Your home standby generator ensures that critical appliances, like your HVAC system, refrigerator, and medical devices, continue to run during a power outage. However, without regular maintenance, even the most reliable generators can experience mechanical issues or start to fail during an emergency. Similar to your car that you can rely on to get you places every day, not maintaining your car results in costly expenses that make your car unreliable. Regular maintenance for your generator, just like your car, maximizes efficiency, prolongs the life of it, and ensures its ready to run when you need it most.
Why Home Standby Generator Maintenance is Essential
Your home standby generator ensures that critical appliances, like your HVAC system, refrigerator, and medical devices, continue running during power outages. However, without proper maintenance, even the most reliable generators can experience mechanical issues or fail to start during an emergency. Regular maintenance maximizes efficiency, prolongs the life of your generator, and ensures it’s ready to handle the next power outage.
How Often Should You Service Your Home Standby Generator?
Experts recommend having your home standby generator serviced at least once a year. However, depending on the frequency of use and local weather conditions, you may need to schedule more frequent inspections, especially after prolonged outages or extreme weather events.
What’s Included in Oregon’s Generator Maintenance Plan?
A comprehensive generator maintenance plan typically includes the following services:
- Inspection of the Fuel System The fuel system, whether propane or natural gas, is checked for leaks and proper fuel pressure to ensure the generator runs smoothly.
- Oil and Filter Change Just like a car, your generator needs regular oil and filter changes to prevent engine wear and ensure optimal performance.
- Battery Check The battery is tested and cleaned to prevent corrosion and ensure that the generator starts when needed.
- System inspection If you own an air-cooled unit, our technician will clear out the inside of the generator shell to remove any debris that may block air intake. If you own a larger liquid cooled unit, we will check the coolant level and recommend a coolant flush if needed.
- Load Testing Load testing ensures that your generator can handle the demands of your household’s power needs during an outage. This test simulates a power loss and measures the generator’s output under load conditions. This is optional as we do it at home owner request.
- Air Filter and Spark Plug Replacement These components are checked and replaced if necessary to ensure the engine receives proper airflow and the generator starts efficiently.
The Risks of Skipping Regular Maintenance
Failing to maintain your home standby generator can result in unexpected failures during a power outage. Without routine checks, components can deteriorate over time, leading to costly repairs or the need for an expensive replacement. In addition, poorly maintained generators may emit dangerous fumes or operate inefficiently, resulting in higher fuel costs.
Ensure Your Generator is Ready with Oregon Generators
Don’t wait until the next power outage to discover that your generator isn’t functioning properly. Contact Oregon Generators today to schedule annual maintenance for your home standby generator. Our expert technicians will ensure your generator is in top condition and ready to provide backup power when you need it most.
