When you think about it, your home generator is a lot like your car. It uses fuel and spark plugs and has a battery, an engine, engine oil, coolant, an air filter and other things that also make your car run. Like your car, it needs maintenance from both you and a professional. In this case, that would be your HVAC technician. But even if you’re diligent about calling them in for the yearly checkup, there are things you still have to do as your generator’s owner.
What to Do Every Month: Run the Generator for a While
One thing you should do every month is to connect your generator to one of your smaller appliances, and let it run for about 20 minutes or so. This lubricates its parts and lets you know that they’re working well. Signs that they might not be include weird sounds or bad smells. If you have a standby generator, don’t forget to activate its self-test function.
Check the Oil and Other Fluids
Like most cars on the road today, your generator has a dipstick to check the oil level. Use the dipstick, and if the oil is low, replenish it. If your generator uses coolant, make sure that its reservoir is full. As for the fuel, it should be relatively fresh. This generally means that it’s been used within the month (this is another reason why you should run the generator monthly).
Check the Fuel Lines and Connections
Speaking of fuel, you also need to check the fuel lines. They should be sound and free of signs of deterioration. All the cables should be securely connected as well.
Check the Battery
Make sure that the generator’s battery doesn’t have a white or greenish crust around the terminal. Don’t be nervous about cleaning it off if it does. All you need is a paste of baking soda and water and a wire brush.
Clear Away the Debris
Your generator should be protected in its own housing, but you should still clear any debris from around it. Debris can interfere with both the intake and the exhaust. Keep at least 2 feet of clearance around your generator.
What to Do Every Year
Not every maintenance task needs to be done every month. Among the things to do once a year is to change the oil filter and the oil and add a new air filter and new spark plugs. The most important thing is to have your HVAC technician do a thorough inspection. These professionals can catch small problems before they grow.
On that frigid night, your generator made it possible for you to stay in your home until the power came back on. Keeping up with a few monthly maintenance chores can help your generator help you for years to come. If you live in Tucson, AZ or a surrounding area and need generator services, make your first call to Pride of Tucson.