A portable generator used in a winter storm or power cut gives off carbon monoxide. In its release of 12 December 2025, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says about 100 people a year in the US die from carbon monoxide from portable generators (2021 annual estimates), and that generators must be run only outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house (about 6.1 m, our conversion). Opening doors or windows doesn’t provide enough ventilation. Here are the release’s winter tips on alarms, heaters, charcoal, candles and gas smells too.
1. Never run a generator in a home, garage, basement or shed — open doors aren’t enough.
2. Outdoors only, at least 20 feet (about 6.1 m) from the house, exhaust pointed away.
3. No charcoal indoors or in a garage. Smell gas? Leave at once without touching lights or phones.
Generators — CPSC
| Type | What the source says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Danger | CO from gasoline generators can kill in minutes; you may pass out before noticing nausea, dizziness or weakness | Called the “invisible killer” |
| Never inside | Never in a home, garage, basement, crawlspace, shed or other enclosed space; open doors or windows aren’t enough | — |
| Distance | Outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house; not on porches or in carports | 20 ft ≈ 6.1 m (ours) |
| Exhaust | Point exhaust away from the home and buildings; close nearby windows and seal vents in its path | — |
| Rain, snow | Follow the maker on shock risk — a noncombustible generator tent, or wait until it stops | — |
| Upkeep, choice | Maintain it; follow labels and warnings; choose one with a CO shut-off | — |
Alarms — CPSC
| Type | What the source says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| CO alarms | Battery or battery-backup alarms on each level and outside sleeping areas; interconnected is best | — |
| Smoke alarms | Every level and inside each bedroom | — |
| Testing | Test both monthly; replace batteries as needed | — |
| If one sounds | Don’t ignore it; get outside, then call for help | 119 in Korea |
| Snow | Clear snow from outside vents of furnaces and other fuel-burning appliances | — |
Heaters, charcoal, candles, gas — CPSC
| Type | What the source says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Heater distance | Keep beds, clothing, curtains, papers, sofas and other flammables 3 feet away on all sides | 3 ft ≈ 0.91 m (ours) |
| Heater placement | Stable, level surface; never left running unattended in a confined space | — |
| Heater power | Straight into a wall outlet; no power strips; no cords under rugs | — |
| Charcoal | Never burn indoors; no charcoal grill in a garage, even with the door open | — |
| Candles | Flashlights or battery candles where possible; otherwise away from flammables, attended, out when leaving or sleeping | — |
| Gas smell or sound | Leave immediately; don’t operate lights, phones or electronics first; call the gas authority from outside | In Korea, the city gas supplier or 119 (ours) |
CO symptoms and what to do are in carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms; fridge food in a power cut in power outage food safety.
Where it overlaps a Korean winter — our note
The release targets US winter storms, but three of its rules apply directly in Korea: generators or engines in garages and sheds, charcoal indoors or in a garage, and heaters on power strips. The CPSC forbids all three. Its warning that CO can knock you out before you notice symptoms is why monthly-tested alarms on every level back the rest up.
Checklist
- ☐ Generator outdoors, 20 feet (about 6.1 m) or more from the house
- ☐ CO and smoke alarms on every level, tested monthly
- ☐ Snow cleared from outside appliance vents
- ☐ Heater in a wall outlet, 3 feet clear
- ☐ No charcoal indoors or in garages; smell gas, get out without switching anything
Questions that remain
What about a balcony with the window open?
The CPSC says open doors and windows don’t give enough ventilation, and rules out porches and carports. Outdoors and 20 feet away is the line.
Which year is the 100 a year?
The release cites the CPSC report’s 2021 annual estimates. We didn’t check Korean figures.
Sources
- CPSC — As Winter Storms Threaten Millions in the U.S., CPSC Issues Safety Tips… (release 26-149) — source (12 December 2025; checked 19 October 2026). About 100 generator deaths a year (2021 estimates), seven generator rules and 20 feet, five alarm rules, heaters at 3 feet and no power strips, charcoal, candles, gas leaks.
- Not read. The full CPSC non-fire CO deaths report; Korean generator and gas rules.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column and the Korean everyday gloss.
Where to check further
- Your generator manual — use in rain or snow and shock risk.
- Your city gas supplier — suspected leaks.
Written on 19 October 2026. The content is from the source; the glosses are ours.
