Tens of thousands of Michiganders are without power after two days of severe weather, and a third underway, and may be relying on generators to keep the lights on amid widespread power outages, but experts say you need to make sure you follow warnings and guidelines to prevent potentially fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.
More than 250,000 DTE Energy and Consumers Energy customers were without power in Michigan following Thursday, Sept. 3's devastating storms, as of Friday morning, Sept. 4.
Southeast Michigan was hit particularly hard Thursday, Sept. 3, with reports of flooding, downed trees and power lines, damage to homes and businesses, stranded vehicles and even a potential tornado. Thunderstorms were still hitting the state Friday morning,
Sept. 4, and were expected to continue throughout much of the day, local National Weather Service offices said.
If you’re using a generator to keep the lights on during the outages, "use a working, battery-operated carbon monoxide detector at the same time," said Ken Boyce, senior director, principal engineering at UL Solutions in a news release.
"A carbon monoxide alarm provides one more layer of defense against making an innocent but potentially deadly mistake," Boyce says.
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Children are more susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning, even more than adults, because they absorb more of the gas into their bloodstream and they tend to breathe at a faster rate and have a higher metabolism.
What is carbon monoxide? Why is it dangerous?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, practically odorless, and tasteless gas or liquid. It is created by the incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion, according to the EPA.
At low concentrations, the gas can cause fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in people with heart disease.
At higher concentrations, you may experience:
- Impaired vision and coordination.
- Headaches.
- Dizziness.
- Confusion.
- Nausea.
The gas can cause flu-like symptoms that clear up after leaving home. At very high concentrations it will kill a person. Acute effects are due to the formation of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, which inhibits oxygen intake, the EPA said.
How to use a generator safely
Here are tips homeowners should keep in mind when running a generator, according to Consumer Reports:
- Never run a generator in an enclosed space or indoors. Always place the generator at least 20 feet from the house with the engine exhaust directed away from windows and doors.
- You should have a carbon monoxide detector: Each floor of the home needs a separate detector. If you are getting a single carbon monoxide detector, place it near the sleeping areas and make certain the alarm is loud enough to wake you up.
- Don’t run a portable generator in the rain. You can buy tents for generators that keep them shielded but still well ventilated either online, at home centers and hardware stores.
- Before refueling, turn off a gas-powered generator and let it cool. Gasoline spilled on a hot engine can ignite. Allowing the engine to cool also reduces the risk of burns while refueling.
- Stock up on extra gasoline and store it properly. When you think you’ll need to use the generator for an extended time, you’ll want extra fuel on hand.
- Buy a generator with built-in CO safety technology. Many new generators have a device that detects dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and turns off the machine when levels climb too high. A generator with a safety shutoff still isn’t safe for use close to or inside a home because the sensor is part of the generator itself and can only react to what it senses nearby, says Paolo Fu, the engineer who leads generator testing for Consumer Reports. “If the generator is spewing exhaust to another part of your home, CO levels there may rise to dangerous levels before the sensor registers much of anything,” he says.
- Install a transfer switch before the next storm. Though too late to install for use now, this critical connection will cost $300 to $900, including labor, for a 5,000-watt generator or larger. A transfer switch connects the generator to your circuit panel and lets you power hardwired appliances and avoid the safety risk of using extension cords for those with plugs. Most transfer switches also help you avoid overload by displaying wattage usage levels.
- Avoid electrical hazards. If you don’t yet have a transfer switch, you can use the outlets on the generator, provided you follow certain precautions. If you can, plug appliances directly into the generator. If you must use an extension cord, it should be a heavy-duty one for outdoor use, rated (in watts or amps) at least equal to the sum of the electrical load from each of the connected appliances. Check that the entire cord is free of cuts and that the plug has all three prongs, which is critical to protect against a shock if water has collected inside the equipment.
- Don’t attempt to backfeed your house. Backfeeding means trying to power your home’s wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet. It presents an electrocution risk to you as well as utility workers and neighbors served by the same utility transformer. It also bypasses some built-in household circuit protection devices, so you could end up frying some of your electronics or starting an electrical fire.
Detroit Free Press contributed reporting.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Using a generator amid power outage? Keep these tips in mind
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