| animals may be visiting, staying or living. A | | | | devices such as circuit breakers; therefore, they |
| common myth is; if you open doors and windows | | | | can be considerably more harmful in the event |
| or use fans you can prevent CO build-up; THIS IS | | | | that you happen to get electrocuted. To avoid |
| A COMPLETELY FALSE STATEMENT! Carbon | | | | shock or electrocution, make sure your hands; |
| monoxide from portable generators can seep | | | | body and feet are dry before touching a |
| through windows, doors and openings even | | | | generator. Never attempt to connect any |
| though it is running outdoors.o DO advise | | | | appliances while barefooted. |
| everyone that will be near a portable generator | | | | Keep every connection clean and avoid tangling of |
| of the hazards and symptoms of CO poisoning | | | | cords, unnecessary and unsafe connections. Never |
| and the safety precautions. If anyone experiences | | | | overload your generator with too many appliances |
| symptoms of carbon dioxide poisoning, which | | | | or devices. Keep your generator dry as much as |
| include: nausea, dizziness, headache and tiredness, | | | | possible and never use wet electric devices under |
| get to fresh air IMMEDIATELY, then seek medical | | | | any circumstances. Never let your generator |
| attention IMMEDIATELY! DO advise the medical | | | | work in the rain. In rainy weather, use a canopy |
| staff that CO poisoning is suspected. DO contact | | | | like structure for protection. |
| the fire department so that they can determine | | | | Improper Storage Hazards |
| when it is safe to re-enter the property.o DO | | | | Always avoid these common portable generator |
| install battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms. | | | | and fuel storage hazards.o DO NOT ever store |
| These alarms save lives! They should be certified | | | | fuel for your generator in your home. As a |
| to the requirements of the latest safety | | | | safety precaution, gasoline, diesel, propane, natural |
| standards for CO alarms. Test them frequently | | | | gas, kerosene and other flammable liquids should |
| and replace weak and dead batteries.o DO follow | | | | always be stored away from living areas in |
| all of the set-up and operation instructions that | | | | properly labeled, non-glass safety containers.o DO |
| come with your portable generator. | | | | NOT ever place or store any fuel container near |
| Fire Hazards From Improper Refueling | | | | a generator or near any place it could absorb |
| Portable generators get hot; therefore heed this | | | | heat. That means DO NOT store fuel containers |
| warning to the letter! Before refueling your | | | | near any fuel-burning appliance such as a natural |
| portable generator, always take these two steps: | | | | gas dryer or water heater. If the container is not |
| 1). Turn the unit off. 2). Let the unit cool down. If | | | | sealed properly or fuel is spilled, it is possible for |
| you are not sure what the acceptable refueling | | | | vapors from the fuel to be ignited by the |
| temperature is, consult your user manual. | | | | appliance's pilot light or by arcs from electric |
| DO NOT ever attempt to refuel a portable | | | | switches in the appliance. |
| generator while it is running. | | | | Vibration Accidents and Noise Hazards |
| DO NOT ever refuel a portable generator | | | | Some portable generators vibrate considerably, |
| moments after shutting down. | | | | which causes them to shift and move. If they are |
| These devices remain hot for a long period of | | | | sitting on a tailgate of a truck bed or on any |
| time and that heat mixed together with gasoline | | | | other surface where the potential of falling off |
| or gasoline vapors could easily spark a fire. It may | | | | exists, this is a clear safety hazard and should be |
| be inconvenient but always wait until the unit cools | | | | avoided. Always survey your location for this |
| down before you attempt to refuel. You may be | | | | potential hazard. And remember, most many |
| a top-notch contractor pushing to meet a tight | | | | manufacturers suggest wearing ear protection |
| deadline and need your generator to power your | | | | when working around certain portable generators, |
| circular saw. I've been there; you're tempted to | | | | consult your owner's manual. |
| ignore safety rules to get the job done, DON'T | | | | |