Where to put it
- Outdoors only, at least 20 feet from homes and buildings.
- Point the exhaust away from windows, doors and vents.
- Never inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or shed, even with the doors or windows open.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for running in wet weather, to reduce shock hazards.
CO alarms and CO shut-off
- Install working carbon monoxide alarms inside your home, and test them and your smoke alarms before storm season.
- Look for portable generators with a carbon monoxide shut-off feature, which turns the generator off when CO builds up nearby. Models certified to PGMA G300-2023 and UL 2201-2023 include CO safety technology; UL 2201 models also have reduced CO emissions.
Never backfeed
Plugging a generator into a wall outlet with a double-ended (“male-to-male”) cord is called backfeeding. Generac’s support guidance lists why it’s dangerous:
- Utility workers repairing lines may assume they are de-energized. Backfed power can seriously injure or kill them.
- When grid power returns, it can clash with the generator, causing fires or damaging your appliances and the generator.
- It violates electrical codes in most jurisdictions.
The safe ways to power home circuits are a transfer switch or an interlock, installed by a licensed electrician. See connecting a generator safely. For single appliances, run heavy-duty outdoor extension cords from the generator to each appliance.
Maintenance
Check and maintain your generator regularly, and read and follow all labels, instructions and warnings on it and in the owner’s manual.
Sources: CPSC news release, May 27 2026; CPSC generator safety guide; Generac support: why you should never back-feed your electric panel.
Last reviewed 2026-09-26. Sources · How we calculate