{"id":1826,"date":"2024-03-31T23:22:33","date_gmt":"2024-03-31T23:22:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pluggedinacademy.com\/?p=1826"},"modified":"2024-03-31T23:22:33","modified_gmt":"2024-03-31T23:22:33","slug":"can-you-run-a-portable-generator-in-a-shed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pluggedinacademy.com\/generators\/can-you-run-a-portable-generator-in-a-shed\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Run A Portable Generator In A Shed?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Have you ever asked yourself, can you run a portable generator in a shed? You are probably already aware that you can\u2019t have a running portable generator in your house, but what about in a shed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Portable generators cannot be run in enclosed spaces, and that includes sheds. There are several associated risks, including carbon monoxide poisoning, fire hazards<\/strong><\/strong> and burn risks. Portable generators do need to be protected from rain damage, but your shed is not a safe spot for your generator.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fact is, it’s never safe to run your portable generator in the shed even if the doors are open or using a fan to expel the exhaust fumes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from the generator could kill you. CO<\/a> is a colorless, odorless gas produced when burning fossil fuels like natural gas or other fuels that contain carbon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Breathing in high levels of CO can cause headaches, dizziness, and vomiting, and in extreme cases can be fatal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this post, we\u2019ll look in more detail at how to safely use and protect a portable generator while it’s running, and why it should never be used in a shed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Portable generators need lots of airflow to operate safely. And while it might seem like a good idea to run a generator in a shed, they simply do not have sufficient ventilation and airflow to be a good spot for one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, portable generators should have at least three to four feet<\/a><\/strong> of open space for proper operation, as recommended by OHSA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several reasons for this. Not only does it help cool the generator, but also allows any CO produced from the machine to properly disperse into the atmosphere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Truth is, portable generators need a good degree of airflow so that the fumes can escape, rather than building up around the generator and creating a fire hazard. As an example, a generator’s exhaust’s temperature can reach as hot as 575 to 935 degrees Fahrenheit!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carbon monoxide poisoning is extremely difficult to detect and is probably the biggest hazard however, but the fire risk should not<\/em> be dismissed either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So when asked the question, can you run a portable generator in a shed, answer is always going to be no. It’s just not safe for the operator or the generator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if you have the door(s) and windows open, sheds are just too well sealed for the fumes from the generator to escape.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Can’t You Run a Portable Generator In a Shed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can I Run a Generator in a Shed With the Door Open?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n