Secrets for Maintaining Your Generator: 5 Ways to Extend Its Life Span

When your power goes out, you must have a way to keep your refrigerator, stove, water heater, and HVAC system running. Home generators prevent food spoilage and keep building interiors brightly lit until utility service is restored. Although they represent a significant investment, standby generators are more than worth their cost. By taking good care of yours, you can get more value for your money and dependable service when you need it. Read on to learn five maintenance tips for extending the life spans of these important appliances.

1. Read Your Manual and Manufacturer’s Warranty

By law, standby generator installation must be performed by a licensed electrician. This requirement prevents homeowners from accidentally back-feeding electricity into utility lines, which can be very hazardous. However, professional installation often causes homeowners to take a hands-off approach to understanding their generators and maintaining them. Once these appliances are set up, many consumers tuck their warranties and manuals away and never look at them again.

Reading through your manual will help you better understand the equipment you own. It will also prepare you for basic troubleshooting and show you how to optimize your generator’s performance. Your manufacturer’s warranty will list the requirements for ongoing generator care. Complying with these guidelines will prevent future claims delays and keep your warranty from being voided outright. It will also make your generator last longer.

2. Schedule Regular Inspections and Performance Testing

Annual inspections and performance tune-ups are common requirements in generator manufacturers’ warranties. You can schedule these services just before the stormy season arrives so that your generator is well-prepared for any outages caused by inclement weather. However, in snowy regions, it’s best to have generators inspected at the beginning and end of winter. During preventive maintenance service, electricians can show you how to winterize your generator and check for damage caused by ice and heavy snow loads.

3. Use Only High-Quality Fluids

Choose only the best coolant, oil, and fuel for your generator. These will give you the best protection from wear-related problems like overheating, worn parts, contamination, and poor engine performance.

4. Set a Schedule for Checking Your Generator’s Oil

Don’t wait until you need your generator to make sure that it works and check its oil. Instead, check your generator’s oil every three to four weeks. Simply remove the dipstick, measure the oil level, and look for a light, healthy oil color.

5. Don’t Put Off Generator Repairs

Whether you discover generator problems on your own or your electrician finds them while performing a tune-up, don’t put the necessary repairs off. After all, you don’t know when you’ll need your generator next or how long you’ll need it. Running a generator with worn parts, oil leaks, or other problems could lead to sudden and premature failure.

These tips can help you extend the life span of your generator. However, even the best-maintained appliances can’t last forever.

To shop an impressive selection of high-quality high-quality generators in Ann Arbor, MI, contact Current Electrical Systems today!

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