Self-Reliance · Shelter
The equipment that keeps a household warm, lit, and powered during outages is the same equipment that causes the most deaths after storms. Generator placement, propane handling, carbon monoxide prevention, and fuel storage done right.
Generator safety rulesThe stakes
The CPSC reports that portable generators cause roughly 70 carbon monoxide deaths per year in the United States. Hundreds more people are hospitalized. Most of these deaths occur during winter storms and power outages, and most happen because the generator was placed inside a garage, basement, or too close to an open window. The pattern repeats after every major storm: the power goes out, the temperature drops, and someone starts a generator or fires up a propane heater without understanding the ventilation requirements.
Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. You cannot smell it, see it, or taste it. The early symptoms, headache, dizziness, nausea, and confusion, mimic the flu. By the time a person recognizes what is happening, they may be too impaired to leave the building. CO detectors and correct equipment placement are not suggestions. They are the difference between a manageable outage and a fatal one.
This page covers the safe use of generators, propane equipment, and alternative heating. Every recommendation follows CPSC, Ready.gov, and NFPA guidelines. The rules are simple. They are also non-negotiable.
Generators
The one rule that saves lives
Never run a portable generator inside a house, garage, basement, crawl space, shed, or any enclosed or partially enclosed space. Place it at least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent, with the exhaust directed away from the building. This is the CPSC standard and the most frequently violated safety rule after storms.
Position the generator on a dry, level surface outdoors. Keep it protected from rain and snow with an open-sided canopy or tarp structure, never an enclosed tent or cover that traps exhaust. Run heavy-duty outdoor-rated extension cords from the generator to the house. Never plug a generator directly into a wall outlet (backfeeding), which energizes utility lines and can kill line workers. A transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician is the safe way to connect a generator to household circuits.
Turn the generator off and let it cool before refueling. Gasoline spilled on a hot engine or exhaust can ignite. Store fuel in approved containers (UL-listed or ASTM-compliant, typically red for gasoline) in a well-ventilated area away from the house and any ignition sources. Add fuel stabilizer if storing gasoline for more than 30 days. Rotate fuel stock every 3 to 6 months by using the stored fuel in your vehicle and replacing it with fresh.
A typical portable generator (3,000 to 7,500 watts) burns 0.5 to 1 gallon per hour under load. For a 72-hour outage running the generator 8 to 12 hours per day (to keep the refrigerator cold, charge devices, and run essential lights), plan for 10 to 15 gallons. Prioritize loads: run the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours, then switch to other needs. Running everything simultaneously wastes fuel and shortens the window your supply covers.
CO prevention
Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced by any fuel-burning device: generators, propane heaters, kerosene heaters, gas stoves, charcoal grills, camp stoves, and vehicles. In an enclosed space, CO concentrations can reach lethal levels within minutes. CO detectors are your first and sometimes only line of defense.
Install battery-powered or battery-backup CO detectors on every level of the home, including the basement, and outside each sleeping area. CO mixes with air and distributes relatively evenly, so wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted placement both work. The CPSC recommends battery backup specifically because CO risk is highest during power outages, when electric-only detectors are dead.
Leave the building immediately. Do not try to find the source. Do not open windows to "air it out" and then stay inside. Get every person and pet out, move to fresh air, and call 911 from outside. CO poisoning impairs judgment rapidly. People who try to investigate or troubleshoot the source after the alarm sounds account for a significant portion of CO fatalities.
Generators
No exceptions. Not in the garage with the door open. Not in the basement with a fan running. Not with a hose rigged to vent exhaust outside. Outdoors, 20 feet from openings, exhaust pointing away.
Charcoal grills and camp stoves
Designed for outdoor use only. Charcoal produces CO for hours after flames are no longer visible. A grill brought into a garage or home for warmth or cooking has caused multiple family fatalities.
Gas ovens and stovetops for heating
Ready.gov explicitly warns against using a gas stove or oven to heat your home. The burners produce CO, and an oven running continuously in an enclosed kitchen can reach dangerous concentrations within hours.
Vehicles
Never run a car in an attached garage, even with the door open. CO migrates into the home through interior doors, shared walls, and ductwork. If using a vehicle for warmth or charging, park it outdoors with the exhaust pipe clear of snow and away from any building.
