Hurricane Idalia walloped the Tallahassee region last year with Category three winds, knocking out electrical power to more than 50,000 area households, in some cases, for days. In the wake of those power outages, portable and whole-home backup generator sales boomed, and more Tallahassee-area residents now have emergency generators than ever before.

Hurricane season is upon us again, and emergency generators in North Central Florida may get a workout if another storm strikes the area. In advance of such an event, the professional electricians at Meeks Electrical Services thought it would be an excellent time to review generator safety tips and storm preparation tips. Such information can ensure that your emergency generator safely and effectively powers your household’s electrical needs through any power outages that hit our region. Herein are the top five generator storm preparation and safety tips:

1. Get to Know Your Generator

Whether a portable or whole-home generator, you should understand how your generator works and delivers power into your home. If you have a whole-home generator, your generator should automatically turn on in the event of an outage and provide power to the designated circuits in your home. Nevertheless, you should understand how this process works and how the generated electricity replaces the defunct energy usually supplied by the power company. You also need to know your whole-home generator’s electrical generation capacity. Even if designed to power every circuit in the home, it could still be subject to overloads.

If you have a portable emergency generator, you must know how to turn it on, connect it to the necessary circuits, and maintain its operation during the outage. Due to capacity limitations, you should know in advance what essential electrical needs your generator will need to power during the blackout. You must also learn how to connect your generator to essential appliances, devices, and other home electronics. A transfer switch on your electrical panel is the safest and most convenient way. If you plan to rely on direct connections, ensure you have the correct size of heavy-duty extension cords designed for outdoor usage.

2. Pre-Storm Prep and Testing

If a hurricane is heading our way, take some time to ensure that the generator has been properly maintained. When did you last check oil and fuel levels, air filters, and connections? If you cannot remember or it was over a year, it’s time to do those tasks. Additionally, top up your generator’s fuel supplies and conduct pre-storm testing to ensure it starts and delivers electricity accordingly.

3. Consider Positioning and Placement

If you have a whole-home generator, you will not have to concern yourself with this task, but portable generators should always be placed outdoors in a well-ventilated, level area protected from rain and wind-blown debris and far removed—20 feet or more—from the home. Do not place a portable generator in a garage, basement, shed, or other enclosed space that can allow the buildup of carbon monoxide gas. Also, ensure that your planned generator positioning is not in an area subject to water pooling or flooding.

4. Equip the Home with Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Whether operating a whole-home or portable emergency generator, you must protect your family from odorless, deadly carbon monoxide gas. While the risks of gas intrusion into the home from a properly installed whole-home generator should be minimal, it’s best to play it safe. Likewise, if you believe your portable generator placement is perfectly ventilated. Thus, purchase some battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors to warn you if the generator’s exhaust gases are somehow entering the home. These should be placed on every level and inside each bedroom.

5. Reduce the Risk of Fire and Electrical Shock

Because they generate electricity and heat, you need to know the electrical and fire risks generators pose. The mechanical parts of a generator can get scorching hot during operation, so you should always turn a portable generator off and let it cool before adding fuel. Most whole-home generators clearly separate the fuel fill area from the generator engine, but read the instructions to ensure proper fuel filling. Never store surplus fuel adjacent to a generator but keep a fully charged fire extinguisher nearby.

To reduce the risk of electrical shock, heed the mantra that water and electricity do not mix. Always keep water away from the generator and never touch one that’s running with wet hands or while standing in water. Additionally, if a generator’s operation seems faulty or isn’t delivering electricity as expected, don’t troubleshoot the electronics while it’s running unless you’re an experienced electrician.

Contact Meeks Electrical For All Your Generator Needs

If you’re considering installing a whole-home backup generator or want to ensure safe electricity delivery into your home via a portable generator, contact Tallahassee’s Meeks Electrical. We can advise you on the best means of keeping the electricity flowing during power outages and provide installation services to ensure safe generator operation. For all electrical service needs in the Tallahassee area, contact us at (850) 575-5241.