One Reddit post is an important reminder that where and how you use your gas generator matters. In a thread shared on r/Houston, the poster says their neighbor's family was accidentally poisoned by carbon monoxide leaking from a generator.

The incident began when the neighbor placed a generator under their covered back porch, a move that turned out to be incredibly dangerous. "My neighbor and their whole family ended up with carbon monoxide poisoning because it leaked into their home through a vent," the user wrote.

Luckily, the family survived. But it still brought up a point worth sharing. "Make sure your portable generators aren't being used under covered anything," they wrote. "Open areas only!"

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that gas-powered generators should never be used in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces, even if doors or windows are open. Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless, but it can be fatal within minutes. Stories like this underscore why more homeowners are moving toward safer alternatives like battery backups, especially those powered by home solar systems.

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While there's no shortage of advice swirling around during hurricane season, this post is a reminder of the importance of having a safe backup power source. Fortunately, with the help of tools like EnergySage, homeowners can make safer, more climate-friendly choices.

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Commenters were stunned by the story. One wrote: "This is so important. I think I started experiencing it today with a door cracked open and leaking fumes into my home from the generator. I became very tired and confused."

Another added, "Get a detector. Like $10-20 on Amazon. I have one, and my house is entirely electric, so unless I'm sitting in my closed garage with the car running, I'm fine."