How to get a generator ready for hurricane season

Start in May, not when a storm has a name

According to the National Hurricane Center, the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and the eastern Pacific season runs from May 15 to November 30. The Center puts the peak of the Atlantic season at September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October.

That calendar gives a natural rhythm. Do the full check in May, before the season opens, when parts and fuel are easy to get and nothing is urgent. A quick look again in August, before the busiest weeks, catches anything that changed over the summer. Waiting until a storm is in the forecast puts every step on the same deadline as everyone else's.

Service the engine on the manual's schedule

Start with the owner's manual, because intervals differ by engine. Honda's manual for the EU2200i inverter generator, for example, lists checking the oil level and the air cleaner before each use, changing the oil every 6 months or 100 hours, cleaning the air cleaner every 3 months or 50 hours (more often in dusty areas), checking the spark plug every 6 months or 100 hours, and replacing it every year or 200 hours, whichever comes first in each case.

Champion Power Equipment's pre-season advice for portable generators is to have fresh fuel, fresh oil, a spare spark plug, and basic maintenance supplies on hand, to review the owner's manual, and to inspect extension cords for damage. Home standby units follow their own schedule; Generac's support guide lists an oil and filter change every 200 hours or at least every 2 years, plus yearly inspections of the battery, a fuel system leak test, and checks for water intrusion and corrosion.

If the generator has an electric start, include the battery. If it has an hour meter, write down the reading before and after the check so the next service interval starts from a real number.

Deal with last year's fuel

Fuel needs its own step. Honda's EU2200i manual warns that fuel deterioration and oxidation can occur in as little as 30 days, and that old gasoline causes hard starting and leaves gum deposits that clog the fuel system. Its storage table recommends fresh gasoline with stabilizer for storage of one month to a year, draining the carburetor float bowl for storage beyond two months, and draining the tank and carburetor for storage of a year or more.

Champion gives a simpler rule for standard pump gas: never let it sit in the tank for more than 30 days without a quality stabilizer. Whatever you do with the tank, store spare fuel safely. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says never to store generator fuel in the home; gasoline, propane, kerosene, and other flammable liquids belong outside living areas in properly labeled, non-glass safety containers, and not near a fuel-burning appliance such as a gas water heater in a garage.

Run it under load

Starting the engine proves less than you think. Champion recommends that once a month you start the unit, plug in a few high-draw items such as a space heater or a hair dryer, and let it run under that load for 15 to 20 minutes. A pre-season test run should follow the same idea: make sure the generator not only starts but holds power for a while.

Run every test outdoors, in the same place you would use it during an outage. The CPSC's 2026 hurricane-season warning also tells consumers to regularly check and maintain generators so they work properly, and to look for portable models with a carbon monoxide shut-off feature; it notes that models certified to PGMA G300-2023 and UL 2201-2023 include carbon monoxide safety technologies.

Cords, connections, and CO alarms

The CPSC's portable generator safety alert says to connect appliances with heavy-duty extension cords designed for outdoor use, with a wattage rating that exceeds the total of everything plugged into them. Check the full length of each cord for cuts or tears and make sure the plug has all three prongs. The same alert says never to power house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice called backfeeding, because it creates an electrocution risk for utility workers and for neighbors served by the same transformer.

Test carbon monoxide alarms as part of the same check. The CPSC recommends battery-operated CO alarms, or plug-in alarms with battery backup, outside sleeping areas and on each floor of the home, and testing them monthly. The stakes are high: the CDC reports that more than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires, and the CPSC says more than 80 consumers die each year from CO poisoning caused by portable generators.

This guide summarizes published manufacturer and federal guidance and is not a substitute for your owner's manual or a licensed electrician. If a CO alarm sounds, or anyone feels dizzy, sick, or weak near a running generator, the CPSC says to get to fresh air immediately and call 911.

Pick the spot, and avoid the common mistakes

Decide now where the generator will sit when it runs. The CPSC says to operate portable generators outside only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust directed away from the home and other buildings. The CDC's wording is to keep generators more than 20 feet away from any windows, doors, and vents. For rain, the CPSC suggests an open, canopy-like structure on a dry surface where water cannot reach or pool, and dry hands before touching the generator.

Running it in the garage with the door open. The CPSC says never to use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, or sheds, even with fans running or doors and windows open, because carbon monoxide can build up quickly and linger for hours.

Leaving old fuel in the tank. It is the quiet failure that shows up only when you pull the starter cord during an outage.

Checking everything once and writing nothing down. Next May you will not remember whether the plug was replaced. A dated list makes the next season faster. GenReady, a generator maintenance log, keeps a pre-season checklist on your phone with the date of each check and stamps a season badge when the list is complete; the badge records your checks, not the condition of the generator.

Frequently asked questions