Severe Storm - Safety Tips For A Portable Generator

4/6/2021 (Permalink)

Keep your home running through a storm with the help of a portable generator.

Are you getting ready for the Spring storms to arrive in the Greeley/Windsor area?  Power outages are a common occurrence during a severe storm and a portable generator is a great tool to help through the power outage.  If you have a generator on hand for power outages during severe weather storms, follow the safety tips below from the American Red Cross:

Never use a generator, grill or camp stove, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawl space, or any partially enclosed area.

To avoid electrocution, keep the generator dry and do not use in rain or wet conditions. Do not touch the generator with wet hands.

Opening doors or windows and using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide (CO) buildup in the home. Although CO can’t be seen or smelled, it can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death.

Even if you cannot smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO. If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air immediately.

Install CO alarms in central locations on every level of your home or property and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide.

Be sure to turn the generator off and let it cool down before refueling.  Gasoline spilled on the hot engine parts could ignite.

IF you experience storm or water damage caused by a power outage in your home, call SERVPRO of Greeley/Windsor at 970-353-1388.  We answer our phones 24/7/365 which puts us faster onsite to your loss.