Essential Generator Maintenance Tips

Imagine, for a moment, that your business is right in the path of a major storm. You might feel panicked.

You won’t know if your business will come out the other side okay, or how much business you’ll lose if the power goes out for an extended period. You wouldn’t feel that way, however, if you had a backup generator. 

More and more people are buying generators to insulate themselves from the effects of widespread power outages. If you’ve bought a generator recently, it’s time to get familiar with the basics of generator maintenance. 

The article below can help you get familiar with generator maintenance. Continue reading to learn more. 

Inspect It Regularly

If you have a problem with your generator, it’s better to know about it when everything is fine, as opposed to finding out during an emergency. Regular inspections can help you identify any issues with your generator. You’ll then be able to fix those issues so you know your generator will work when it’s needed. You can visit https://www.houghton-international.com/service/generators/ to schedule a professional generator inspection. 

Keep Up with Filter and Oil Changes

If you own a car, you know about the importance of oil changes. Changing the oil regularly on your generator will keep all the components running smoothly and avoid generator problems.

Most generators need an oil change for every 100-150 hours of use. You should also check the oil regularly even if you aren’t using the generator for hours at a time. 

Pay Attention to the Cooling System

If you turn on your generator and it works correctly, that isn’t a guarantee that it’s in tip-top shape. A faulty cooling system can cause your generator to overheat and break down after a few hours of usage.

You should look at your cooling system often to make sure the hoses and radiator are working as intended.

Check the Battery Often

You can purchase a simple battery tester that will allow you to check your battery’s health every so often. You want to make sure the battery holds a charge, and that there are no leaking or corrosion issues.

Whether you’re using industrial generators or residential generators, it’s smart to have a generator repair service professional check your batteries every so often.

Do Regular Load Testing

Load testing is when you max out the output from your generator to see how much it can handle. A strong generator will be able to hit max output. If your generator can’t hit max energy output, you can’t be certain that it will deliver the energy you need in an emergency. 

Reviewing Best Practices for Generator Maintenance

Following the tips in this article will help ensure that your generator is running correctly when needed. If you don’t keep up with generator maintenance, you might find that your generator fails you when the power goes out.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to care for generators and other appliances, be sure to check out some of the other blogs going live on this website each week.