Generator Mistakes to Avoid in Houston Outages

The short version

• Never backfeed — plugging a generator into a wall or dryer outlet to energize your home is illegal and can kill line workers and start fires.
• Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or near windows — carbon monoxide kills fast and silently.
• For whole-home backup, the safe method is a transfer switch or interlock kit installed by a licensed electrician.
• Size the generator to your real needs and keep it dry — our storms bring wind-driven rain.

Mistake 1: Backfeeding the panel

After a hurricane or a winter storm like the 2021 freeze, people try to power the whole house by plugging a generator into a wall or dryer outlet. This pushes electricity backward through your panel and out onto the utility lines, where it can electrocute the CenterPoint crews working to restore power — and your neighbors. It also bypasses your breakers, creating a fire risk. The legal, safe alternative is a transfer switch or interlock kit, which isolates your home from the grid before the generator feeds selected circuits.

Mistake 2: Running it too close to the house

Portable generators produce carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that has killed Houstonians during past storms. Run it outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from doors, windows, and vents — never in a garage, even with the door open. Install battery-powered CO alarms inside.

Mistake 3: Ignoring rain and wet ground

Our storm season means standing water. Never operate a generator in the rain or on wet ground without proper cover — use a purpose-built generator tent or canopy, keep the unit on a dry, level surface, and always plug in with outdoor-rated, heavy-gauge extension cords.

Mistake 4: Guessing on size and fuel

Undersizing leads to overloading the generator; oversizing wastes fuel. List your must-run items — refrigerator, a few lights, fans, phone charging, a window AC or a medical device — and match the wattage. Keep enough fresh, properly stored fuel, and start and exercise the unit before storm season so you're not troubleshooting in the dark.

The bottom line for Houston homeowners

A generator is one of the best investments for our outage-prone climate, but the connection method is what separates safe backup from a deadly hazard. If you want the convenience of powering circuits from your panel — or you're considering a permanent standby generator — have a licensed electrician install a transfer switch or interlock and, for standby units, handle the gas and permitting. It's a modest cost next to the risk of doing it wrong.