Portable Generator Safety: Keep Carbon Monoxide Out of Your Home
When the power goes out in winter, a portable generator can feel like a lifesaver. Used the wrong way, it can also be dangerous. Generators give off carbon monoxide (CO), a gas you cannot see or smell. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says CO from a gasoline generator can kill in minutes.
The good news is that a few simple habits make generator use much safer. Here is what the CPSC and the CDC recommend.
Why Carbon Monoxide Is So Dangerous
Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, so it can build up in a home without any warning. The CDC lists portable generators, gas and oil furnaces and charcoal grills among the things that produce it. Early symptoms can feel like the flu: headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach and confusion. Someone who is asleep can be harmed before they notice anything.
In a March 2026 news release, the CPSC said an average of nearly 100 people in the U.S. die each year from CO poisoning caused by portable generators.
Where to Run a Generator
- Only outdoors. Never run a generator inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or shed. Opening doors or windows does not make it safe.
- At least 20 feet from the house. A porch or carport is too close. Point the exhaust away from your home and from neighbors’ doors and windows.
- Keep it dry. Follow the maker’s instructions for using it in rain or snow. That may mean waiting until the weather passes.
- Read the manual. Follow the labels and warnings, and keep the generator maintained.
- Look for a CO shut-off. The CPSC suggests asking for a model with an automatic CO shut-off feature if you are buying one.
Protect Your Home With Alarms
Alarms are your backup. The CPSC recommends battery-operated or battery-backup CO alarms on every level of your home and outside each sleeping area. The CDC suggests checking the batteries whenever the clocks change. Test your smoke and CO alarms every month.
If a CO alarm sounds, do not ignore it. Get everyone outside right away, then call 911.
Other Winter Power-Outage Tips
- Never use a charcoal grill or camp stove indoors, and never run a car in an attached garage, even with the door open.
- Use flashlights or battery-operated candles instead of open flames.
- Keep space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn, and plug electric heaters straight into a wall outlet.
- Clear snow from outside vents for your furnace and other fuel-burning appliances.
Be a Good Neighbor
During a long outage, check on neighbors who live alone. A quick knock or phone call can make a real difference. If you smell or hear gas, leave right away and call the gas company or 911 from outside.
Safety note: if you think you have CO poisoning, get outside into fresh air first, then call 911. Do not go back in to find the cause.
More on Seniors Tips
- How to Get Ready for Winter Storms and Power Outages at Home
- Space Heater Safety: Simple Habits for a Warm, Safe Winter
- Clocks Fall Back November 1: A Good Day to Check Your Smoke and CO Alarms
