How Often Should You Service Your Generator?

When weather threatens or the grid fails, you need to know that your family and workforce won’t be left in the dark. Keeping your standby GENERAC generator regularly serviced and ready for action will ensure that it’s doing its job when things get tough. Here’s what you need to know about the whens, hows, and whys of generator maintenance.

Why Should You Have Your Generator Serviced Regularly?

The whole point of a standby generator is to ensure that when the power is out, your home or business is still operational. To make sure that’s what happens, you need to know that your generator is in good working condition and has no issues. The only way to be 100% sure of that is never to assume, but instead to have regular maintenance done to service your standby generator. If the technician detects any potential problems, they can work them out now, so that you don’t find out your generator has issues when an emergency arises.

Besides emergency readiness, regular generator maintenance can also reduce the stress on the unit. This naturally contributes to an overall reduced risk of failure while also improving longevity and protecting your investment. Oftentimes, regular generator maintenance also helps to preserve fuel efficiency over a longer period of time, reducing overall operating costs and inputs. Lastly, regular generator maintenance is often necessary for a unit to be eligible for warranty coverage.

What Does Generator Maintenance Involve?

Specific checks and services will vary based on the type and size of a unit. That said, there are some common, established items that are always checked on the GENERAC generators that we install and maintain at Generator Pros.

Here is a comprehensive list of the key systems that our experts at GeneratorPros routinely check. For a full itemization, check out our generator installation and maintenance page. Beyond what is listed here, there are many additional items that are checked too.

• Battery & Battery Charging System
• Fuel System
• Operational & Functional Review of Generator Critical Components
• Engine Cooling System
• Engine & Lubrication System
• Intake/Exhaust System
• Generator Controls & Power Connections
• Generator Operations
• Automatic Transfer Switch

Once a thorough check is made of all key components and systems, you can rest assured that your generator is ready for whatever comes its way.

Who Should Do Generator Maintenance?

If you’re at all handy, it could be tempting to opt for a DIY approach when it comes to generator maintenance. But that’s probably not the best idea, for several reasons. First of all, unless you’re an experienced Generac Generator Technician, there are many ways that a routine generator maintenance check can go very wrong. We don’t want anyone to get hurt. Another potential downfall to DIY generator maintenance is that it’s easy to make a wrong move that could then necessitate a repair or part replacement, resulting in a much costlier repair. And this leads directly into the third major reason to not choose DIY generator maintenance–manufacturers may void their warranty if they strictly state that maintenance needs to be done by a licensed professional. If that’s the situation you face, then any repairs needed wouldn’t be covered since the machine was worked on by an untrained individual. It sounds like a way to save a buck, but DIY generator maintenance is just asking for trouble.

On the other hand, at Generator Pros, our technicians have been factory-trained and certified for both residential and commercial generators for over 30 years. With well over 6,000 units installed and serviced you can feel comfortable having us install, inspect, and service your standby generator, knowing that you have expert eyes on the unit. Generator Pros technicians are highly experienced and familiar with all sizes of units and all engine types. When you stick with one professional team from installation day, you can have a comprehensive record on file of everything that’s ever been done to your generator. That’s invaluable information for technicians and customers alike.

How Often Should You Service Your Standby Generator?

Our experts at GeneratorPros recommend annual service for a standard generator under normal use. Many sources say that normal use could range from 50-200 hours. For units that are under heavy use, scheduling generator maintenance more often–semiannually or quarterly–is best. Of course, there are always some tasks like basic oil and filter replacements that can be done more frequently, regardless.

Base it on when you schedule generator maintenance, and on when you typically use it most. If your area is prone to violent summer storms that knock out the power, or perhaps intense summer heat that overwhelms the power grid, then you’ll want to be sure that your generator is inspected and serviced well before summer arrives. On the other hand, if winter snow and ice are the biggest concern in your area, then you’ll want to go into the winter season with a fully operational, recently serviced generator. This schedule would be independent of your monthly test runs, and remember that if usage conditions are very dusty or in extreme environments, then the additional stress on the unit demands more frequent service, regardless of total run hours.

The best way to know for sure how often you should service your standby generator is to consult your owner’s manual. If you can’t find it, give us a quick call. If you stick to annual servicing, that will generally work out well. Take out the guesswork and sign up for a premium Service Agreement with Generator Pros–we have it all figured out for you.

Generator Installation and Maintenance for GENERAC Generators

At Generator Pros, we are proud experts who work exclusively with premier models of GENERAC generators. Our decades of experience inform our expertise and familiarity with residential, commercial, industrial, and mobile GENERAC generators of all sizes, which means that we can recommend and service whatever style of generator you need. Whether you’re looking to purchase and install or service and maintain a generator, you can rely on our professional team. We even offer emergency 24/7 service for help when it counts most. 

Contact us today to learn more about our offerings and how to best care for your GENERAC generator–it’s a smart investment that’s well worth preserving!