5 Widely Believed Myths About Gas Generators
A generator gives you peace of mind knowing that your home or business is powered through blackouts. Even though these devices are good to have, many have misconceptions about gas-powered generators. If you want to know the truth behind these widely believed myths about gas generators, here are five to look over.
“It’s OK To Let a Generator Run Out of Gas”
You might have heard through the grapevine that letting a generator run out of gas is fine, but it’s actually the complete opposite. We’re sorry to shatter your reality, but it’s to help you know for the future.
If you run the generator until it hits empty, it will lead to serious issues in the future, including appliance issues. Avoid this problem altogether by refueling only by the required timeframe: every 4 to 8 hours.
“You Don’t Need To Maintain a Generator Regularly”
This one is simply not true. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a world where nothing can go without proper maintenance, especially daily cleaning and inspecting. By not maintaining your generator, you will have difficulty running it. For instance, your vents will be clogged with dust and dirt.
Prevent forthcoming issues by maintaining the generator daily, meaning that you should dust it, drain the old oil, and check for any damage internally and externally. Daily maintenance creates a healthier device and a less stressed you.
“You Can Run the Generator Indoors”
This myth is the most dangerous of them all. It’s never good to have a generator running indoors. In fact, it’s better to run your generator a reasonable distance from the house, buildings, trees, and other things that could box the generator in.
What exactly could happen if you were to run the generator indoors? A multitude of things can occur, such as:
- A fire breaking out.
- Creating a high-risk chance of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Causing your home to blow up if unburned gasoline vapors mix with air.
“Generators Can Be Plugged Into an Electrical Outlet”
No, generators cannot and should never be plugged into a wall or another electrical outlet. Since your generator is gas-powered, you are going to have operation restrictions. What is the reason, exactly? That reason is because of a term called backfeeding. Backfeeding means to feed power back into your electrical system, which is actually a dangerous and illegal process to do in your home. It could also cause a fire.
“You Can Use Any Fuel Type You’d Like”
It’s not possible to use just any type of fuel; you should always follow your owner’s manual to know what oil type works well for your machine. While modern standby generators could take any fuel type, learning about your generator could save you money on location and overall environmental effects.
Learning about gas-powered generator myths is essential, so you’re not tricked into getting something that doesn’t work for you. Our Generators is here to ensure you learn about and buy the right generator for your home or business. Contact us to discuss these misconceptions and get your first order started.