When you pull your generator out after any storage period, remember to inspect it carefully for broken or missing parts. Store the generator in a dry, well-ventilated area with the fuel tank empty. Do not store near fuel supplies. Do not store near appliances such as water heaters or pumps, especially if they are gas-powered. When you pull your generator out after any storage period, remember to inspect it carefully for broken or missing parts. Never operate a generator from a balcony of a multi-unit structure. The boundaries of most balconies force you to place the generator way too close to your own living areas as well as those of your neighbors. Read your generator's manual very carefully. Follow all directions and pay close attention to the electrical load rating. Never overload the generator. Never attempt to connect a portable generator to the main electrical panel in your home. Not only is this very dangerous for occupants, it is also fatally dangerous for electrical workers who are trying to restore power. All gas-powered engines emit Carbon Monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that can build up to fatally toxic levels in the environment. Generators must only be operated outside of inhabited structures in a well-ventilated area and should never be placed anywhere near windows, doors, vents or other openings. Never attempt to refuel a generator while it is running or still hot. Turn it off and allow it to cool before adding fuel. Take extreme care not to spill fuel onto the generator or the surrounding area. If you're going to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a generator, pitch in an extra twenty or thirty bucks for a CO detector. That's a tremendous bargain for the life safety benefit. Information courtesy Miami-Dade Fire Department.Copyright 2006 by NBC6.net. All rights reserved.
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