Portable generators have many negatives

Portable generators are what most people think of when the word “generator” is mentioned. The smaller cousin of the standby generator, these are suited more for outdoor events like tailgating, barbecuing or camping. Some larger portable generators are even large enough for construction sites. Unfortunately, even portable generators specifically designed for the home aren’t ideal for providing whole-home power during an electricity failure for a number of reasons.

1 While portable generators are great for on-the-go events, powering one up at home during a snowstorm can be a hassle. That’s because portable models rely on gasoline and produce carbon monoxide. You can’t stay warm and operate the generator inside a garage or in a breezeway, says Eric Loferski with Briggs & Stratton. Care must also be taken around open windows and doors.

“Be aware of the way the wind is blowing,” he says. “Carbon monoxide could blow in through an open window.” 2 Portable generators are gasoline-powered. That means owners will need fresh gasolineto operate them, which can be tough to come by in a snowstorm or during severe weather. “The gasoline that’s available to consumers today goes bad within 30 days or less,”Loferski says. “The alcohol that’s in the gas turns into almost a hand sanitizer texture, almost a gel, that can clog engines.” Consumers can buy a fuel stabilizer to mix with gasoline to keep it from separating, but even that only lasts so long. And don’t even think about refueling while the generator is in use.

“It will have to be turned off and cooled down before more fuel is added,” according to Melanie Tydrich with Kohler Co.

3 Portable generators cannot be hard-wired into a home, meaning the homeowner will need to plug items needing power directly into the generator in order for them to work.This means lots of extension cords, each of which will need to be rated for the wattage of the appliance and the length over which the electric current must travel. Portable generators can be connected to a transfer switch as well, but that still requires the user to fire up the generator and connect it to the switch.

4 Back-feeding, or plugging a generator directly into an outlet in order to feed power into a home, is a major fire hazard. Once the power comes back on, there are two sources of electricity coming into the home. “It can immediately cause an electrical fire,” Loferski says.