Whenever you need backup power or a portable power source for your home or business, a generator is the simplest solution. Generators are one of the “Big 4” types of power equipment that get the most use during the winter months when most lawn care slows down or stops altogether.
With the threat of winter storms and ice during the coldest months of the year, having a generator on-hand can provide peace of mind. It’s always better to have an option for backup power available before you lose power.
Though generators are very useful, there are some potential dangers to using them just like any other power equipment. To minimize risk and keep everyone safe, make sure that you’re using a generator safely whenever you need to turn it on. Here are our top five tips for generator safety.
- Note: the tips in this article are adapted from The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)’s article “10 Tips for Safer Winter Generator Usage for Home & Business Owners.”
1) Check the Generator
Using a generator safely involves familiarizing yourself with your generator. Be sure to read the owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If you don’t have a hard copy of the owner’s manual, you can look it up online. Click here for the link to Honda generators’ owner’s manuals.
Before starting up a generator, check it over to make sure everything is clean and in good working order. It’s also a good idea to check the generator at the beginning of the winter season. If you notice anything that needs to be cleaned, replaced, or repaired don’t put off that maintenance. You want to make sure you get generator maintenance checked off the to-do list before a winter storm hits.
2) Keep It Outside and Dry
Never operate a generator indoors. Also, make sure they’re not near an air intake or open window when you place them outdoors. Operate generators outdoors with plenty of space around them so no one is breathing in the carbon monoxide exhaust.
At the same time, it’s important to keep generators dry. If you’re hooking the generator up for short-term power supply on a dry day that won’t be a problem. If you’re planning to use it for backup power, though, you can’t be sure what the weather will be like. Plan to invest in purchasing or building a vented tent or generator cover.
3) Beware of Carbon Monoxide
The biggest danger from portable power generators comes from carbon monoxide exhaust. That’s why you should never run a generator inside a house, building, or garage even if the doors and windows are open. Keep the generator outside at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, and air intakes.
If you have a portable generator, play it safe by installing a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home or business. The detector will alert you if dangerous levels of carbon monoxide get into your home despite your other safety precautions.
4) Refuel Correctly
Check your owner’s manual for any manufacturer’s guides to fuel types or model-specific refueling instructions. As a general rule, make sure the generator is cold before you refuel. Turn the generator off and let it cool down before putting fuel in the fuel tank.
As with other portable power equipment, if your generator runs on gasoline, it’s important to use fresh or stabilized fuel in your portable generator. If you purchase fuel that you know you might not use up within 30 days, add a fuel stabilizer to keep the fuel from going stale.
5) Connect Safely
Make sure the connection that you use to hook your generator up to the equipment you need to power is safe. If you know you’ll regularly be using the generator at a home or business, it’s a good idea to have a transfer switch installed. A transfer switch connects the generator to the circuit panel.
If you don’t have a transfer switch, the safest thing to do is plug equipment directly into the generator. However, that doesn’t always provide the distance you need to keep the generator safely outside. Make sure any extension cord you use is heavy-duty and designed for outdoor use.
Never try to “backfeed” power into your home electrical system from the generator by plugging the generator into a wall outlet! Backfeeding is dangerous. It can cause electrical fires, damage electronics, and injure you, utility workers, or neighbors served by the same transformer.
Choosing a Portable Generator
If you don’t have a generator yet, there’s still time to buy one this winter. Here at Richardson Saw & Lawnmower, we recommend Honda generators. They’re reliable, powerful generators that provide portable backup power that you can count on.
Five key factors that will help you pick the right portable power generator for your home or business. Power output, noise, fuel source, run time, and features all play a role in deciding which generator is the right fit for you.
Honda’s online wattage calculator makes it easy to find which of their generators will supply the power you need. The most powerful Honda generator makes about as much noise as a vacuum cleaner, and quieter models are also available. You can get generators powered by a variety of different fuels, but Honda’s all run on unleaded gasoline. Run time varies depending on the generator model and what you’re using it to power, so check each model’s specifications before purchasing. Finally, keep an eye out for safety features like low-oil shutdown and high-temperature shutdown, as well as convenience features to make starting the generator easy.
If you’re looking for a new generator, come see us at Richardson Saw & Lawnmower. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have and help you pick the perfect generator for your needs.
