Generator Safety During Power Outages: Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Key facts

• Outdoors only: never run a generator inside a home, basement or garage, even with doors and windows open (CDC).
• Distance: keep it at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents (CDC), with the exhaust pointed away from the house (CPSC).
• The toll: CPSC estimates that generators alone were linked to 892 non-fire CO deaths from 2012 to 2022, which is 41% of all consumer-product CO deaths in that period (CPSC, 2026).
• Season: 59% of consumer-product CO deaths from 2020 to 2022 happened from November through February.
• Alarms: use battery-powered or battery-backup CO alarms. In CPSC's review of engine-driven tool deaths, an alarm was known to be present in only 4% of cases.
• No backfeeding: never plug a generator into a wall outlet. Use a transfer switch installed by an electrician.
• Fuel: turn the generator off and let it cool before refueling. Store fuel in an approved safety can, outside living areas.

Why generators are the biggest CO risk in an outage

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas. The CDC estimates that more than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 100,000 visit an emergency department, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized.

Portable generators stand out among the causes. In its May 2026 report, the Consumer Product Safety Commission calls generators the single product under its jurisdiction associated with the most CO deaths. For 2022, CPSC estimated 274 non-fire CO deaths linked to consumer products, and 93 of them involved generators. CPSC also found a statistically significant upward trend in these deaths from 2012 to 2022.

Gasoline engines make this hazard especially dangerous. CPSC notes that their exhaust may not produce irritating smoke even when it contains large amounts of CO, so there may be no obvious warning. Rapidly rising CO levels can cause sudden incapacitation, so people may be unable to get out on their own.

Outages are a big part of the pattern. In CPSC's generator fatality review for 2012–2022, the most common reasons for using a generator in fatal incidents were power outages, utility shutoffs and powering temporary locations such as cabins and campers. Power outages alone accounted for 139 deaths in 103 incidents, mostly after ice and snow storms and hurricanes. Residential locations accounted for 77% of the generator-related deaths.

The pattern is predictable, and so is the fix: where you put the generator matters more than anything else.

Rule 1: Never run a generator indoors or in a garage

The CDC is unambiguous. Never use a generator, pressure washer or other gasoline-powered engine inside your home, basement or garage (CDC). That includes running it with the garage door or nearby windows open. The American Red Cross adds crawlspaces and other partially enclosed areas to the list. It also warns that opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO from building up (American Red Cross).

The same rule applies to grills, camp stoves and other gasoline-, propane-, natural gas- or charcoal-burning devices. Never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home (Ready.gov).

Rule 2: At least 20 feet away, with the exhaust pointed away

Official guidance uses the same minimum distance, with slightly different wording:

Agency	Guidance
CDC (generator safety)	Keep the generator outside, at least 20 feet from any doors, windows or vents
CDC (CO basics)	Operate it outdoors more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents
CPSC	Operate it outdoors at least 20 feet from the house, and direct the exhaust away from the home and other buildings
Ready.gov	Keep generators and fuel at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages

Treat 20 feet as the floor, not the goal. CPSC advises keeping windows and other openings in the exhaust path closed. In about 5% of generator-related deaths from 2012 to 2022, the generator was outdoors but close enough to windows, air conditioners or other openings for CO to get inside. In one 2021 incident, three people died even though their generator had a CO shutoff feature. It was running under the eaves near attic soffit vents, with the exhaust pointed at a door (CPSC). Built-in safety features help, but they don't replace good placement.

Before a storm, pick a spot that is 20 feet or more from your home and your neighbors' homes. It should also be away from windows, doors, vents and air conditioners, and on a dry, level surface. Check active weather alerts early so you're not deciding in the dark and rain.

Rule 3: CO alarms on every level

A working CO alarm is your backup if something goes wrong.

• Where: install alarms with battery backup in central locations on every level of your home (Ready.gov), including near every sleeping area (CDC).
• Power: use battery-powered or battery-backup alarms, because plug-in alarms without a battery won't work during an outage.
• Maintenance: CDC suggests checking batteries when you change your clocks each spring and fall. Replace the alarm every 5 years or as the manufacturer directs. CPSC recommends testing CO and smoke alarms monthly.

