Safety Tips When Using Portable Generators in Las Vegas Homes

Winter storms
can pose threat to your neighborhood and may even knock out the power in Las Vegas homes. While
experiencing indefinite period of power outage, having a portable electric generators
can be a smart idea to sustain the electricity in your home. Moreover, portable
generators can support your heating system in case power outage happens on a
cold, frigid night.

Purchasing a
portable electric generator can be beneficial to homeowners of Las Vegas homes. However, there
are a few common dangers including carbon monoxide poisoning, fire and
electrocution or electrical shock. In order to ensure safety while running a
generator, follow these tips for the proper use and installing of portable
generators:

1. Proper
placement. Do not use generator that is gasoline-powered inside your home or
garage. It should be situated outdoors and away from the house and open
windows. You can use a carbon monoxide detector to check the levels of harmful
gas.

2. Keep
generator fuel carefully. Place it far from living areas and fuel-burning
electrical devices. Store them in containers with proper labels. When refilling
generators, make sure that is turned off and is cooled down first.

3. If you plan
to use extension cords, examine it first. Make sure they are free of cuts or
tattered insulation, have three-pronged plugs and rated for the load.

4. Lastly, use
the portable generator only when absolutely necessary. Remember not to overload
the generator.

It is highly
recommended not to connect generators directly into the household wiring. There
must be an appropriate transfer switch, which is an electrical device
permanently installed in Las Vegas homes near the service panel.  A transfer switch makes sure that the utility
power and the generator power do not ignite the household circuits at the same
time. It can also prevent fires and serious injury caused by backfeeding.
Backfeeding is when the generator power travels back up the utility service
line.

Proper usage of
portable generators in Las Vegas homes
can be a safe choice if transfer switches are used. The National
Electrical Code sets a national standard that a transfer switch must be used to
lessen the probability and effects of fire and other potential dangers.