If there’s one sound of the summer season we hope to never become accustomed to, it’s the hum of generators in our neighborhoods after a hurricane. As generators are becoming a way of life for many of us to cope with the summer storm season, it’s important to remember that generators, like any equipment we own and operate, come with their own set of challenges to maintaining and operating.
As you start making your own preparations for what forecasters are promising to be a busy hurricane season, check out the tips below for properly maintaining and safely using your generator.
Prepping before storm season
No one wants to come to the realization that their generator isn’t working after the power goes out. Before hurricane season begins, be sure to dust the cobwebs off your unit and check to see if it’s functioning properly. This will give you time to make any necessary repairs before the storms hit.
If your generator was stored with last season’s gas, it needs to be drained and your carburetor needs to be cleaned before you can use it. Leaving old gas in your generator can cause gunk to accumulate in the unit and damage it over time.
Otherwise, it’s time to fire it up! Place a small amount of gasoline in the proper compartment and flip the fuel line to “On.” This will allow you to check for any potential fuel leaks under the unit.
After a few minutes, if you see none, you can turn on the unit as normal. Once you are satisfied that it’s working properly, be sure to run the remaining gas out before putting the unit away. Never operate a generator with a gas leak as this is a fire hazard and could lead to significant injury.
Safe generator operation
The three biggest hazards associated with generator use are carbon monoxide poisoning, fire and electric shock.
• Because carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, it’s one of the biggest dangers associated with generator use. Never operate your unit inside an enclosed or partially enclosed space, like your garage, and avoid operating it near doors or windows. Be sure you are stocked with extension cords of adequate length to keep your generator well away from these areas. If you start to feel dizzy or sick while operating a generator, get outside and far away from the generator as quickly as possible and call for help.
• To prevent fire, store your generator and gasoline outside your home, never operate it near a flame source like a gas stove, grill or firepit, and allow your unit time to cool down before you refill it.
• Electric shock might not be one you automatically think of, but it’s a significant risk if you don’t operate the generator properly. Always use heavy duty extension cords to connect your appliances to the unit and never connect it directly to your home’s power supply, such as plugging the generator into a wall outlet, as it could cause an unsafe power surge. Also, don’t allow your generator to get wet while using and avoid touching it with wet hands.
For guidance on how to properly store your generator once storm season is over, check out this helpful YouTube clip:
Let us help you prepare!
Hurricane season starts in less than two months. If you’re looking for more advice on how to prepare, you can RSVP now for our two free upcoming Hurricane Preparedness Information Sessions during National Hurricane Preparedness Week.
These free information sessions will cover an array of hurricane prep resources from local subject experts:
Monday, May 6, at Osceola County Emergency Management
Wednesday, May 8, at our headquarters in Orlando
Click here to sign up and learn more.
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