While minor power outages are usually no big deal, going without power for extended periods can quickly cause problems. For example, elderly folks and young children aren’t able to regulate their body temperatures well, and they can become dangerously overheated without air conditioning. You also run the risk of food spoiling if your refrigerator goes without power for more than a few hours. If you want to make sure that you and your family will be able to run essential appliances in the event of a power outage, it’s wise to invest in a generator. However, there are some important rules you need to follow when using your generator in order to keep everyone safe. In this article, our team at Dunlow Mechanical will go over some key guidelines on generator safety.
- Always Run the Generator Outdoors. Generators produce carbon monoxide as they run, so you should always run them outdoors rather than inside your building. Keep the generator at least 20 feet away from your building and direct its exhaust away from the windows and doors to ensure no one is exposed to toxic fumes.
- Keep Your Generator Under Cover When Not in Use. You should also make sure that generators are sheltered from the rain and other elements when it is not being used. We recommend using a tarp or a specially-designed generator tent for this purpose. If your generator gets wet, don’t run it.
- Let the Generator Cool Before Refueling. Just like you need to turn off your car engine before putting gas in your tank, you need to turn the generator off and allow it to cool completely before refueling it. Generators get hot as they run, and they will ignite gasoline if you try to pour it in before the engines’ temperature has come down.