Carbon monoxide buildup in the home is a year round concern, especially for those that use a generator for power during an outage. Most of us assume that our furnace or boiler is the only appliance that creates a real threat, but a generator that is operated improperly can pose just as great a threat if not greater. We aren’t saying that the unit can’t be used safely; we just would suggest that you keep a few of these tips in mind the next time you pull that portable generator out during a power outage.
Generator Safety Tips:
- Generator Placement: This is the biggest mistake that homeowner make. Placing the generator in a garage, crawl space, attic, or any other even partially enclosed space is not an option! These units can produce large amounts of carbon monoxide very quickly and even with the windows and doors open you probably won’t be able to create the kind of ventilation the system needs. Set the unit up outdoors and downwind from the home. This will keep carbon monoxide from leaking into the home through cracks around windows and doors. (more…)
