Gas in the Generator: How Long you Should Keep it.


 

Nowadays, living without electricity even for a few days is a nightmare. Power outages will happen because of natural disasters. You could ask any disaster-preparedness expert, all of them would say the same thing. Always have a generator in your house in case of losing power. It is essential to have a gas generator and extra fuel supplies at home.

This is probably the most important advice a disaster preparedness expert could give. But to even own a gas generator, you must first know how to use a gas generator properly. 

One of the most important questions you must ask before getting a generator is, “how long can you leave gas in the generator (tank)?” On average, a gas generator can hold about 1 to 2 gallons of gasoline in its tank. Gasoline can last for up to 6 months in the gas generator’s tank. But treating your gasoline with a stabilizer additive could extend your gasoline for up to a year or more. 

What is a Gas Generator?  

There are different types of generators that you could buy that would help you and your family during a power outage. But gas generators are among the most used type of generators in the market. 

The invention of generators can be traced back to James Watt’s invention of the steam engine during the 1700s. Not long after, humans discovered gasoline and its possible benefits to energy production. Michael Faraday in the early 1800s then introduced his invention of the Faraday Disk which guaranteed an electromagnetic generator. As the name already suggests, the gas generator is a generator that produces energy through the use of both gasoline and electromagnetism.

In using gas generators during power outages, it is vital to store the gasoline in a cool and dry off place especially during a hurricane. Some different tips and pieces of information can be found on the internet regarding this type of generator. But one of the most vital information you could attain is finding out if you generator can last the night. To find out more information on this matter, click here

Risks of Leaving Gas in a Generator. 

Brian Cooley, an expert in disaster preparedness, made a video on YouTube explaining how to properly use a gas generator. In his video, he explained the following reasons why you should avoid leaving gasoline in your gas generator tanks for a long time. 

Oxidation 

Cooley explained that oxidation is the same process for which metal rusts when in contact with water. This is the same with gasoline, especially ethanol, it would degrade the quality of the gasoline. 

Water Absorption

Gasoline is hydrophobic. This means that gasoline doesn’t want anything to do with water. Ethanol gasoline is hygroscopic, meaning the gasoline brings water from the environment. This actually means that gasoline doesn’t want the water to be added with it, but it can’t help it because it simply attracts water molecules towards it. 

In a small percentage, the gasoline will not be affected negatively. But in big amounts, Phase Separation will occur. The gasoline will be on top, while the water will build upon the bottom. This simple process will possibly destroy the tank and its engine once the water starts spilling on the inside. 

Microorganisms 

Who would’ve have thought that even in a tank of gasoline microorganisms would live off of it? Brian Cooley pointed out that these organisms may live in enhanced ethanol gasoline. The ethanol itself is what attracts them to it. Doing so, these microorganisms will release excretions that are highly acidic to the gasoline and may cause corrosion. 

If you want more information about this, click here to proceed to the YouTube video. 

Safety Tips for using a Gas Generator. 

As easy as it may sound, one should always take into consideration the right ways of handling this type of product. Gas generators may sound easy enough to use by anyone, but sometimes getting ahead of yourself would instead cause an unforeseen accident. Here are some safety tips that you could use when handling a gas generator during a power outage. 

Handle the gasoline fuel in Big and Open ventilated areas. 

handling both your gas generator and fuel supplies at the same time is dangerous. You must consider handling these products in big and open ventilated areas, specifically you outside lawn and meters away from your house. 

Cool Down the generator before refilling it. 

all machines with an engine are always subject to overheating. When refilling your gas generators again with fuel, make sure to let the machine cool down first. This may possibly cause accidents. 

Store Up Fuel. 

it is extremely important that you store up fuel supplies for your gas generators. remember, when power outages happen because of natural disasters, there is no guarantee that fuel shops are open for you to buy. 

Always run the Generator in a Flat and Clean area. 

the inside of the generator, especially the tank, is fragile. Running the generator in a flat and clean area would decrease the chances of the liquid inside to spill around. 

Add a Fuel Stabilizer to the Gasoline 

fuel stabilizer additives have always been suggested by generator manufacturers. The reason for this is that it will ensure the quality of your gasoline and extend its lifespan. The Biobor EB Ethanol Performance Enhancer is a great additive to your gasoline. This will stabilize your gasoline and would add an additional 18 months to its lifespan. If you’re interested in this product, click here

Make sure to always have B-rated Fire Extinguishers 

when a fire unexpectedly happens it is always a good idea to have a fire extinguisher lying around your house. A B-rated extinguisher is specifically made for fires that are caused by generators of different types. 

If you have Unused Gas in the Generator, Use it for your Car instead!

you may think that having unused gas in your gas generator is useless, think again! The unused gas, especially ethanol gasoline, is also good for your vehicles. If you didn’t use it, just pop it in your vehicle. This saves you money and time because you don’t have to go to the gas station and pay gas twice. 

When should you get a Gas Generator. 

The gas generator is perfect for when your city block is suddenly experiencing a power outage. It is suggested by most disaster preparedness experts like Brian Cooley to have one at home in case of emergencies. 

Understandably, buying a gas generator is undeniably expensive but during sudden cases of power outages you would be grateful that you have one in your home. In planning to buy a gas generator, you should first find out the amount of Watts your house would need to power the essentials. One of the essentials that needed to be powered is the refrigerator and your lights. If you want more information on this, click here

The average annual electricity consumption of an American home is around 10,000 to 11,000 watts, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Most generators don’t even come close to this amount of watts. 

The essential pieces of equipment in your house world probably cause about 3,000 to 4,000 watts of energy. The GEN 4000 is the perfect generator for the job. This gas generator runs on unleaded gasoline with a 3.6-gallon fuel tank which produces 4000 watts of energy. It weighs about 92 lbs and can power your house for about 10 hours every full tank. Click here to go to Amazon. 

Gas Generator Products 

The WEN 56202i is known to be one of the quietest gas generators being sold in the market. It has a 4-stroke engine, and engine that is the same as vehicles. Its 1-gallon tank if filled can last up to 7 hours and produce almost 2000 watts of energy. What’s amazing about this generator is that not only is it quiet (produces sound about 51dBa), the energy it produces claims to be clean power that is safe to operate. The perfect generator for camping and construction sites. Click here to buy the product on Amazon.

Planning to go on a road trip in an RV? The DuroStar DS4000s is the perfect generator for you and your family. It produces 4000 watts of energy and can run up to 8 hours in a full tank. This generator requires about 4 gallons of gasoline. The best feature of this product is its all copper windings for a longer lifespan and more power to its energy production. To find out more information on this product on Amazon, click here

Final Thoughts 

There are a plethora of reasons why power outages happen. It can be outdated infrastructures, weather-related incidents, or even an increase in population. In the United States, data shows that every five years of incidents of power outages doubles. From 2010 to 2013 power there was an average of 200 reported power outages. Imagine that certain statistical data now, in the year 2020. 

It is alright for all of us to prepare for a sudden power outage. Having a gas generator at home would give us an upper hand. Before getting a gas generator, make sure you are knowledgable on the instructions on how to use it and how to maintain it. 

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