When storms and hurricanes cause power outages, generators help homes keep everything together. No matter its size, a generator can get your household back on its feet. A small one can run a few lights, charge your devices, and sometimes even power up your fridge and heater.
Since we only use them in such times, families often overlook even the basic safety measures in using such machines. This should be avoided to ensure everyone’s safety and to ensure the generator’s safe operation. To equip you with that knowledge, we’ll discuss what common hazards are there with improper use of generators. We'll also provide generator safety tips that work so you can keep the family safe while using one.
Primary Safety Hazards of Using Generators
Generators are usually used after storms or hurricanes. They’re used during the clean-up and recovery days. Since everyone is so caught up in cleaning, people often forget how to use generators safely. Here are three of the most common hazards of generator use:
CO Poisoning
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the number one danger is carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Generators can produce deadly levels of CO, which is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas. Because of its characteristics, people who fall victim to CO often don't realize that they are inhaling CO.
Poisoning usually happens when a generator is used in an enclosed space. Carbon monoxide can kill a person as fast as 5 minutes, especially if the levels are high enough already. Symptoms may include dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, weakness, and confusion. If anyone in the family develops these signs, get to fresh air immediately and call 911.
When using generators, make sure it has proper ventilation around them and never use them in an enclosed space. If you’re using it outside, make sure it’s not placed near any air vents.
Fire
This results from improper refueling or fuel storage. If you’re using a type of generator that uses fuel, like gasoline, diesel, or propane, make sure you’re storing them properly. For the best generator safety precaution, to prevent fires, store fuels for your generator in a separate location or area, not inside your house.
Electrocution
This is very common after calamities since everything is wet. Anyone can get electrocuted or shocked from improper use of power, like accidentally energizing your electrical system without making sure it’s disconnected from the grid.
Make sure to keep the generator dry and never use it if your hands are wet. At the same time, never directly plug and power a wall outlet at home to avoid back feeding and electrocuting everyone using and working on the same utility transformer.
Generator Safety Tips For a Safety Operation
To help you use your generator more efficiently and safely, here are some of the best practices when using one to ensure a safe operation:
1. Take proper weather precautions
Generators are mostly used in times of emergency and calamities when there are heavy winds and rain, so it’s important to protect the unit from such extreme weather conditions. Dust and debris can accumulate in your generator due to the wind, which can clog the generator’s openings and filters and cause it to malfunction.
At the same time, your generator will surely be damaged if it gets drenched in the rain. Water and electricity don’t mix. Make sure to never touch the generator with wet hands or while standing in pooled water and never run it without a cover when raining. To protect your generator from wind and rain, you can buy canopy covers or steel enclosures.
2. Choose a generator with built-in CO safety features
New generators now have devices that can detect dangerous levels of CO and automatically turn off the generator when it reaches a certain high level. If that kind of unit is within your budget, it’s best to consider that.
However, keep in mind that even with a safety CO shutoff, it’s still dangerous to use a generator in any enclosed space, especially inside your home. If you want to be safer, even if you’re using the machine outside your house, you can buy and install carbon monoxide detectors and alarms so you can avoid poisoning.
3. Know your wattage
Make sure you’re using a generator that can supply the right wattage for your home power needs. If your generator can’t do that, it can overload, especially with inverters and portable generators. Overloading happens when there are too many appliances and devices plugged into the generator and their wattage needs exceed the total running watts the generator can support. This can then lead to overheating, damaging the appliances plugged in, and even fires.
The best way to avoid this is to know exactly the total wattage you’ll need and buy a generator that can support that. To estimate this total wattage, make an inventory of the major appliances and devices you’d need to power during a power outage. Add all the wattages so you can get a rough estimate of how much power you need from a generator.
If you're unsure, you can consult a trained electrician and ask for help.
4. Always turn the engine off before refueling
Never refuel a generator when the engine is running or is still hot. This can cause an immediate explosion or fire, which you want to avoid. Make sure to turn it off and let it cool down for about 15 to 30 minutes.
If you don’t know how to refuel, you can always check the manufacturer’s manual for step-by-step instructions. This way, you can refuel the generator properly and safely.
5. Perform regular maintenance
It’s important to schedule regular maintenance of your generator to ensure its reliability and functionality over time. Maintenance helps the generator continue to deliver its output and purpose. Since you’re inspecting the machine, you can detect any damages or defects at an early stage so you can take preventive measures and fix them. This is especially important if you’re preparing for an upcoming storm.
Here are some of the most common parts you need to inspect regularly:
- Cooling system - For air restrictions, fluid concentration, the hoses, belts, and other connections.
- Exhaust - For leaks and flush condensation cap.
- Air Intake system - For leakages and loose connections
- Transfer Switch - For delays and adjustments of clocks.
- Muffler, Filters, Bearings, Controls, Batteries
These are just some of the components that you should check. It’s still best to check the maintenance manual and follow all guidelines on how to keep your generator at its best condition. This way, you can avoid any harm or damage when using the generator and keep a safe operation.
Conclusion
Although generators are ultimate lifesavers during calamities, there are still generator safety practices you need to follow so you can remain safe when using them. For a safe operation, here’s a recap of our most recommended tips:
- Take weather precautions and buy something to protect the generator from extreme weather conditions, like rain and wind.
- Choose a generator that can automatically detect dangerous levels of CO.
- Determine your home wattage needs and buy a generator that can supply that amount of wattage.
- If you’re going to refuel, make sure the generator is turned off and has cooled down.
- Regularly inspect your generator and follow maintenance instructions on how to keep it in its best condition.
Ultimately, one of the best ways to stay safe when using a generator is to use the right generator. You can check our wide variety of reliable generators so you can start looking at options that would best suit your needs.