Propane
Propane is a versatile fuel for heating, cooking, and powering generators. It stores indefinitely when kept in a properly sealed tank, which makes it attractive for preparedness. But propane is heavier than air, meaning leaks accumulate at floor level and can reach explosive concentrations before anyone smells the odorant (mercaptan) added to propane as a warning.
Store propane cylinders upright in a well-ventilated outdoor area, away from the house and any ignition sources. Never store cylinders in a basement, garage, or enclosed space. The 20-pound cylinders used for grills and portable heaters should be inspected for rust, dents, and valve damage before each use. Cylinders have a 12-year certification life from the manufacture date stamped on the collar, after which they must be recertified or replaced.
Some propane heaters are specifically designed for indoor use and include an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) that shuts the unit off if oxygen levels in the room drop below a safe threshold. These are the only propane heaters safe to use inside a home, and even these require ventilation, typically a window cracked at least one inch, and a functioning CO detector in the room. Read the manufacturer's instructions for your specific model. An outdoor-rated propane heater used indoors can kill.
If you smell the rotten-egg odor of propane, or if a propane detector alarms, extinguish all flames and ignition sources, do not flip any electrical switches (which can spark), leave the building immediately, and call your propane supplier or 911 from outside. Do not re-enter until a professional has inspected the system and confirmed it is safe.
Heating alternatives
When the power goes out in winter, the house cools faster than most people expect. A well-insulated home holds habitable temperature for 12 to 24 hours in moderate cold. In severe cold or poorly insulated homes, pipes can freeze within hours. Knowing your heating options, and which ones will kill you, is the difference between a cold night and a fatal one.
A functioning wood stove or fireplace with a clean, inspected chimney is the safest alternative heat source. Have the chimney inspected and cleaned annually. Use seasoned hardwood, never treated lumber, painted wood, or cardboard, which produce toxic fumes. Keep a fire extinguisher within reach. Maintain clearance between the stove and combustible materials per the manufacturer's specifications.
Provides significant heat for a single room. Requires ventilation and a CO detector. Follow the manufacturer's room-size guidelines. Not a whole-house solution.
Close off unused rooms to concentrate body heat and any remaining warmth in a smaller space. Hang blankets over doorways. Cover windows with blankets or plastic sheeting to reduce heat loss. Gather the household into one room, preferably an interior room with few exterior walls. Layer clothing and use sleeping bags rated for cold weather. Body heat from four people in a closed room raises the temperature measurably.
If indoor temperatures are dropping toward freezing, open cabinet doors under sinks to expose pipes to room air. Let faucets drip slowly, as moving water resists freezing. If you leave the house during an extended outage, shut off the water main and drain the lines to prevent burst pipes. A single burst pipe can cause thousands of dollars in water damage and leave the home uninhabitable.
Burn prevention
Alternative heating, cooking without a stove, and improvised lighting create burn risks that do not exist during normal operations. Children and elderly household members are especially vulnerable. The shift from electric appliances to open flames, hot surfaces, and fuel-burning equipment requires deliberate safety awareness.
Candles cause roughly 7,000 residential fires per year in the United States, according to the NFPA. During power outages, candle-related fires spike. Use battery-powered LED lanterns and flashlights as primary lighting. If candles must be used, place them on stable, heat-resistant surfaces away from anything flammable. Never leave candles unattended. Never place candles where children or pets can reach them. Never fall asleep with a candle burning.
Wood stoves, propane heaters, kerosene heaters, and camp stoves all have surfaces hot enough to cause severe burns on contact. Establish a clear perimeter around any heat source. Keep children and pets outside that perimeter at all times. Use heat-resistant gloves when handling stove doors, grates, or fuel containers.
Power returning after an outage can cause voltage surges that damage electronics and, in rare cases, start electrical fires. Before the power comes back, unplug sensitive electronics and turn off circuits you were not using. Leave one light switched on so you know when power is restored. After restoration, plug devices back in one at a time. If you smell burning or see sparking from any outlet, switch off the breaker for that circuit and call an electrician.
Next steps
Today
Test every CO detector in your home. Replace batteries. Confirm one is installed on every level and outside each sleeping area. This takes five minutes and it matters.
CO prevention guideGetting equipped
Choose the right size, plan placement, stock fuel safely, and understand the transfer switch question before the next outage.
Generator safety