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How do I respond to a carbon monoxide leak from a generator?

By Bob Millaway, South Jersey Community Expert & REALTOR®

If your generator is running indoors, in a garage, or too close to your home, turn it off immediately if safe to do so. Evacuate everyone, including pets, and call 911 from outside. Carbon monoxide from generators is colorless and odorless but can be fatal within minutes. Open doors and windows to ventilate only after the generator is off. Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or within 20 feet of doors, windows, or vents. Install battery-operated CO alarms on every level of your home.

Why It Matters

Generator-related carbon monoxide poisoning kills hundreds of people each year. A generator running just 15 feet from an open window can produce deadly CO levels inside your home within minutes.

Related Questions

What do I do if I smell gas in my home? What should I do if I have a carbon monoxide alarm? What should I do if there is an electrical fire? What should I do if my basement floods? What do I do if my roof is damaged in a storm?

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