Published September 11, 2011 | 
The recent 4 day power outage that resulted from Hurricane Irene was one more reminder of what I learned when I purchased a portable generator after the ice storm of 2008. Portable generators are NEVER to be used in an enclosed space, in a home, basement or even a garage — they need to be used at least 10 feet from the home in order that deadly CO gases cannot enter the home. Portable generators are also NEVER to be used in wet conditions – rain, snow, ice, sleet. Why? Because wet power outlets can short high voltage to the frame of the generator causing an electrocution hazard! Read your user manual, and look at the labels on your generator.
So the question is, what do you do when you’ve lost power and it’s still raining? or it’s really cold, you’ve got no heat and the snow or sleet or ice is blowing?
Watch this space!
