Why are generators dangerous?
Engines produce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that can build up and poison people quickly. Deaths happen every year when generators are run in garages, basements, barns attached to the house, or near windows and doors. Opening a door or window does not make an indoor spot safe.
Generators can also cause electrocution, fires, burns and shock if misused. Treat one as serious machinery, not a convenience.
Place battery-powered alarms near sleeping areas, since carbon monoxide poisoning can occur while people are asleep.
- Never run a generator indoors or in a garage
- Keep exhaust away from windows, doors and vents
- Install battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms
Where should you put it?
Place a generator outdoors on a flat, dry spot, well away from the house and any openings, with the exhaust pointed away from buildings. Shelter it from rain without enclosing it in a way that traps exhaust. Official guides give specific distances, so read the instructions and your state's guidance, such as the WVU Extension and Texas A&M AgriLife safety publications, rather than relying on memory.
Keep it away from livestock, fuel, hay and dry grass, and keep children and pets clear while it is running.
Never place a generator under a porch roof, in a carport or beneath an open window, even if the sides are open, because exhaust can drift back in.
How do you connect it safely?
Plug appliances directly into the generator with heavy-duty cords rated for the load, or have a licensed electrician install a transfer switch. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet to power the house. That practice, called backfeeding, can send electricity into utility lines and kill lineworkers.
Check cords for damage and keep connections dry. Ask your electrician and utility about transfer switch requirements and permits.
Keep all cords as short as the job allows, and never run them under rugs or through doorways where they can be pinched.
How should you handle fuel?
Turn the generator off and let it cool before refueling. Fuel vapors ignite easily, and a hot engine can start a fire. Store fuel in approved containers, away from the house, living areas and sources of heat or sparks.
Fuel degrades with time, so rotate stored fuel as guidance for your fuel type suggests, and ask your local fire department about storage limits. Do not store large amounts of fuel in the house or a barn full of hay.
If a generator runs out of fuel during use, shut off connected loads before restarting it.
How do you plan what to power?
List your essentials: heat or cooling, refrigeration, water pump, medical equipment, lights, communication and critical farm equipment. Add up what they need and ask an electrician what size generator will run them without overload.
Start large loads one at a time, and turn off nonessential items. Overloading damages generators and appliances. If anyone relies on powered medical equipment, plan with their doctor and your utility, and register with the utility's priority list if one exists.
Write down the wattage labels on each essential appliance so you have the facts when you talk to your electrician.
What maintenance does it need?
Follow the manufacturer's schedule for oil, filters, spark plugs and fuel care, and run the generator under load periodically so it will start when needed. Keep the manual somewhere you can find it.
Many failures during outages come from stale fuel or a dead starting battery. Test the system on a calm day, not in the middle of an ice storm.
Keep spare oil, a spark plug and a clean fuel can with the unit so you can do routine service quickly.
Where can you find official guidance?
Ready.gov, your state emergency management agency, your utility, extension offices and your local fire department publish generator safety information. Trust those over social media advice.
If someone has headaches, dizziness, nausea or confusion while a generator or fuel-burning equipment is running, get everyone into fresh air and call emergency services. Treat it as an emergency.
Teach every adult in the home how to shut down the generator and where the fuel and manual are kept.
Key takeaways
- Carbon monoxide from generators kills, so keep them outdoors and far from buildings.
- Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.
- Let it cool before refueling and store fuel safely.
- Test and maintain it before an outage.
- Teach every adult in the home how to shut it down safely.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.