House filled with carbon monoxide during power outage. Home Standby Generator

The importance of properly installing a natural gas / propane powered Generac Generator. What to do when your carbon monoxide (CO) detector goes off. The importance of having a carbon monoxide detector. Generac Guardian Home Standby Generator.
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Generac Guardian with Transfer Switch Wi-Fi Enabled amzn.to/3yqWhBW
Monoxide and Explosive Gas Alarm with Battery Backup amzn.to/3P5vu4A
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Monoxide and Explosive Gas Alarm with Battery Backup amzn.to/3OQ132P
Carbon Monoxide Plug-In Alarm with Battery Backup amzn.to/3yoN115
Portable CO Gas Detector amzn.to/3Av8d8k
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This video is for entertainment purposes, working on a vehicle or equipment can be dangerous and could possibly damage the vehicle or equipment and you could also injure or kill yourself or others if done incorrectly. Mechanical work should be done by a qualified mechanic.

[@lank278]

Shows the importance of getting references when getting a contractor, lucky the homeowner had a CO detector.

[@FRUGALWITHJOHN]

I agree on both points, thanks for watching.

[@cfoster6804]

Good video. Shopping for a generator right now and this is good to know.

[@FRUGALWITHJOHN]

Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching.

[@rupe53]

Just a heads up... there is finally a national generator code, circa 2012 (?) but not all areas have adopted it. It outlines minimum distances from the house, eves, vents, and windows. It also included proper gas venting and wiring, although basically follows NEC and NFPA. In there they spell out at least 5 feet from doors, windows, and other building penetrations, but experience shows me that if the heat of the exhaust will kill a bush at 10 feet on a long outage, you just know the exhaust side needs more space from EVERYTHING.... including AC units. Oh, do NOT modify the gen set. That will void the warranty and the UL rating. (think: liability and insurance companies)

[@Lb-bj6st]

Think it is funny that during a hurricane they recommend putting portable generators 20' from home but Standby/Whole House generators can be that close to the house. I'm about to invest in a whole house for hurricanes and have it installed at least 10' - 15' from the house. I don't think there's any point in chancing it.

[@GG-pr3yo]

Holy crap that thing is LOUD!!!!!!!!

[@FRUGALWITHJOHN]

It echoes off the two houses, making it sound louder.

[@willfriar8054]

I brought a brand new one from Lowe's and it was severely corroded. I took it back and got another one and it was even worse. it look like it was about to have holes through the exhaust system before it ever got started. I'm a marine mechanic it looks like it had been underwater. make sure to thoroughly check for corrosion on any generac product they use crap metal for sure. I'm quite sure that if you had an exhaust leak because of rust it's probably not, under warranty

[@rupe53]

the new units (almost 10 years now) are made with an aluminum housing. That said, if the seller stores the new units outside straight from the shipper, they are bundled in groups of 4 units with plastic. Rain leaks in but does NOT dry, so after weeks / months being wet in storage, everything looks shabby. Any high volume dealer knows this, but big box stores may not care. Ask me how I know after 25 years as a dealer tech.

[@puntacanaman1]

I think the reason everyone tends to put the generators close to the house is the gas hook up. Burying a propane line to a generator requires expensive gas risers and no one wants to pay extra. I did. I put mine 6' from the back of my garage and I don't regret it. No gas fumes trapped under the soffit or in the attic space. These units put out a LOT of gases.

[@FRUGALWITHJOHN]

Yes there is a major difference in price, sometimes paying a little more up front is worth it. Like I always say, (you don't know what you don't know), sometimes comments like this help other people, thanks.

[@DJaquithFL]

8:25 What about poisoning the neighbor with carbon monoxide? If you look behind you at the timestamp the neighbor's window is wide open. Frankly, this needs to be put in the backyard or somewhere further away. These houses are literally right on top of each other. I don't think the side yard is a good location to use in this application.

[@FRUGALWITHJOHN]

Good eye, the spot I pointed out would meet code but the back yard would be a better place for this generator. Thanks for watching.

[@westhavenor9513]

It's still no good, even 35' back, at least where I live. You need a 3' setback from the property line too. Assuming the line is down the middle, there's not enough room for a setback AND keeping the gen unit 18" or more from the wall of the home.

[@JasonEDragon]

The whole area between the homes is a bad location for a generator. There is too much vegetation at both ends, along with the fence and shed at the far end, and the homes are too close. And the unit is oriented to exhaust right into the middle of that space. If you get a power outage on a day with little to no wind, then exhaust is going to accumulate in that whole space and seep into any little opening in both of the homes for hours. Now I better appreciate the permitting process for generators that my village has.

[@FRUGALWITHJOHN]

Well said, thanks for watching.

[@UQRXD]

That thing needs an exhaust pipe. Plus all the noise it makes so close to house.

[@briankeenan4901]

Ok, I haven't watched your whole video yet , but I get CO coming in my house from cars running outside. It comes in from those soffit facia vents right above your head on the eaves of the house. Those are the main venting on the house. You can only fix this problem completely by exhausting your generator with a long exhaust pipe that extends a good long distance above the homes roof.

[@FRUGALWITHJOHN]

Problem was found in the video, thanks for watching?

[@rupe53]

do NOT modify the gen set. It voids the warranty and the UL rating, which may give you problems if you ever have an insurance claim. That said, look closely at the installation instructions where they specify clearances to building openings, overhead obstructions, and prevailing winds in your area. 99% of the time CO issues are from a poor installation. BTW, sometimes the easiest thing to do is turn the unit 90 degrees so the exhaust blows away from the house.

[@leiferickson713]

I install Kohler generators for a living over 100 a year. There really isn’t enough room between them two houses to have that generator. Got to be 5 feet from the AC unit two and 5 feet from The neighbors house.

[@FRUGALWITHJOHN]

Agree, definitely installed in the wrong spot, Thanks for watching.

[@camilo8cheryl]

When i saw the placement of the generator,red flags started ringing

[@overhearification]

Can you tell me which of the vents on the unit are for exhaust vs. intake?

[@FRUGALWITHJOHN]

The picture in the thumbnail, the exhaust would be on my right and intake on my left. Thanks for watching.

[@jamesj9998]

Isn't that generator way too close to the house. Mine's almost 15' from the foundation and the exhaust is pointed away from the house.

[@FRUGALWITHJOHN]

Yes, it was installed in the wrong spot, in order to install correctly you need to check, local building codes and manufacturer's minimums.

[@dl4507]

What about the neighbors!!!!?

[@FRUGALWITHJOHN]

There is no correct answer here, the only way is to correctly install it is front or back yard.

[@stevendumont4156]

This review is flawed, but by the design of the house, the window (which has an obvious gap and unsealed from the outside), the exhaust/inlet vent right above the genie, and the fact all generators must be installed within 10' of the main power panel. However, I agree the installers should have installed the genie elsewhere. The reviewer here is also embellishing on the obvious, mistakes not from Generac, but from the owners own obvious decisions to install the system right where it is at per his requests...

[@FRUGALWITHJOHN]

It is not a review, but an example of a poor installation.

[@fuqui035]

Those people are stupid they didntsee the danger that should never be that close tothe house

[@graywind4326]

Installation is supposed to be at least 10 feet from structure.

[@blueboat9581]

A standby generator is not a diy install

[@SilverandCigars]

I did mine in 2011. Still working great.

[@danlah1303]

Wow, seriously botched install.

[@jayblemsin4226]

That install is ugly