Can Generators Be Used Indoors? [How-To Guide]

In today’s world, almost all aspects of our lives are somehow linked with devices and appliances that need electricity to operate on. Especially with the current situation where the pandemic has made the whole world live indoors and work from home has become a norm the dependency on electricity has never been so much. With the demand being so high there can be situations now, where the supply is not enough to fulfill it sufficiently.

In other instances where power can be cut for days or sometimes weeks due to storms or hurricanes, life can be at a standstill and everything can become unpredictable. In these situations having a backup power source can be a wise decision. Generators prove to be a more reliable and practical option for this purpose.

Generators have always been made to be installed outdoors, because of their risk of releasing carbon monoxide gas. Carbon monoxide is a gas that, if inhaled too much, can be fatal. This gas has no smell and taste and it can silently kill a person in minutes by replacing oxygen in their body cells. But since big houses and open spaces are not mainly available in large cities and people usually prefer living in apartments, the need for an indoor generator had arisen a long time ago with few options available.

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Generators Use Indoors:

Years have been spent in the research and development of generators that are safe to use indoors. Lithium power stations are considered to be the best option in this regard. These generators are a great source of power for your essential electronics during a power outage.

People mainly use indoor generators for refrigerators as this is one of the most important appliances around the house which stores all your food in it. The most important thing to look for while choosing a generator should be its starting watts. Because while starting, the generator needs more power than the actual running. So to use indoor generators for fridges, first, you should read the manufacturer’s tag or owner’s manual to find out the wattage demands of their fridge. This will be helpful in selecting an indoor generator for refrigerators. The same goes for other appliances in your house.

Read more about Best 12000 Watt Generators

Can You Use A Generator In An Apartment:

Generators can definitely be used in apartments. Usually, high rise apartments buildings or even other types of buildings provide the facility of backup generators, those generators are huge and they are placed on the rooftops or in wide-open places but if this isn’t the case then you’ll have to think of an alternative source in case of a power outage.

First of all, you need to acquire your landlord’s permission. Secondly, it is advisable to place the generator in the apartment balcony out in the open space. Although you will need to learn about the local fire codes in your area before that, this way it will be hassle-free use and easy maintenance. The fumes and harmful gasses will stay out of the apartment, but not all apartments come with balconies in them nowadays. Indoor generators can come real handy in this situation. There are various options of indoor portable generators for apartment buildings that you could choose from. Almost all of them are battery-powered generators in one way or another. These generators don’t pose any threat as they won’t be emitting toxic gasses and fumes so they are relatively safe to be used indoors. However, proper safety measures and caution should be strictly adhered to to avoid tragedies.

Indoor Generator UK:

There have been fewer power outages in the UK to name of but the surge of the energy bills and more consumption during the pandemic has increased the risk of future blackouts and even scheduled energy cuts. More cautious people have started thinking about standby power. Since a rather large portion of UK’s population lives in apartments and condos indoor standby generators are a natural choice for them. These generators are rapidly gaining popularity due to their usefulness and convenience. However, proper safety measures should be taken before and during their usage.

Portable Generator Safety Checklist:

Your first guide for this purpose is the generator’s owner’s manual. Adequate information regarding its safe operation is stated there. You need to precisely follow the instructions and warnings mentioned there. When it comes to safety, you can never be too careful.

For further information, we have derived some safety precautions you need to take while using a portable generator.

Know about all the local and state regulations regarding installing and operating rules and regulations especially relating to grounding. Your generator should be properly grounded to avoid the risk of electrocution.
Avoid using a gas generator indoors, as the gas that is emitted through its exhaust is carbon monoxide and can be lethal if inhaled.
It should be placed away from your doors and windows.
Even when you open windows and place the generator inside, still using the generator can cause much damage.
Must install a smoke alarm, they should not be connected to the main electricity, battery-operated ones are better.
Always turn off the generator before refilling gasoline, as it is highly flammable and the hot surface of the generator can cause a fire. Let it cool down before filling gas.
Avoid overfilling the tank.
Always empty the tank of the generator before storing it.
Avoid touching the generator while it is still hot, its surface is so hot, it can burn your fingers.
Never connect a generator directly with your main wiring. This can cause back feed to the power lines.
Don’t plug in directly into just any of your household power outlets.
Make sure all electric loads are turned off before starting a generator.
Never overload a generator, this can be harmful to both your generator and appliances alike.
Always use proper cords suitable for bearing heavy loads.
Keep your generator in a safe place away from extreme weather conditions like rain, snow or excessive heat.
Keep it out of the range of children.
Avoid placing your generator in uneven places, it should be placed on a leveled surface.
Your generator should always be dry, any moisture is severely harmful to it.
You should regularly check your generator and contact an authorized mechanic if any issue is detected.

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What to Look for When Buying a Portable Generator:

An outdoor power equipment dealer is a suitable place to start looking for a generator. Don’t hesitate to ask for suggestions or ask a question if you are not sure about something.

Measure your wattage needs beforehand so you should know which capacity generator you need, mostly portable generators’ capacity varies between 900 to 10000 watts.
Make a list of the appliances you want to run on your generator, this way you will have an exact idea about your required watts.
Be sure to calculate the starting watts of each appliance as that is usually more than their running watts.
Remember to need to transport your generator after buying it, so see if it is light enough for you to carry, if not, then does it come with wheels, etc?
Run time is very important, ideally, it should be at or above 10 hours. Anything less than that and you won’t be able to even get a full day’s coverage or a full night’s sleep without worrying about refueling.
Before buying start the generator and check all the controls to see if they work properly and if you understand fully how to use them. So if you have any questions, you can ask it then and there.

Looking for extra features can be a good idea as usually they don’t come very expensive and are of significant value in the long run. Some extra features that can be a good fit, are:

A weather-protected control panel, needless to say, if the control panel is safe from the harshness of weather, it will improve your generator’s life.
The generator should support the type of outlets you have at your house.
If it has a large fuel tank, it means more run time. The longer it runs before refueling, the better.
There is one great extra feature that is the alternator, it provides extra energy for the added starting wattage needed to start the appliances.
A powerful engine ensures a smooth and long-term running of your generator, make sure your generator’s engine is of high quality.
Another feature which can really make your life easier is a muffler, this will make the noise considerably low and you and your neighbors can have a good night’s sleep now.
If it has pneumatic wheels, it’s a plus because they are great to carry along on any surface.

Today, millions of people use portable generators or have them as backup support when they lose access to power, these generators are a great source of power with suitable conditions.

References & Sources:

Organizations as action generators

Magnetocumulative generators

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Scott

I'm an engineer with 9 years of experience working on generators and inverters. Love writing about different gadgets and really passionate about energy and it's applications