Alarms only work if they're there and powered. In CPSC's review of CO deaths involving generators and other engine-driven tools from 2012 to 2022, an alarm was known to be present in only 33 deaths (4%). In 17 of those, the alarm wasn't working, often because of missing or dead batteries.

Know the symptoms. CDC lists headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. People who are asleep or intoxicated can die before they notice any symptoms. If an alarm sounds or anyone feels sick, dizzy or weak while a generator is running, get to fresh air immediately. Call for help from outside, and stay there until emergency responders arrive (American Red Cross).

Rule 4: Never backfeed your house

Some people try to power their home's wiring by plugging a generator into a wall or dryer outlet. This is called backfeeding, and it is dangerous. The American Red Cross warns that it puts utility workers, your neighbors and your household at risk of electrocution. Backfeeding can send your generator's electricity out onto utility lines.

The safe options:

• Plug appliances directly into the generator, or use a heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cord. The cord should be rated, in watts or amps, at least as high as the total load you connect. Check that it has no cuts and that the plug has all three prongs.
• To power household circuits, have an electrician install a transfer switch. It should meet the National Electrical Code and your state and local codes (American Red Cross).
• Don't overload the generator. Add up the wattage of what you need to run, and stagger appliances if necessary.

Rule 5: Keep it dry, and handle fuel carefully

Electrical safety: keep the generator dry, and don't use it in rain or wet conditions. Run it on a dry surface under an open, canopy-like structure, and never touch it with wet hands.

Refueling: turn the generator off and let it cool before adding fuel. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts can ignite.

Fuel storage: keep fuel in an approved safety can, outside living areas, in a locked shed or other protected place. Don't store it near fuel-burning appliances, such as a gas water heater in a garage. Local laws may limit how much fuel you can store and where, so ask your fire department (American Red Cross).

Alternatives that don't produce carbon monoxide

You may not need a gasoline generator at all. Here's a high-level look at the options:

• Battery banks and portable power stations don't burn fuel, so they don't produce carbon monoxide. They can run phones, lights, radios and some small devices. Their capacity is limited, so check what you need to power and for how long. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for charging and use.
• Rooftop solar needs extra equipment to help in an outage. The U.S. Department of Energy explains that solar panels alone are not enough, because most systems are designed to switch off when grid power goes out. To keep running on their own, they need a properly configured inverter and a storage system.
• Leaving for a place with power is sometimes the best choice, especially in extreme heat or cold. Ready.gov recommends going to a community location with power when temperatures are dangerous.

Whatever you choose, a plan built around stored water, food, flashlights and batteries means you need much less electricity. Our grid-down preparedness checklist walks through it, and our guide to how long food lasts in a power outage explains how long your fridge and freezer can go unpowered.

Quick generator safety checklist

Before the outage	During the outage
Read the owner's manual	Set up outdoors only, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents
Install battery-backup CO alarms on every level	Point the exhaust away from your home and your neighbors' homes
Have an electrician install a transfer switch if you want to power house circuits	Never plug the generator into a wall outlet
Get heavy-duty, outdoor-rated, three-prong cords	Keep it dry, and don't touch it with wet hands
Store fuel in approved cans, outside living areas	Turn it off and let it cool before refueling
Choose a dry, level spot 20 feet or more from the house	Leave for fresh air at the first CO alarm or symptoms

The bottom line

Generators can make a long outage much easier, but used the wrong way they are a leading cause of carbon monoxide deaths. The rules are short: outdoors only, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, exhaust pointed away, CO alarms on every level, no backfeeding, and careful fueling. If you'd rather avoid the risk entirely, battery power, a solar-plus-storage system or a trip to a place with power can cover many needs. For what to do once the lights go out, see our step-by-step guide on what to do during a power outage, and check current outages near you.

PowerOutageTracker.com. "Generator Safety During Power Outages: Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning." Accessed November 2, 2026. https://poweroutagetracker.com/guides/generator-safety-carbon-monoxide