Need a generator after your SC home lost power from Helene? Here’s what to get & how to use it
After Tropical Storm Helene brought strong winds and heavy rain around the Palmetto States, many South Carolinians are without power. According to the United States Power Outage Map, an ongoing project dedicated to recording outages, of the roughly 2,900,000 customers tracked in South Carolina, about 1,360,000 were without power Friday morning.
Amid these massive power outages, portable generators can be a huge help. But without the necessary safety precautions, using a generator can be dangerous or even deadly.
What you’ll need
When choosing a generator, calculate the power you’ll need by adding up the power required for the appliances and light bulbs you’ll use. You’ll probably want to turn off appliances you don’t need to save power.
It’s a good idea to pick a generator that produces more amps than you need, according to the American Red Cross, “because some machines draw up to three times as much power when starting up, and others lose efficiency over time.”
Setting up
You should never try to power your house by plugging your portable generator into a wall outlet. Known as backfeeding, this can cause a surge in electricity that endangers utility linemen, you and your house.
Instead, connect appliances directly to the generator using only heavy-duty extension cords safe for outdoor use compatible with generators. Make sure that any cord you use has no cuts or tears and a plug with all three prongs.
Placement
Anytime you’re running a gas-powered appliance, it’s important to make sure your carbon monoxide alarm is powered and functioning properly. Symptoms of poisoning from the colorless, odorless gas include headaches, nausea and confusion and can be deadly for you, your family and your pets.
Finding a safe place to run your generator is key to keeping your house and the people in it safe. The generator should be outside with the exhaust facing away from your home to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Even with an open door, a garage attached to a house isn’t a safe place to run a generator because it runs the risk of leaking gas into the home. It’s also a good idea to keep doors and windows closed so the gas doesn’t get in your house.
However, keeping a generator outside during inclement weather is its own challenge, because it needs to be kept dry. To avoid electrocution, ensure the generator stays out of the rain, and never touch it with wet hands.
To prevent a fire, keep the generator on a clear, flat surface without debris and away from stoves, grills and other burning appliances.
Fueling
It’s important never to fuel or refuel your portable generator when it’s on or still hot from recent use. Even if the generator isn’t currently running, the heat from engine parts could be enough to ignite the flammable liquid.
When storing your fuel, keep it in an approved container outside and away from flammable appliances. According to the Red Cross, some municipalities have restrictions on how much fuel you can store, so it’s best to check with your local fire department to see if your area has any rules.
