Where to Place & Run It Safely
Last verified: September 2026
Everything you actually need to know, in plain English - no jargon, no rabbit holes. If you'd rather skip the reading and just have someone help, my number is (330) 200-8042.
Where to Place & Run It Safely
Once you've picked a generator, the next question is where to put it and how to run it safely — and it matters more than folks expect. The right spot is outdoors and well away from the house, on dry, level, firm ground, with the exhaust aimed away from doors and windows. Add a proper open cover for rain and snow, the right heavy-duty cords, and a cable lock so it doesn't walk off, and you're set. Here's the plain-English version, with a printable, 29-page guide up top if you'd like the full walk-through.
Common Questions
1 Where exactly should the generator go?
Outside, always — never in the garage, a shed, a carport, or on a covered porch. Set it on dry, level, firm ground at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from every door, window, and vent. Keep it clear of the air conditioner and any fresh-air intake, and give it open air all around so it can breathe.
2 It's pouring rain. How do I keep it dry without bringing it inside?
Use an open, vented cover made for running generators — often called a running cover or a generator canopy — that keeps the rain and snow off while letting the exhaust and heat escape on every side. Never drape a plain tarp over it, and never move it into a shed or garage to stay dry. Keep it up out of any puddle, and off ground where water collects.
3 Can I run it in the garage if I leave the door open?
No — please don't, not even with the door wide open. The exhaust carries carbon monoxide, an invisible, odorless gas that builds up in a garage, shed, carport, or breezeway and seeps into the house. The only safe place is outdoors, well away from the walls. This is the one rule that never bends.
4 What kind of extension cord should I use?
A heavy-duty cord made for outdoor use, sized for the load and the distance. The longer the run and the heavier the load, the thicker the cord needs to be, so check the rating printed on the cord and in your generator's manual. Use one properly rated cord rather than several skinny ones chained together, and keep the plug connections up off wet ground and out of puddles.
5 How do I keep it from being stolen during an outage?
Generators do get taken during long outages, so treat yours like a good bicycle. Run a stout cable or chain through the frame and lock it to something solid, keep it out of view from the street, and jot down the make and serial number. A little light nearby and a spot the neighbors can see both help, too.
6 How do I keep it from bothering us or the neighbors at night?
Distance and direction do most of the work. Set it as far from the bedrooms as your cords safely allow — yours and the neighbors' — and turn the noisy exhaust side away from the windows. Run it in eco or economy mode, and stand it on firm, level ground so it doesn't buzz and rattle. Keeping it well away from the house helps the noise and the fumes both.
Want a Hand With Yours?
Picking a generator, setting it up, and learning to run it safely is one of my most-requested visits. I bring the patience and the know-how - you keep your seat. We'll match a unit to your home, set it up right, walk through starting it and staying safe from carbon monoxide, and get your internet, TV, and devices happily back on. $99 flat, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free. (330) 200-8042.
Would you rather I just do this for you?
No shame in it — plenty of folks would rather hand it off, and that's what I'm here for. I'll come to your home, set it up right, and make sure it's working before I leave. Flat $99 per visit — no jargon, no upsell, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free.
Not a hardware job? I can often fix it remotely for $49 — a secure screen-share, up to 2 hours, that you watch the whole time and can end whenever (included free for $39/mo Support Plan members, and it counts toward the $99 if it turns out I need to come out).