Carbon monoxide: the only rule that kills when broken
- ▸20 feet minimum from every window, door, and vent — with the exhaust pointed away from the house. Not the garage with the door open. Not the covered porch. Not the basement, ever.
- ▸CO is invisible, odorless, and fast. A generator in an attached garage can bring lethal levels into bedrooms in minutes, even with the garage door open.
- ▸Buy a CO-shutoff generator. Current models with CO Sense / CO Shield / CO-Minder shut down automatically if exhaust accumulates around them. Every unit we recommend has it.
- ▸Battery CO alarms inside near every sleeping area. Plug-in alarms fail during the exact event that matters. A 10-year sealed-battery alarm costs under $40.
If anyone in the house has a headache, nausea, or dizziness while a generator runs anywhere nearby: everyone outside immediately, then call 911. CO poisoning feels like the flu right up until it doesn't.
Fuel: the fire rules
- ▸Never refuel hot. Shut down and wait 10–15 minutes. Gasoline on a hot muffler ignites; this is the most common generator fire.
- ▸Store fuel outside living spaces in approved containers — a detached shed beats the garage, and never near the water heater.
- ▸Stabilize stored gasoline (details here) and rotate it through your car every few months.
- ▸Propane cylinders live outdoors, valves closed when not in use. Check hose connections with soapy water, not a lighter (yes, people do).
Electrical: the backfeed rule
- ▸No generator connects to the house except through a transfer switch or interlock. Backfeeding through a dryer outlet can kill the lineworker restoring your power. Our connection guide covers the legal methods.
- ▸Extension cords: outdoor-rated, 12 AWG or heavier, fully uncoiled (a coiled cord under load is a heater).
- ▸Let the generator stabilize for a minute, then add loads largest-first, one at a time.
Weather: rain doesn't cancel the outage
- ▸Generators can't run unprotected in rain — wet outlets and alternators are shock and failure hazards.
- ▸Enclosing one in a box or shed traps CO and heat. The correct solution is a canopy-style running cover like the GenTent: roof above, airflow everywhere else.
- ▸Set the generator on a dry, level surface — pavers work; standing water does not.
The pre-storm checklist
- ▸Test-run the generator monthly for 10 minutes under some load.
- ▸Fresh(ened) fuel on hand — 5 gallons per expected day for a midsize portable, or full propane cylinders.
- ▸Oil checked, spare oil and filter on the shelf (long outages hit service intervals).
- ▸Cords, cover, flashlight, and ear protection staged in one place.
- ▸CO alarms tested — press the button, all of them.
Most of this gear is in our accessories shortlist — the whole safety kit costs less than one urgent-care visit.