Generally, generators are not a good idea to run inside your garage. It’s not only bad for the exhaust and the noise, but it also can be hazardous.
A gas-powered generator emits dangerous carbon monoxide fumes, which can cause serious harm and even death if inhaled. It’s important to keep a carbon monoxide detector near a generator to alert you if CO levels become dangerously high.
Ventilation
If you’re running a gas generator in your garage, it’s essential to have adequate ventilation. This ensures that carbon monoxide fumes don’t enter your home and threaten your health.
Ventilation is the process of removing stale inside air and replacing it with fresh air. It can be done naturally or through mechanical systems such as fans or blowers.
Ventilation has several benefits, including: Diluting and displacing airborne pollutants; controlling humidity and temperature, as well as providing oxygen to combustion appliances. However, ventilation is only a solution to the problem of indoor air pollution if it’s used in conjunction with other measures to reduce that pollution.
Carbon Monoxide
When you use a gas generator in your garage, carbon monoxide can build up inside the home. Even if you have a good ventilation system, CO can still come in and cause serious health problems.
When people breathe in too much CO, they may feel a headache, dizziness, weakness or flu-like symptoms. They may also have vomiting or chest pain.
It is a serious medical emergency that can cause death. Infants, children, pregnant women, people with heart or lung disease, and people who are dehydrated or have poor oxygen levels in their blood are at greater risk.
The problem of carbon monoxide coming into homes from attached garages is worst in the winter. This is because houses are often closed up and vehicles are kept in the garage. And because cold engines produce higher concentrations of CO for longer periods of time than warm ones.
Safety
When running a generator, you should always take safety precautions to avoid any accidents. There are several things you should never do when using a gas generator in your garage, including overloading the generator, spilling fuel, and backfeeding the power line.
You should also be careful when storing gasoline in your garage, since it can catch fire easily if it spills onto a hot engine. This is especially dangerous if you’re refueling the generator at night without a flashlight.
In most cases, it is not safe to run a generator in a detached garage. This is because there are risks of carbon monoxide buildup and noise. In addition, it is easy for the fumes to enter your house through open windows and doors.
Cost
The cost to use a gas generator in your garage depends on a few factors. First, it’s important to consider the size of the unit you need and how much power you’ll need.
Whole-house models typically range from six to 20 kW and cost between $4,000 and $15,000 before tax, depending on your location. They’re ideal for homes with several a/c units, electric water heaters and other large appliances.
Those who don’t need a huge generator may opt for a portable model that can be carried from room to room and stored in the garage. They’re often less expensive than whole-home generators, but they can also be noisy and require more maintenance and fueling.
Another consideration is whether you want to run the generator on gasoline or liquified petroleum gas (LPG). Using LP, which can be purchased in a clean-burning, stable form that’s easy to store, is an option if your home already has a liquid propane contract and a large tank.
