01/23/2026
To all my clients and followers, please practice safe generator usages this weekend. I want each and everyone of you to be with us on the back side of this storm. If you are using a generator or indoor heaters in any capacity, please heed this advice:
-Follow all safety instructions in the manual with your generator, especially in regards to placement near your home. Portable generators need to be a minimum of 20ft away from any opening in your home: Windows, crawl vents, dryer vents, door, etc. The further away, the better. CO poisoning is no joke. Do not die in order to keep your food safe.
-Only use approved indoor heaters to supplement any heat you may lose. Please do not use your shop heaters and outdoor heaters inside in any capacity. CO will kill you.
-If you are using a generator or interior heating, please get some CO monitors. There are battery powered options you can buy for the short term, as well as hardwired or plug in options you can use if you have an alternate power source for your home.
-DO NOT HOOK YOUR GENERATOR UP TO YOUR HOME UNLESS YOU HAVE A PROPER INTERLOCK AND INLET! Proper wiring sizing for your inlet, as well as protection for down the line workers is crucial. Do not plug a generator to back feed any part of your systems unless it has been professionally installed and you can guarantee safety for the linemen fixing your power. If you back feed your panel without turning off your main breaker, that power will leave your home, pass the opposite way through a meter, and cause a current on the lines the utility company is expecting to be down.
As always, please practice safety, and once the storm passes, please contact me and we can help fix any damage you might incur as well as help you be prepared for the next major weather event.
I hope everyone is able to stay warm and safe throughout this bad weather and as always, Riverson Electric Company is proud to be your local professional electrician. Hold your family close and dust off those board games. Let's get ready for a classic North Carolina Ice Storm.
