If you have a generator installed in your home, you need to keep up with regular maintenance as well as schedule annual professional maintenance. A whole-house generator remains in standby mode around the clock and is ready to turn on automatically when your home loses power. But it can only work at its best if it is well-maintained.
Otherwise, you may find yourself without power and without an operational backup. Our team can help with maintenance and generator repair in Lake City, FL for the life of the unit. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of scheduling regular maintenance for your whole-house generator.
Maintenance Steps
Even when your generator isn’t active, you need to inspect it and perform maintenance monthly. These steps ensure that the unit is always ready to turn on in the case of power loss. First, inspect levels for coolant and oil. If you have concerns about levels of either, give our team a call to schedule service.
Then take a look at the spark plugs. If you used your generator a lot recently, the spark plugs may need to be changed out. You can also use a toothbrush to clean the battery cables and cell ports. It’s easy for moisture and dirt to cause corrosion in these delicate areas. When you clean them regularly, you reduce the chances of permanent damage.
You can also test your generator by switching off the main power breaker to your house. Your generator should turn on automatically. If it does, let it run for 10-15 minutes and then turn the main breaker back on again. You can do this monthly or quarterly.
If you notice any issues, give our team a call for professional service. In fact, you should schedule professional care once each year even if you don’t notice any problems. Our team can take a more detailed look at the generator and make sure it’s ready in the case of a power outage.
Benefits of Generator Maintenance
Why schedule generator maintenance? Your whole-house generator can easily last for 20 years or longer. But it sits unused the majority of that time. Even when not in use, components are aging. Dirt builds up and there is a possibility of corrosion. Regular care provides a variety of benefits:
- Identify problems early and get them fixed before you face a power outage.
- Have peace of mind in knowing that your generator is ready for any unexpected loss of power.
- Save time by addressing smaller problems instead of bigger ones.
- Save money over having to make a significant repair that requires more work.
- Gain years of life by helping your generator to last longer than it would otherwise.
- Boost efficiency since well-maintained generators burn fuel more effectively to reduce energy costs.
- Reduce carbon monoxide fumes since the generator will burn fuel correctly without any malfunctions.
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