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Exhausting generator through garage wall?

28K views 10 replies 9 participants last post by  Wildie 
#1 ·
Got a portable generator that sits in my garage. During events like hurricane Sandy, I don't want to park it outside while it's pouring rain and try to refuel in the rain. Also don't like all the electrical outlets exposed to the rain. Would like to keep it running inside the garage during rain and snow where it's nice and dry. The concern is the engine exhaust. I'd like to use flexible exhaust tubing to extend the exhaust pipe through the garage wall, but the pipe will get very hot. How can I insulate the garage wall from the effects of a hot exhaust pipe?
 
#7 ·
At the car shop I worked at years ago there was a 4" round door fitting for a flexible pipe to go through. We would slip one end of the hose over the exhaust pipe as far as it would go, and the other went through the hole. The path of least resistance was out the door rather than bypassing into the shop - so even though it was slip fit over the pipe, it would vent to the outside.

We weren't running them constantly in the shop though, and enough bypassed to make the shop reek.

If your garage is detached, I'd say no problem. If it's attached, you've got some serious considerations. Is the door to the house a well sealed exterior door? Are there any penetrations into the attic cavity? Is the area well ventilated?

If you've got an exterior door between the house and garage, no penetrations (attic stairways, recessed lighting, etc) into the attic, and you seal any other penetrations between areas - electrical boxes (including ceiling lights), plumbing penetrations, good drywall joinery, AND you have very good ventilation in the garage (crack 2 opposing windows?) - AND you vent the exhaust to the outside, you might be good - but I wouldn't bet the ranch on it.
 
#11 ·
I used to run mine in a garden shed. The shed had a power feed from the house and I back fed from the generator.

I cut a 3" circular hole in the door, covered this with a sheet of aluminum flat stock. Then I cut a hole for the exhaust pipe to fit through. This kept the hot pipe removed from the wood in the door!

To run a gas fired generator in an attached garage would be suicidal!
 
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