Queens Home Inspection Generator Safety

Using a generator for hurricane Sandy? Here are some safety tips before you start. 

1) Never use a generator indoors or inside a attached garage.

A portable generator is a gasoline engine that exhausts a deadly gas called carbon monoxide it is odorless and colorless. You can be overcome by these fumes if the generator is indoors and it will kill you.

Make sure you place the generator outside where exhaust fumes will not enter into the house. There has to be a minimum of ten feet between the generator and any windows or doors. Only operate a generator outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the home. The generator should be protected from direct exposure to rain and snow.

2) Don’t connect your generator directly to your home’s wiring.

Connecting a portable electric generator directly to your household wiring can be deadly. A generator that is directly connected to your home’s wiring can ‘back feed’ into the power lines connected to your home.

Utility transformers can then increase this lower electrical voltage to thousands of volts. That’s more than enough to kill a utility lineman making outage repairs many miles away. You could also cause expensive damage to utility equipment and your generator.

If you wish to hard-wire a generator to your home, it should be installed by a licensed electrician with an approved transfer switch that will disconnect the home from the power grid when the generator is being used.

3) Don’t overload the generator.

All generators have a power rating. they should be used only when necessary and only to power a limited number of appliances or equipment.

The total wattage used by the appliances should be less than the output rating of the generator. If you put too many appliances on the generator, it could seriously damage the appliances and electronics. Overloading the generator could also cause fires in the power cord

4) Do not store gasoline for the generator indoors. Keep Away

Gasoline should be stored in approved safety containers.

Don’t store gasoline in a garage if there’s a water heater or other fuel-burning appliance in the garage. Vapor from gasoline is heavier than air and can travel along the floor. It could be ignited by a pilot light or other source of flame, such as an electric spark.

Shut off the generator before refueling and turn off all equipment powered by the generator before shutting it down.

Always have a fully charged, approved fire extinguisher located near the generator.

5) Keep Away

Many generator parts are hot enough to burn you during operation. Stay away from the muffler and other hot areas.

Keep children away from portable electric generators at all times.

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