How to Maintain a Home Generator

A standby generator can be an invaluable aid in the event of a power loss following a winter ice storm or summer hurricane. Generators can provide sufficient power to maintain household appliances, provide lighting and power fan units of furnaces. As generators are used infrequently, it is necessary for you as the user to provide routinely scheduled maintenance to ensure that the generator will supply dependable power when you need it. Simple but routine maintenance will ensure your standby generator will perform when needed.

Things You'll Need

• Shop vacuum
• Brush, stiff bristles
• Clean cloth
• 1 qt. motor oil, per weight in owner's manual
• 4 oz. fuel stabilizer
• 5-gallon bucket

Instructions

Cleaning

1. Use a shop vacuum to remove debris from around the motor casing. Remove leaves, grass clippings and other debris from the motor housing. Pay particular attention to the air intake cover and the exhaust manifold as debris in these areas can affect engine performance.

2. Use a stiff-bristled brush to remove debris from engine crevices, paying particular attention to the engine cooling fins.

3. Use a dampened cloth to thoroughly clean the remaining engine surfaces.

4. Store the generator in a protected environment, such as a garage or storage shed, and cover it with a protective blanket or tarp.

Maintenance

1. Check oil level after each use. Keep oil reservoir filled to the level specified in the owner's manual. Change oil as prescribed in the owner's manual. This is most often required after operating the generator a designated number of hours.

2. Add 4 oz. of fuel stabilizer to each 5 gallons of gasoline remaining in the fuel tank. Run the generator for 10 minutes to distribute the stabilizer.

3. Drain the fuel tank if the generator stands idle for one year to avoid build up of deposits on carburetor and fuel lines. To drain the tank, turn the fuel feed valve on the carburetor to the "off" position, then loosen the retaining nut on the bottom of the carburetor sediment cup and remove the cup. Open the fuel valve and allow the fuel to drain into a 5-gallon bucket. Replace sediment cup.

Exercise the Generator

1. Start the generator every three months and allow the engine to run for 30 minutes to circulate the oil and lubricate engine parts.

2. Check for oil and fuel leaks during the 30-minute exercising of the engine. If leaks are found, have these repaired before continuing to use the generator.

3. Stop the engine by turning off the fuel supply to the carburetor. This will prevent fuel deposits from building up in the carburetor as the the generator sits idle for extended periods between uses.

4. Maintain a log of engine operating hours in order to schedule the maintenance required based on the engine run time.

Change Engine Oil and Parts

1. Change oil, fuel filters, air filters and spark plug as specified in the owner's manual. The change frequency is most often specified in terms of hours of engine operation.

2. Maintain a record of the dates when parts were replaced and a log of engine hours operated since the parts were replaced. This log will be used to determine when engine parts will need to be replaced in the future.

3. Use only replacement parts as specified in the owner's manual.

Tips & Warnings

• Changing the oil, spark plugs, air and fuel filters at the frequency prescribed in your owner's manual will ensure dependable generator operation.

• Never run the generator in an enclosed space. To avoid hazardous fumes, always operate the generator in a well-ventilated area.

References

• The Hartford Steam Boiler: Generator Maintenance Practices
• Generator Systems: Generator Service Practices