We often hear this question in our office during the winter months. After all the power outages we have experienced over the last few years many of our clients are preparing themselves for the inevitable. It is important to be prepared, but it is equally important to make an educated decision regarding the wattage, type of generator, and knowing all the facts about how a generator will affect your Massachusetts homeowners insurance policy.
There are two types of generators, portable and permanent. Portable generators can be good option if you feel you only need to run a few appliances at a time, for a short period of time. A portable generator should always be run in open air and never inside a garage or basement. Portable generators give off a tremendous amount of CO2 and the use of a CO2 detector is strongly advised. A heavy duty extension cord is recommended to bring the power inside your home. Make sure the cord is in good working condition and with no nicks or cuts and make sure it does not get overloaded as this could start a fire. NO NOT plug the generator into a power outlet, also known as “back-feeding” this is extremely dangerous and could cause a fire in your home or seriously injury or even kill utility workers working on the lines. A generator that is being misused and causes a loss could potentially be grounds for the insurance company to denying the claim.
A permanently installed generator would be a good choice for people that want or need ease of use during a power outage. Once installed, a permanent generator can provide power to your hone with the flip of a switch. Hire a licensed electrician to install any type of permanent generator. A self-installed generator that causes a fire or damage to your home may not be covered by your Massachusetts homeowners insurance policy.
If you have any questions regarding generators and how they affect your Massachusetts Homeowners insurance policy please feel free to call our office and speak with an insurance professional. We hope everyone has a safe and power outage free winter! For more safety tips on generator safety check out the Consumer Enercy Center.