Basic Generator Knowledge

Scott Bell (Advantage Home Inspections USA)

4-minute read

Hurricane season is about to arrive (June 1st to November 30th) and one thing all Floridians know is that power will go out at one point or another, sometimes for days. You may have considered getting a generator but are unsure what you need to do to make this possible. It is a big subject, but here are some of the guidelines. While inspecting your property, I cannot assess your generator situation and your electrical panel hookups for it as that is far outside the scope of the inspection, but I can give you some help here.

What to buy

There are many generators. They have different power capabilities and use different fuels. Typically, you want a generator that consumes gasoline so that you do not have to hook it up to your natural gas or propane tanks. Ultimately this is your decision and will be different for all. I have two 2500 Watt and one 5000 Watt Generac on my property. When we suffered a seven-day power outage these were key to keeping these things powered. You must first know what you want to keep powered and how much power those devices require. For instance, central air conditioners require a large amount of power especially when the compressor starts. There are devices you can buy to keep the immediate, large demand of amperage from coming directly from the generator as in the case of central air conditioners (soft start). Once you know what your power demands will be and have an idea of how long you want to prepare for it, that should guide you to which generator to buy.

• Central air conditioning <- This required my 5000 Watt Generac

• Window air conditioners <- This required my 2500 Watt Westinghouse Inverter

• Ceiling fans

• Refrigerators

• Freezers

• TVs

• Internet

Where to buy

• Amazon or other online retailers – Yes, Amazon honors Florida’s sales tax holiday.

• Home improvement stores like Lowes or Home Depot

• Cousin Eddy? Probably not.

Safety

• Generators produce carbon monoxide – keep them at least 20 feet from your house so that fumes do not enter through windows, vents or your soffits.

• Do not operate them indoors in your garage or basement.

• Keep them dry to prevent shocks. You can buy covers for them that keep them dry and allow venting.

• Allow them to cool for 20 minutes before refueling them.

• Use heavy duty extension cords rated for outdoor use.

• Make sure the generator is grounded.

• Do no overload them by plugging in too much or devices that need more power than the generator can provide.

• Used generators are to be avoided. You have no idea what that generator has been through. It may have been submerged during a flood.

Before storms

• Save money: There are sales tax holidays for disaster preparedness. Listed in the equipment that is eligible for a sales tax holiday are generators.

  • June 7th - June 20th and August 23rd - September 5th, 2025

  • Portable generators used to provide light or communications or to preserve food in a power outage $2500 or less.

• Read instructions: Make sure you know how it works before you need it.

• Test: Do not wait until the storm arrives to find these things out.

  • Does it work?

  • Is it hooked up correctly?

  • Will it power what you need?

  • Do you have the extension cords of the right capacity?

• Storage: Keep it safe, dry, and in good condition.

  • Perhaps it needs its own storage shed.

• Gasoline

  • There is no definitive answer to how much gasoline you are allowed to store in your home, but the Pasco County Fire Department gives the recommendation of not more than 15 gallons in 5-gallon containers.

    • You should have some though. Gas stations may be out of gas or out of power. You may not be able to get gasoline when the storm arrives.

    • I found that my power needs took about 5 gallons every 12 hours. If you can replenish your gasoline from working gas stations, you are probably okay. But having 15 gallons will give you a nice buffer.

During storms

• Generators belong Outdoors: Put the generator outside, away from doors, vents, and windows.

• Keep Dry: Protect from rain with a cover, ensuring ventilation.

• Do not Overload: Connect only essential appliances.

After storms

• Inspect and Refuel: Check for damage and refuel only when the generator is off and cool.

• Clean and Store: Clean the generator and store it safely.