How many times do you read the sign “Safety First”?
I think it would be countless times.
Life is the most valuable thing; there is nothing equivalent to it. That’s why we should keep ourselves safe while doing every task.
Generator is a life-saving machine, but sometimes it can take your life also.
CO Poisoning from the generator can kill you within five minutes.
There are other ways generator can harm you.
So, to keep yourself safe from generators, here I came up with some generator safety tips. If you want to keep yourself safe while running your generator, don’t miss reading any of these safety tips.
13 generator safety tips
Without wasting any time let’s dive into generator safety tips and they are;
1. Place our generator outdoor
Do you know what the reason for most generator-related injuries is? It is carbon monoxide poisoning. Yes! You’re reading right. CO poisoning is responsible for generator-related accidents and deaths. CO poisoning happens when a generator is used in a closed environment. That’s why you should take care of this issue seriously.
So, how can I protect myself from CO poisoning?
While installing the generator, make sure that you place it at least 20 feet away from your home. Also, keep a safe distance from the door and window.
You should also make sure that the generator’s exhaust pipe is not near your house or its door and window.
2. Never turn your portable generator while raining
As you already know that generators CO causes CO poisoning. That’s why you may decide to install the generator outside of your living house.
Is it ok to have the generator sit under the open sky?
Absolutely no.
It will damage your generator.
So, how can I keep my generator safe if it is sitting outside of my living house?
You can use tents for generators. Generators tents are a great way to provide a shield for the generator. It also gives them well ventilation.
3. Stop the gas-powered generator before refueling
Gasoline is a very dangerous fuel. It causes fire in a very short moment. Due to this reason, you should keep yourself aware while refueling. Before refueling the generator, make sure that you stopped the engine and wait until it cools down. When it became cool, refuel it.
4. Always store some extra gasoline
What if you need to run the generator for an extended time? In this case, you need to store some extra fuel for emergency needs. But ensure that the fuel storing place is well ventilated. On the other hand, you can use a stabilizer for gas. It will increase gas lifespan. The last thing you should keep in mind while storing fuel is to ensure the absence of power sources or heat out there.
5. Make sure that your generator has CO safe technology
In this modern age, we have been experiencing innovation day by day. As far as CO is concerned now, generators come with a CO measurement device. If this device detects extreme carbon monoxide level, it will automatically shut down the generator. So, make sure that your generator comes with this cool technology.
6. Prevent electric dangers
Still, if you didn’t install a transfer switch, install it now. If you’re using your generator for home backup, then it is a must. On the other hand, you can connect other appliances from the transfer switch. Another thing you should keep in mind is always using a heavy-duty cord for connection.
7. Never plug the generator into your home outlet
It is very dangerous to connect the generator line to the home outlet directly. It may cause fire in the home and generator. It can also electrify the electrician who is working on your generator.
To keep yourself safe, install a transfer switch in your home before giving the generator’s electricity line to your home.
8. Never overload your generator
Before buying a generator, know what your exact power requirement is? If you don’t know your power requirement, then your power need will exceed. If it happens, your appliances and generator will face damages. So, never overload your generator.
9. Use a heavy-duty power cord
While choosing power cords, you have a few options in front of you. Either you can use a normal power cord or a heavy-duty one. It would be best if you choose the heavy-duty power cord. Normal power cord sometimes ignites fire due to overloading.
There is another type of cord that is specially designed for generator uses. It is better for generator uses.
The last thing, use a single cord instead of multiple pieces tied together.
10. Ensure fuel quality
These days there are different types of fuel available in the market. Their quality is different from each other. Poor quality fuel can harm your generator’s performance. It is proven that poor quality fuel produces less electricity than high-quality fuel. Moreover, low-quality fuel hurts the generator in the long run.
So which fuel should I use for my generator?
Before buying fuel for your generator, check the manual and use fuel according to their guideline.
11. Keep your generator dry all the time
Generators produce enough electricity, which can provide heavy electric shocks. For this reason, you should keep your generator dry all the time. Moreover, if you want to save your generator from damages and increase its lifespan, make sure that it always remains dry.
12. Read manuals before using the generator
Almost forget about it, everyone must read manuals and act according to the manual. You can find which type of oil engine uses in the manuals? Which quality oil you should use for your generator.
13. Think of power management
It would help if you thought of power management every time before running the generator. It will help you to prevent excessive electricity production and overloading. It doesn’t matter if your generator has more power than your requirement. It is always better to conduct power management before starting the generator every time.
Conclusion
Above I provided generator safety tips that are essential for operating the generator safely. If you follow these safety tips carefully, I hope that you would be able to avoid dangers. If I missed any important safety tips, let me know about them in the comment box below.