Emergency Generator Safety
If your power goes out, an emergency generator is a useful appliance that can save food from spoiling and give you light in the evening. However, it also requires special safety precautions.
Safety First
In the event of a power outage at your home, an emergency generator could be your saving grace. However, emergency generators can also be extremely dangerous to use if you do so improperly. To ensure that your home and family remain protected while using an emergency generator, consider using these safety recommendations.
Use these safety tips when operating your generator:
- Do not run gasoline engines in an enclosed area since they produce carbon monoxide (CO), a dangerous gas that can cause death.
- Check the oil level in the engine on a regular basis, especially before using.
- Before refueling, let the engine cool completely.
- Place your generator a safe distance away from other structures since the engine can get quite hot.
- Make sure that your generator stays dry to prevent water damage and a potential electrical hazard.
Did You Know?
The capacity of a generator is calculated in watts. For instance, you may own a 2,000-watt generator. Therefore, if you have an appliance that requires 120 volts and uses 10 amps, the appliance will require 1,200 watts of power. By doing this calculation, you can determine what appliances can safely run on your generator.
