Generator Safety Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

1. Carbon Monoxide: The Invisible Killer

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced by any gasoline, diesel, or propane combustion engine — including your generator. It is indistinguishable from air to human senses. At 400 ppm, CO causes headaches and nausea within 1–2 hours. At 1,600 ppm, it causes death in under an hour. A generator running at full load produces CO at concentrations that can reach 1,000–10,000 ppm in an enclosed space within minutes.

CO safety rules — non-negotiable:

• Never run a generator inside your home, garage, basement, crawl space, or any attached structure — even with the doors and windows open. CO seeps under doors and through walls rapidly.
• Keep the generator at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent opening. FEMA and CDC both recommend 20 feet as the minimum safe distance; more is better.
• Point the exhaust away from your home and neighboring buildings. Wind can push CO back toward your house even at 20 feet if the exhaust is aimed at a wall.
• Install battery-operated or battery-backup CO detectors on every level of your home, including in sleeping areas. Test them before every storm season.
• If a CO detector sounds, leave the building immediately and call 911. Do not go back in to turn off the generator — getting out is the priority.

2. Safe Generator Placement

Beyond CO considerations, generator placement affects fire risk, electrical safety, and protection of the unit itself.

• Use it on a dry, flat, stable surface. A tilted generator can cause oil to drain away from critical components and cause engine seizure.
• Keep it away from flammable materials — gasoline containers, propane tanks, dry leaves, wooden structures. The engine and exhaust pipe reach extreme temperatures during operation.
• Never operate in rain, snow, or standing water without an appropriately rated canopy or cover. Use a generator tent designed for airflow — not a tarp draped over the unit, which restricts airflow and creates a fire hazard.
• Do not place the generator under an overhang, deck, or porch. These trap exhaust gases and direct CO toward the home.

3. Electrical Safety

Electrical mistakes with generators cause electrocution, fires, and deaths — including deaths of utility workers restoring power to your neighborhood.

Use a transfer switch — always

The only safe way to connect a generator to your home's wiring is through a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. A transfer switch physically disconnects your home from the utility grid before connecting the generator, preventing backfeed.

Backfeeding occurs when a generator powers your home's panel while the utility lines are still connected. The generator's power travels back through the meter onto the power lines — at potentially lethal voltage — where utility workers may be handling "de-energized" lines. It also destroys the generator when the utility power returns. This practice is illegal and unethical.

Outdoor-rated extension cords only

• Use only heavy-duty, grounded (3-prong) extension cords rated for outdoor use (marked "W" or "W-A").
• Size the cord correctly — underrated cords overheat and start fires. Use our Extension Cord Gauge Calculator to find the right AWG for your load and cord length.
• Never use indoor extension cords, multiple cords daisy-chained together, or cords run through windows in a way that pinches or damages the insulation.
• Do not plug extension cords from multiple generators into the same appliance.

Do not overload the generator

Running a generator above its rated capacity causes the engine to run hot, shortens its life, and can trip the breaker — often at the worst moment. Use our Generator Size Calculator to ensure your total load (including startup surge) stays within the generator's rated output.

4. Fuel Safety

• Allow the generator to cool before refueling. Spilling gasoline on a hot engine is a direct cause of generator fires. Wait at least 5 minutes after shutdown before refueling.
• Store gasoline in approved containers (red plastic or metal, labeled "Gasoline") away from living areas and ignition sources. Do not store gasoline inside any structure.
• Add fuel stabilizer to any gasoline stored more than 30 days. Untreated gasoline oxidizes and gums up the carburetor, causing hard starts and engine damage. Stabilized gasoline is good for 1–2 years.
• Do not overfill the fuel tank. Fuel expands with heat and can overflow onto the engine. Fill to the indicated level only.
• If you smell gas after refueling, do not start the generator until you identify and fix the source of the leak.

5. Maintenance and Readiness

A generator that fails to start during an outage is worse than no generator at all — because you counted on it. These habits keep it ready:

• Run the generator under load for 30 minutes every 3 months. This exercises the engine, keeps the battery charged (on electric-start models), and prevents the carburetor from gumming up. Plug in real loads — a space heater or shop light — rather than running it unloaded.
• Change the oil annually or per the manufacturer's interval (often every 50–100 hours). Fresh oil prevents engine seizure during extended operation.
• Check and change the air filter per the maintenance schedule. A clogged filter causes rich running, high fuel consumption, and carbon buildup.
• Keep the spark plug clean and gapped correctly. A fouled spark plug causes hard starts.
• Before a storm, top off the fuel tank and check the oil level. Never start a storm with a half-empty tank.
• Know the startup procedure before you need it. Read the owner's manual and do a practice run before the next hurricane season or winter storm.

Before-You-Start Checklist