Anyone who has experienced a power outage that lasted more than a few hours knows what a lifesaver a generator can be. However, having a generator at home, whether permanent or portable, puts a lot of responsibility on the homeowner, especially where safety is concerned.

If your Suffolk County home is equipped with a generator, here are some safety tips we’d like for you to follow:

1. Never, and we repeat, never, use a portable generator inside of your home, including in garages and basements.
2. When positioning your generator outdoors, keep it away from windows, doors and vents so that carbon monoxide (CO) does not enter your home.
3. Always keep your generator dry and do not operate under wet conditions – this could result in electrocution.
4. If you need to refuel, turn the generator off and let it cool down for a bit. Should gas spill onto the engine while it is still hot, a fire could ignite.
5. Store fuel for future use in the proper containers and keep it somewhere that can be locked for extra protection (preferably outside of your home).
6. Do not attempt to provide power to your home by plugging your generator into a wall outlet.
7. Have carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home, and check the batteries regularly to make sure it can still alert you during an emergency.

Although generators are a huge help, keep in mind that they do pose some safety risks when not operated properly – especially due to the CO that is produced. Since CO cannot be seen and cannot be smelled, you must also monitor yourself and your family members for the following symptoms while a generator is in use: feeling nauseous, feeling weak, feeling dizzy (more symptoms here). If anyone in the home exhibits these characteristics, it is imperative that they get fresh air immediately and seek medical attention.

Here at TFC Electric Inc., our electricians are available to install backup generator systems so that your home is prepared for a power outage. We’ll work with you to decide which generator is best for your home, and can certainly answer any questions you have about the operation of such a system so that you and your family are kept safe at all times.

For more information or to speak with us about our generator installation services, please call (631) 589-2800.