What maintenance is required on a generator?

13 Apr.,2024

 

Like any other engine-powered machine, standby generators require regular maintenance. For example, just like your car needs an oil change every 3 months or 3,000 miles, most standby generators need one every year. As a whole home generator owner, it is important to service & take care of your investment to ensure that it is working properly when you need it most and to extend the lifespan of your equipment. Although we always recommend calling a licensed & factory trained electrician or generator technician to maintain your system, we also believe that every homeowner should know what goes into servicing your own equipment.

Perform An Exterior Visual Inspection

The first step required in assessing the condition of your whole home generator is to visually inspect your equipment. The “green light” on your Generac or Kohler generator should be on, and should not be a “red light”. A green light lets you know that there are no major faults or errors with the equipment. Make sure that there is no overgrowth of vegetation around the unit, and allow for a clear working radius within the vicinity of the equipment.

Step 1) Change the Air Filter

The first step in maintaining your whole home generator is to change out the air filter once a year. If you have ever replaced the air filter in your home’s HVAC system, or in your vehicle, then you know how dirty they can get. The air filter is a crucial part of any generator. It protects the engine from dirt and larger particles that could otherwise get into combustion chambers and cause premature wearing of materials. That is why you should always try your best to keep your air filter clean and properly maintained.

Step 2) Change the Spark Plugs

Just like your car’s engine, a generator also has spark plugs that assist with engine ignition. This is the piece of equipment that ignites the fuel in your generator – whether it be diesel, gasoline, or natural gas powered. Many whole home generators have one or two spark plugs, but that may vary depending on the make, model, and size of the unit. After a year of use, your spark plugs can get pretty nasty. Take out the old spark plugs and compare them to the new ones. The difference is pretty dramatic.

Step 3) Perform an Interior Visual Inspection

The next step is to perform a good visual inspection on the inside of the unit. Look for any signs of concern, and ensure the generator housing is dry, clean, and that hoses and wiring are in tact and in good condition. This is by far the easiest step for a home owner to perform, and should be done regularly to identify any issues before they become major problems.

Step 4) Clean Up the Generator

An often overlooked step is to physically clean your generator. Use a cloth with a non-flammable degreaser to wipe dust and debris from the exterior of your generator. A soft bristled brush (toothbrush/paintbrush) works to remove dust and fuel residue from around openings. You may use an air compressor to blow dust and debris from the housing.

Step 5) Run the Generator for a Few Minutes

Starting & running your whole home generator is a crucial step of the service. Running the generator for about 5 minutes allows the oil to heat up so that it can be drained & changed for fresh oil. Running the system for a short period of time also allows you to judge the condition of the generator based on how it starts & runs.

Step 6) Drain Out Old Oil

You wouldn’t drive a car for 10,000 miles or let it sit for a year without changing the oil, and the same goes for your standby generator. Once the generator’s engine has warmed up for at least 5 minutes, then it’s time to begin draining the old oil from the motor. Be sure to use an approved oil storage container during this part, and ensure that you are disposing of this used oil properly.

Step 7) Change the Oil Filter

After changing the generator’s oil, you should then proceed with changing out the oil filter. If the oil filter is not changed periodically, the filter can become severely clogged, reducing the volume of oil passing through the filter and into your engine. Most generators need oil changes every 50 hours of use on average, but it is dependent on make & model, and you should always check your owner’s manual to be sure.

Step 8) Add New Oil

After you have replaced the oil filter & drained the old oil from the engine, it’s time to add new oil. Most whole home generators take a 5W-30 Synthetic oil, but again – always consult with your owner’s manual to ensure that you are using the correct oil type.

Step 9) Run Unit to Circulate Oil

After new oil is added to the engine, it should be started so that the oil can circulate throughout the system. After it runs for a minute, turn the generator back off, and then check the oil dip stick to ensure that enough oil has been re-introduced into the engine and properly circulated.

Step 10) Check Transfer Switch

Transfer switches, both automatic and manual, provide you fast access to power for critical functions in the event of an outage. Without the aid of a transfer switch, you have to manually connect your generator to the equipment you wish to power. Visually inspect the transfer switch box to ensure that there is no visible damage, debris, or exposed wiring within the transfer switch.

Schedule Your Generator Maintenance Today

Generators are complex pieces of machinery that require both mechanical & electrical knowledge & capabilities. While a generator can be serviced yourself, it is always recommended to hire a licensed, bonded, & insured company that is factory authorized to work on your system. Depending on your warranty, you may be required to have a service completed by an authorized dealer. Paschal Air, Plumbing & Electric is a Kohler dealer & experienced Generac service company. Our licensed & factory trained electricians service all of Northwest Arkansas, Missouri & the Fort Smith River Valley, and we are ready to service or install your whole home generator. Call us today at 479-900-0784 & inquire about our whole home generator service agreements!

Generator maintenance is essential to the proper functioning of a system, while also minimizing the risk for accidents, damage, and more costly repairs down the line. Additionally, routine maintenance helps to ensure that your generator will run smoothly and efficiently during a power failure. 

When you do not maintain your generator, the system can begin to experience damage and complications that can negatively impact its ability to perform properly. Completing regular generator maintenance helps keep an industrial generator operating efficiently, as well as prevent complications or damage to the system.

Preventive maintenance is recommended at least once a year for any industrial generator. Depending on the use and environment the generator is in, two or even three preventive maintenance inspections may be needed each year to ensure the safety and efficiency of the system.

