Good luck with your garage ! I went to school in Pittsburgh but now have a farm in Alabama. I feel lucky here because I can build any size building on my farm and without even a permit or inspection . I have a big pole building for my hobbies.
I have a Honda 70 and a Honda 2000 Generator and didn't run them at all during the Winters . Both crabs were gummed up . I stared using 100LL from the local airport and that completely eliminated problems.
I blew one up too ! I was 14 and helping my Father at his service station . We went out to start a customers car. I was a know it all teenager . Dad said " make sure you get the cables right " YEA YEA BOOM, blew the side out of customers battery .
My Father owned a service when I was 14 . I went with him to jump a customers car . Dad said to make sure the cables are on correct. I said "yea I know Dad " . Boom - blew the side out. Dad had to buy a battery . Never did that again.