Where Do You Keep a Generator When Not in Use?
In a dry, ventilated shed or garage, away from anything with a flame, cooled down first. Where you keep a generator when not in use matters because of the fuel in it. Here's how each spot stacks up.
Best Places to Store a Generator
A generator in storage is really a tank of petrol with an engine attached. Pick the spot for the fuel first and the machine second.
A Detached Shed or Garage
This is the pick for most people. Honda's GX engine owner's manual says if you store an engine with fuel in it, choose a well-ventilated area away from anything that runs a flame, like a water heater or clothes dryer, and away from spark-producing motors and power tools.
It also says avoid high humidity if you can, because it promotes rust and corrosion. A dry shed with a bit of airflow ticks every box.
A Garage Attached to the House
It works, with limits. Queensland's Electrical Safety Office says store generator fuel out of the home and away from fuel-burning appliances, such as a gas water heater in the garage.
The amount matters too. WorkSafe Tasmania sets out the Australian Standard AS 1940 limits for petrol at home, and an attached garage is a lot tighter than a separate shed.
| Where the petrol is kept | AS 1940 minor storage limit |
|---|---|
| Inside the house | 5 litres |
| Attached garage, with a 60/60/60 fire-rated wall to the house | 25 litres |
| Outdoors, or a shed or garage 1 metre clear of the house and other buildings | 100 litres |
WorkSafe Tasmania also points out that dangerous goods laws can bring legal obligations even at home, so check your state's rules if you keep a lot of fuel on hand.
In the Ute or Caravan
Fine for the trip, poor for months. WorkSafe Tasmania warns that petrol vapour inside a vehicle can create an explosive fuel-air mixture, and says fill jerry cans on the ground, never in the ute tray or boot, and keep petrol containers to 25 litres or less.
Keep it upright on the move. Westinghouse says the generator must stay horizontal during handling, storage and transport, and flipping it onto its side, end or top will damage it. Honda adds that tilting can leak fuel or oil. If it's living in the van between trips, drain the fuel first.
Outside Under a Cover
Last resort. The Westinghouse iGen2250 manual says never store your generator outdoors during rain or any weather that could lead to moisture collecting on, in or around it, and keep it on a dry surface.
A cover helps with dust, not weather. Our Gentech generator dust cover listing is upfront that a cover doesn't make a generator waterproof and isn't a substitute for storing it out of the weather. Honda also warns against sheet plastic, because a non-porous cover traps moisture and promotes rust.
We've weighed up outdoor storage in should generators be kept outside, and what's safe while it's running in can you cover a portable generator while running.
How to Store It Safely
The spot's only half of it. How you put it away decides whether it starts next time.
Cool It Down and Deal With the Fuel
Let it cool before it goes anywhere near a cover or a shelf. Honda says a hot engine and exhaust can ignite or melt some materials. The Champion inverter cover listing adds never to cover a machine wet, because you seal the moisture in with it.
Then sort the fuel. Westinghouse's storage procedure is stabiliser and a full tank for up to three months, or drained and run dry for longer. The timings are in how long a generator can sit unused.
Carbon Monoxide and Fuel Cans
Storing it in the garage is fine. Running it there isn't. The Electrical Safety Office says keep the generator outside, never use it indoors, and fit a battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm. Energex says the gas is colourless and odourless and can reach life-threatening levels before you notice.
Keep the jerry cans in properly labelled, non-glass safety containers, and store them with the same care as the generator.
Keep It Level, Dry and Checked
Store it level on a dry floor, ideally up on a pallet, with the fuel cap vent shut. Then don't forget it. A stored generator still needs a look before storm season, and our generator lifespan guide explains why storage habits matter as much as running hours.
So where do you keep a generator when not in use? A dry, ventilated, detached shed or garage, cool, level and away from flames, with the fuel sorted. An attached garage works within the petrol limits. A ute, van or cover is only ever a stopgap.
Want a hand choosing one that'll fit your shed? Try the generator finder, or ring us on 03 7056 6732, or SMS 0476 330 590.
