Backup generators are vital for keeping homes and businesses powered during grid outages. But like any complex machine, generators require regular maintenance and care to ensure reliable performance when emergency power is needed.
In this post, we’ll look at recommended maintenance schedules and provide tips for properly caring for your generator system. Whether you rely on a standby home generator or a portable power unit, following robust maintenance practices is key to avoiding unexpected failures.
How Often Should You Maintain Your Generator?
Generator manufacturers provide maintenance intervals in equipment manuals, usually based on hours of operation. Here are some general guidelines for maintenance frequency:
- Standby Home Generators – Annual maintenance is recommended for home standby units with 200 hours or less of annual operation. Increase to biannual maintenance with over 200 operating hours per year.
- Portable Generators – Perform maintenance every 50 hours of operation or before storing the unit for an extended time.
- Commercial Generators – Follow manufacturer maintenance intervals, which are usually around every 200 hours or 6 months.
Of course, any issues like surging, odd noises, exhaust issues, or error codes should be addressed immediately by calling a generator technician. Don’t continue running equipment that is clearly having problems.
Beyond scheduled maintenance, you should also have a generator expert perform yearly inspections. This comprehensive system check helps spot potential problems and assess overall operation. Think of it as an annual physical for your generator!
Generator Maintenance Tips
Some basic maintenance tasks can be performed by homeowners and facility managers between professional services. Here are a few do-it-yourself tips for properly caring for your generator:
- Inspect and clean air filters – Clogged air filters can hinder engine performance. Check filters monthly and clean or replace as needed.
- Check exhaust and ventilation – Make sure exhaust isn’t obstructed and ventilation screening is clear of dirt, nests, leaves, etc.
- Check hoses and connections – Look for cracks, leaks, and loose fittings on fuel lines, clamps, and battery connections.
- Change oil & filters – Follow manufacturer specifications for oil type and change intervals. Replacing oil filters protects internal components.
- Inspect battery – Clean corrosion from terminals. Check water levels on maintenance-free batteries. Keep batteries charged when generator isn’t running.
- Test generator under load – Run the generator at least 30 minutes per month under at least 30% load to circulate fluids and lubricate components.
- Fuel stabilizer treatment – Add fuel stabilizer when filling the tank to prevent stale gasoline during storage.
- Keep area clear – Remove any combustible materials or debris near the generator to prevent fire hazards.
When performing DIY maintenance, always turn the generator off and allow it to fully cool before servicing. Refer to the manufacturer’s manual for model-specific procedures. Safety gear like gloves and eye protection is also recommended.
READ: Exploring Different Types of Generators: Which One Suits Your Needs
Protect Your Investment with Proper Maintenance
Generator maintenance may seem tedious, but it pays off tremendously when outages strike. Well-cared-for generators start right up and run smoothly to power your home or business until utility lines are repaired. Don’t play guessing games with generator care -stick to the manufacturers’ maintenance guidelines for optimal reliability.
McBride Electric also offers 24/7 emergency generator repair services in Fort Worth, Dallas, and surrounding cities. Their qualified technicians are available anytime to troubleshoot issues and get your system running again quickly.
Professional Generator Maintenance Services in Fort Worth and Dallas
While routine maintenance can be handled by the owner, periodic professional servicing is essential for optimal generator performance and longevity. The experienced technicians at McBride Electric offer maintenance contracts tailored to your specific generator make and model.
McBride Electric performs comprehensive generator installations on all major brands. Their certified technicians will thoroughly inspect your generator system, tune it up, change fluids and filters, check and adjust components, test electrical connections, and verify proper operation. Any worn parts or issues will be addressed before they cause a breakdown.
For home standby generators, they’ll ensure proper integration with your household electrical system for clean automatic power transfers when utility service is disrupted. They also service and maintain larger generators for commercial and industrial facilities in the area.
Keep Your Generator Running With McBride Electric
Regular generator maintenance is crucial to ensuring your backup power system functions properly when you need it most. At McBride Electric, we specialize in generator installation, maintenance, and repair for homeowners and businesses across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Our experienced technicians service all major generator brands and provide preventative maintenance to keep your generator in peak operating condition. We can help you develop a customized maintenance schedule based on your specific generator model and usage.
Don’t wait until an emergency to test and tune up your generator. Contact us today at 817-858-0255 if you’re in Fort Worth or 972-733-1199 if you’re located in Dallas for a fast and free estimate on expert generator maintenance services. Keep your generator running and ready with McBride Electric!