How to Maintain a Generator: Basics, Tips, Tricks

It is indeed cool to have one while it functions well. But to keep it working, a generator requires some maintenance. How do you maintain the generator?

Even if you’re completely new to this, what you start with is that no magic or superpower is required for this. There are some common rules about this type of equipment that will keep it functional regardless of how often and under which conditions you use it.

Finally, you got yourself a new 2000 W generator, and you can take it to any camping party or enjoy power if it’s off because of maintenance works or some natural disaster.

Remembering and following these rules will help you keep everything under control.

Usage Tips

Of course, one of the most important things is using the generator correctly. Usually, it’s all in

· Use the right sort of fuel (it should be specified in the manual). Usually, gas generators use 87-octane and higher.

· Before starting, make sure the fuel tank is full. As for the oil tank, it should also have a sufficient level of it.

· Refuel it before you turn it on. Not while it’s working.

· Try not to use old gas with the generator. If you have some, you can find some better ways to use it. For your generator, the fuel should be fresh.

· Position it at least 20 feet away from any flammable object. In the wild, it’s better to find a bare rock or just remove all the grass around it.

· Calculate the required wattage before exploiting it.

When Turning the Generator on or off

The riskiest moments of exploitation are the transitional ones between its “on” and “off” states. The basic rule is to follow the instructions from the manual by the manufacturer. But also, there are some general recommendations that will help you keep it working well and survive the periods of inactivity.

· Follow the instructions on how to turn it on and off.

· Connect appliances only when the generator is already on, disconnect them before turning it off. Check whether their consumption doesn’t exceed its output power.

While The Generator Is Idle

Using the generator right is important, but just as important is keeping it in the right conditions between usage sessions so it doesn’t break or get damaged somehow. The basics of storing and checking the generator are the following.

· Empty the tank and the tubes before putting the generator to rest. Both the tubes and the tank should be empty.

· Cover it when you don’t use it. There are special tents and covers that

· Check the air filters regularly. These are the parts most prone to pollution.

· Keep the rotor and the stator clean. Check them periodically and remove dust and debris if there are any.

· Keep the lubricant oil fresh. The manual usually says how often to replace it.

· Start your generator at least once a month to check whether it works. Clean it each time after this check.

· Inspect it visually to see whether there are any corroded, broken, or dysfunctional elements. Loose connections, torn wires, stuck buttons? Any of these is the bell that sends you to the service with the generator.

· If you store gas for your generator in a can, you better add a fuel stabilizer.

Many of these actions are to be performed regularly. Again, if you use a calendar app for that, you’ll be reminded what specifically to do now each time it’s time for some action.

General Recommendations

These things may be too obvious to mention and too common to relate to generators only, but they still make sense. Here’s what you should do:

· Write down the customer support phone number of the manufacturer of your generator, and also bookmark its website. There you can get answers to your questions.

· Record all the issues with your generator, as well as its maintenance dates. It’s easy, in fact, with a calendar mobile app that supports tags or separate calendars, both on iOS and Android. You can also use it to keep track of other equipment that requires maintenance.

· Watch more videos about maintenance. There may be details specific to your model.

What You Should Never Do

It may seem a good life hack to connect your generator to an electric plug and thus power your entire home. A bad idea, indeed. Not only can this lead to short circuits in your house: it may affect any other house connected to the same power network. The effects that take place in the network with the generator connected to it where it shouldn’t be may even be lethal for workers that deal with issues in this network (and it’s you who makes these issues highly probable by acting like this).

Does it mean you should ditch the idea of connecting your generator to the household network? Not at all. But it should be done by specialists. And it’s better anyway to have a dedicated stationary generator for this purpose if the power goes off often.

And Despite It All…

And even if you follow all these recommendations, we’ll still insist that you take your generator to the service once or twice a year. Some minor issues may build up that a professional can detect, but a regular user just hasn’t got that sort of expertise.

So, these service visits may save you much more than they cost. Especially if you’re maintaining it minimally. The best time to take it to the service is a couple of weeks before you plan to use it, so there is time to do some repair (if necessary), but new issues won’t show in the time remaining.

We didn’t intend to write an exhaustive manual on generator maintenance. It’s rather a collection of general considerations to help you learn more about the equipment and how it should be handled.

We hope it was useful to you, and with this knowledge, you will find some common language with your generator, resulting in years of stable and reliable service.

Home Base Project Team
Home Base Project Team
At The Home Base Project, we offer practical, real-life tips and inspiration about DIY, decorating and gardening. The Home Base Project provide the best information about home renovation and design, connecting home design enthusiasts and home professionals across the world.