With hurricane season upon us, a backup generator for your home can provide peace of mind, but only if it’s used safely. Here’s what you need to know about buying and running a generator.
Generators
- Location
- Always keep generators at least 20 feet away from your home
- Never operate a generator in an enclosed space
- Make sure the generator has 3-4 feet of clear space above and on all sides proper ventilation
- Keep generators away from door, windows, and vents
- Always direct exhaust away from your home
- Use
- Always use grounded cords and inspect cords for damage prior to use
- Use the proper cord for the wattage being used
- Always use GFCI protection
- Make sure to start/stop the generator when no electrical loads are connected
- Keep generators dry, do not operate when wet, and refuel when cool
- Do not overload generators
- Do not plug a generator directly into your home, connect items being powered directly to the generator
Read more from Real Simple and learn how to stay safe when operating a generator