Recent winter storms have put portable generators in high demand. What do you need to know to keep this equipment running safely? Bob Villa addresses this question in his radio spot here.

Keep gasoline in rated containers and always let the generator cool before refueling. Avoid unit damaging not letting it run out of gas. After the first 25 hours, your generator will need an oil change, and then every 50 hours afterwards.

To keep your generator ready for when it’s needed, run it for 20 minutes every three months. To minimize noise, park it outside, but still close enough to run heavy duty extension cords inside.

Be prepared for an unexpected power outage, but stay safe by following this advice, too.