Home Generator Maintenance Tips

Home generators are a vital appliance, particularly if you live in a state known for experiencing a rough hurricane season like Florida. To ensure that your generator is functioning at maximum capacity, it is essential to perform maintenance when necessary.

To get a better idea of how often maintenance is required, we recommend checking the service manual for the model of generator you own. Service manuals often contain a wealth of helpful information. For example, from how to change the oil to replacing the air filter or spark plug, there's a lot you can learn about your home generator by reading its service manual.

Proper Storage:

Keeping your generator covered up properly when not in use is another way to keep it in good condition. Allowing it to sit in the same spot for days, weeks, or even months on end will cause your generator to build up contaminants such as mold or dust. One option for keeping a portable generator covered is to purchase a cover specifically made to keep it contaminant-free. Just be sure to remove it before using your generator since leaving the cover on can cause it to overheat. If you opt not to use a cover, cleaning your generator at least once a month should be enough to keep it functioning correctly.

Proper Fuel Storage:

Another essential maintenance tip is to empty your portable generator's fuel tank into a gas container after you're done using it. Though you always want to ensure you have enough fuel on hand to power your generator in an emergency, you should never leave fuel inside the generator itself, as that can lead to the gas sticking to the metal chambers inside the generator. These are called gum deposits and heavily impact the performance of your generator.

Make sure your voltage is correct:

Finally, one last thing you'll want to do to keep your home generator running correctly is to make sure it can handle the amount of voltage you will be using. The wattage rating, which is what you'll need to know, is most often found in the service manual. Focus on determining what the continuous rating (also often referred to as the running rating) is for your specific model. This wattage rating tells you how much voltage your portable generator can handle over long periods.

If you have any other questions, contact us!