Your generator’s shelf life depends on how well you treat it. Forget it, neglect it, and lock it in the garage till autumn rolls around, and that will come back and bite you when you need it most. These 7 tips will help you realize your generator’s full potential.
The 7 Generator Maintenance Tips that will Make Your Genny Last Longer
Before you panic thinking that your generator is about to break, check for the damage yourself using these 7 top tips on generator maintenance.
1. Clean it up
The first generator maintenance task you should perform is to keep your generator clean and tidy. Oil spills can make it stink and burn, while ordinary spills might turn your backup generator into a flammable piece of electrical equipment–worse if your generator is gas-powered. Keep it clean, and that is half the battle won.
2. Test it regularly
If you keep your generator packed away until you need it, you are almost ensuring that it won’t work when you pull it out and dust it off. Test your generator every three months or so. If it is a generator that you use consistently every day, then check on it once a week. Spotting those spills or leaks early allows you to get a repair as soon as you need it.
3. What color is the oil?
You ought to be changing that oil routinely, which means you should get into the habit of checking what color the oil is. It should be light brown – the color of vegetable oil. If it is black and sticky, then change it. Your generator should have a dipstick that will show you what the level of oil in the genny is.
4. Keep an eye on the rotor and stator
The two important parts that keep your generator doing its doing include the rotor and the stator. If these become bunged up with filth, dust, and burned oil, your generator is likely to shut down. Keep these parts clean by checking on them often and cleaning them as needed. You will find tips on how to clean generators and which products to use on ResearchGate.
5. Cover it up
You don’t want a backup generator lying exposed to the elements, even if it is inside the house or garden shed. Leaving it uncovered means spills can happen, pests can get into it, or the parts rust due to air and weather exposure. This has a simple solution. Buy the correct generator cover for your make and model.
6. Extra Fuel
Keeping spare oil, parts, or gas will help you keep the generator running smoothly in an emergency. It is when the generator attempts to run without oil or gas that it can cause a fire hazard.
7. Empty the tank
If your generator is a mobile model, make sure you empty the tank before you move it. If you don’t, oil and gas spillages could occur and ignite the next time you use them.
Keep Your Generator Healthy to Spare Repair Costs
If you don’t go through these processes to keep your generator in good working order, you could find yourself with a generator repair bill. Since the cost of repairing your genny will always exceed the cost of maintaining it in the first place.