Getting a whole-home generator installed gives you the peace of mind that life can go on as usual when an unexpected power outage takes place. Cue hurricane season.
Whole-home generators require regular maintenance to perform at their best. If you own a generator, or if you’re thinking about buying one, you’ll want to prioritize regular preventative maintenance.
Here we discuss how you can take the best care of your generator to keep it providing power to your home for years (and storms), to come.
Check The Owner’s Manual
This may sound obvious, but regularly checking your owner’s manual will help you to understand how your generator works and how you can best take care of it.
Each manual includes model-specific information that will keep you in the know and will explain how best to look after your specific generator. Get to know your generator well by checking the manual.
Perform A Regular Self Cycle
Starting and running your generator weekly will help you to keep an eye out for any warning signs. Things are more likely to go wrong when a generator is powered up after weeks or months of no use. Running a weekly test cycle for 20 minutes will keep your machine in good running condition.
Another benefit of performing regular self-cycles is that you’ll also grow accustomed to the noise that it makes, and you’ll be able to keep a handle on any potential issues that could arise.
Conduct A Monthly Inspection
If your generator has been running for an extended period, you should perform a few routine check-ups each month.
- First, remove any unwanted debris around the generator and make sure that there aren’t any pests or rodents setting up camp. Your generator should always have a clear perimeter around it.
- Check the oil level in your generator. Be sure to only do this when it’s turned off. You’ll also want to give the oil a few minutes to settle and cool down before checking. If the oil needs to be changed, then empty the existing oil and replace it with new oil. If you’re unsure how to go about this, it’s best to call on a generator maintenance expert who will be able to replace your oil professionally.
- Inspect the battery and the housing for signs of leaking or corrosion. Check the battery terminals to make sure they are clean and that there aren’t any corroding wires around.
- If you have a diesel generator, you’ll want to check the fuel water separator. Make sure that you drain water as required and add the correct amount of fuel when needed.
Schedule Bi-Annual Maintenance With A Professional
Although certain maintenance tasks can be done with ease, there are also more complicated and dangerous aspects that should be left to the professionals.
The benefit of using a service professional is that they know exactly what to look for, which parts need to be changed, and when.
Experts will be able to take care of maintenance concerns such as:
- Changing the oil and the oil filter
- Replacing the spark plugs
- Changing the fuel and air filters
- Testing the fuel
- Flushing the cooling system
- Inspecting the battery and the battery housing unit
Use The Whole-Home Generator Maintenance Specialists
At Art Plumbing, AC & Electric, we specialize in whole-home generator maintenance. We are proud to be a Generac® authorized dealer and possess invaluable experience in all Generac® units.
Whether you’re getting a new generator, or if you’ve had one installed for 10 years or more, you can trust our experienced team to perform all your generator-related needs and maintenance. Call one of our specialists today at 1-800-475-1504!
