With optimal maintenance, a generator can last a long time. Like us humans, we need an adequate diet and exercise to lead a good life, a generator requires proper maintenance and care.
Generator maintenance is necessary to keep it from breaking down and to expand its overall lifespan. Moreover, it will also save you extensive repair costs.
Why Generator Maintenance is Important
When you don’t use electrical appliances regularly, they require adequate maintenance to continue functioning. One thing about machinery is that you should always keep it in good shape. Otherwise, it could break and lead to complications.
Most often, people use generators for emergency purposes, and if they don’t work, it could lead to a serious issue. Expert mechanics recommend checking the generator at least once every three months to ensure that it’s in good shape. Generator maintenance is vital since it keeps it in good shape and ready for when you need it the most.
Tips for Generator Maintenance
We have identified some of the best tips below to help you maintain your generator.
1. Stock on Oil and Filters
It is advisable to bulk up on oil and filters for your generator to keep it running effectively. Most of the time, people who use the generator like to prepare for emergencies, and some might use it for outdoor work. However, many people don’t know how much is necessary to keep a generator running for a long time.
On many occasions, electricity outages can occur due to some maintenance work. Often they only last a few hours before the power is restored. However, if the outage is due to a natural disaster such as a storm, you can expect the power to stay out for quite some days.
Typically, a generator requires its first oil change after 25 hours of use. And after that, they require a complete oil change after 50-60 hours of running. In emergency cases, the generator supplies will run out quickly due to the high demand. Therefore, it is advisable to stock up on oil and filters before it’s too late.
2. Keep the Generator Clean
Whether the generator is in regular use or only used for emergency cases, you’ll need to clean it. Over a period, generators can start accumulating dirt and dust from the wind and impacting their functionality. When the engine gets dirty, it will lead to various problems that may cause inconvenience.
Make sure to check the generator from the inside for accumulated dust. This is crucial since the generator will run more smoothly without overheating. If you keep allowing dust, debris, and other contaminants to build up inside the generator, your generator motor won’t produce the necessary energy.
You can use air filters to get rid of the problem and check them weekly for accumulated dust. If the storage area has high dust and debris concentration, you can increase your generator’s number of maintenance checks. You don’t want to start cleaning your generator when there is an emergency. Cleaning your generator will help you prepare it for emergency use.
3. Ensure Optimum Storage
Storing a generator in the right place is necessary to keep the generator clean and functional. Many experts recommend keeping the generator on a concrete slab, whether it’s used or not. Many stores also offer some protective measures and equipment to consider.
The main thing is to protect the engine from damage. If you don’t need to use the generator for the next few days, you’ll have to keep the battery charged and remove it from the generator. You should also drain the fuel from the tank and remove spark plugs.
The most important thing is to keep the generator in a cool and dry place. Also, make sure to run the generator once every month or two to keep it in good shape. The experts call this “exercising” since it helps keep the generator in good shape.
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4. Keep an Eye Out for Stale Gas
When the generator is not used for a long time, the gas inside it will go stale. It is important to change the gas as soon as you are done using the equipment. The dirty and stale gas is not good for the generator since it can hinder the functionality of the engine and cause startup problems.
The next thing you want to ensure that you have enough gas that is safely stored for future use. As we mentioned before, going out to buy gas amidst the outage will get you nowhere. Whenever you are refilling the generator, it is important to not spill it anywhere; especially when it is running and hot. You can also use a specialized container such as a funnel to transfer the fuel safely to the generator.
5. Start it up and test it regularly.
Since many people don’t use their generators frequently, it leads to problems such as generators not starting up and working as efficiently as before. There are numerous aspects that you need to take into account, which include:
- Make sure it is properly lubricated and oiled
- Regularly charge the batteries
- Ensure the carburetor is working correctly
These factors will help you in making sure that your generator always works whenever you face an emergency situation.
Always go for the generators that are compact and comply with certain regulations and standards. Moreover, the homeowner should also focus on following the guidelines whenever they are testing the generators. One of the key takeaways is that they need to be tested once a month on 30% of their overall load.
Final Thoughts
You can easily perform the generator maintenance yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. Remember, it is important to perform maintenance at least once a month. We hope the tips mentioned above prove helpful for you.