Issues You Risk Without Generator Maintenance

Regularly scheduled preventive maintenance is key to the optimal performance of your generator, as well as reducing risks such as:

1. Dangerous Conditions

Without industrial generator maintenance, a generator may pose safety risks, such as a carbon monoxide leak. As industrial generators run, they emit carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas that poses serious safety risks. In addition to maintaining your generator, you should also check that your carbon monoxide detectors are working properly to ensure you are notified of any potential carbon monoxide emissions. 

A poorly maintained generator may also increase the risk of shock or electrocution accidents, especially if the generator is wet or surrounded by excess moisture or water. Customers operating an industrial generator in wet conditions must ensure that the generator receives regular maintenance and is protected from direct contact with moisture to minimize risks.

Another potential hazard is improper storage of fuel or gasoline that has spilled onto engine parts, which can increase the risk of fires. Regular maintenance also enables technicians to identify any weak or compromised aspects of a generator that may increase the risk of a fire or other accident.

2. Expensive Repairs

Postponing regular maintenance can lead to more expensive repairs and costly complications. Skipping routine care does not save money; it leads to more costly repairs that could have been minimized or avoided altogether.

Routine maintenance is essential to detecting minor issues in their earliest stages, preventing them from worsening over time and damaging the generator, and providing the opportunity to address them when they are more cost-effective and simpler to repair. Without regular maintenance, you risk more expensive repairs, as well as serious and sometimes permanent damage to the generator.

3. Lack of Power

One of the most obvious complications an industrial generator can face is not being able to supply power effectively. If a generator is left unattended for extended periods of time, it may lose its efficiency and overall energy capacity. An industrial generator needs routine maintenance to remain functional and provide power during a power failure.

While you may not need power from your generator at this moment, forgetting about servicing your system can cause serious issues with its ability to function when you need it. During a power failure, you want to know you can rely on your generator to operate efficiently and effectively. Maintenance can ensure your generator provides safe, reliable and predictable power during an outage.

Importance of Industrial Generator Maintenance

It is essential to schedule regular inspections of an industrial generator, including fuel, oil, and coolant samples. Reasons to complete generator maintenance include:

  • Maintain power during outages: Industrial generator maintenance helps keep a generator ready to operate at a moment’s notice and provide a reliable source of power during a power failure, keeping critical operations functional.
  • Ensure vital systems remain online: Designed to keep critical systems online and functioning, a generator provides a reliable backup power source for critical equipment that must remain up and running at all times.
  • Increase generator longevity: Diesel fuel generators are known for providing reliable, long-lasting options. Even though they are durable, routine maintenance helps ensure a generator’s longevity. Regular inspections and minor corrections can avoid larger issues down the line and keep the system functioning properly throughout its expected lifespan.
  • Optimize efficiency: A regularly inspected and maintained industrial generator is more likely to run smoothly and experience fewer unforeseen complications or issues. As minor complications are promptly addressed with routine maintenance, generator owners can trust that their unit is finely tuned and dependable.
  • Identify issues at an early state: With any generator, minor problems or complications are expected throughout its lifespan. Preventive measures can help minimize the risk of these issues developing. Routine maintenance can also identify an issue at its earliest stage, allowing for a more effective tune-up and preventing the need for a more costly repairs down the line.
  • Manage costs: Routine inspections and maintenance for generators is a cost-effective strategy that can help save money over time. The cost of routine maintenance vastly outweighs the expenses associated with letting your generator go without inspection. The longer you go without routine inspections, the more expensive repairs tend to be.
  • Lower accident risk: Finally, regular generator maintenance can reduce the risk for potential accidents or injury. Faulty mechanisms or poorly maintained generators increase the likelihood of an accident, including fires, carbon monoxide leaks and other concerns. Ensuring proper ventilation and a properly functioning generator can lower the potential risk for accidents.

How to Determine the Right Generator Maintenance Plan

Choosing the generator maintenance service plan that fits your unique needs can help optimize your industrial generator. The best generator maintenance service plans offer an effective approach to safeguard your equipment and ensure it is performing properly and efficiently. A generator maintenance plan can proactively detect issues and optimize ongoing performance and safety. At Unified Power, we offer the following plans:

Gold Maintenance Service Plans

Routine generator plans are available on a monthly or quarterly basis, depending on your needs. A gold maintenance service plan provides a generator system functional test and an inspection of the automatic transfer switch, as well as: 

  • Air intake and exhaust system
  • Controls and annunciation
  • Cooling system
  • Gas or diesel fuel systems
  • Generator assembly
  • Lube oil system
  • Starting battery, charging and system
  • Generator enclosure, base and room

Platinum Maintenance Service Plans

Platinum maintenance service plans also provide in-depth inspections and routine maintenance to ensure a generator is reliable and operating effectively. Platinum plans include everything in the gold plan, plus:

  • Annual lube oil and filter service, in which the engine lube oil and the primary and bypass filters are changed
  • Annual fuel system service with fuel filters changed

Contact Unified Power for Generator Maintenance and Repair Services

Unified Power is a leading industrial generator maintenance company dedicated to offering the latest and most advanced generator inspection, maintenance and repair services. We are a premier national critical power service provider for UPS services and various generator maintenance and repair services. Our team of experts offers mission-critical power services and strives to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction possible.

What maintenance is required on a generator?

Importance of Generator Maintenance