Generator Maintenance
Generators are fantastically useful pieces of equipment that can open up whole new avenues of work while also providing the essential function of emergency preparedness. Save yourself some worry in keeping your home or workshop powered and running, or prep for the next year's hurricane season. No matter what you need a generator for, you'll also want to know how to take care of it so it stays in operational condition.
Generators are a great choice to focus on when you have the time, since often they are emergency or backup power sources. Don't worry if you're not too familiar with generator maintenance, because your friends at Synergy Equipment have put together this short guide to help you along. Read on for some information on maintaining your generator or head into one of our locations throughout Georgia and Florida.
Check the Oil and Filters
Equipment with engines need to have their oil and corresponding filter checked and changed to keep in functioning condition. Over time, the oil that helps lubricate the generator will get dirty and gain viscosity as the filter runs out of life. A new generator should have its first oil change after only 30 hours of use. That might not seem like a whole lot of time, but after the first oil change you can space them out to every 100 hours of operation or at the beginning of every season of use, whichever comes first. Especially if you mainly use your generator in emergencies, you'll want to stock up on both filters and oil to avoid any rush at local retail stores should some serious weather enter the forecast.
Regularly Run Your Generator
Even if you only use it for emergencies, you'll want to make sure to run your generator every couple of months to help keep the components in operational condition. This is both to distribute lubricant and prevent any buildups that could lead to future malfunctions. You wouldn't want to be faced with an emergency only to find your forethought didn't matter on account of the generator not being in functioning condition. All you need to do is let the generator run for 30 minutes or so. This is enough time to charge the battery for the electric starter and take care of the lubricant.
Proper Fuel Storage
Fuel that's left to sit for too long can go bad. Worse, fuel left to sit in a generator can do serious damage. This is where proper fuel storage comes in. When you're not actively using your generator, it's important to drain the fuel. Otherwise gummy deposits can form in essential fuel systems and parts like the carburetor, fuel hose, and fuel tank. Fuel with an alcohol blend are particularly vulnerable to attracting moisture, and that leads to separation in the tank or else more trouble if your start the generator and suck that water into the engine.
If you intend to store your generator for more than a month, you should take some precautions to ensure the fuel isn't going to be trouble in the future. If your generator runs on gasoline, adding a fuel stabilizer to the tank can help to protect it. After you add the stabilizer, run the generator for several minutes. Let the engine cool then drain the fuel tank. Start the generator again and let it run until it stops from lack of fuel.
Keeping your generator in good repair takes some extra work, but it doesn't have to be a horrible chore. As long as you know what you're looking for and how to find solutions to common problems, you'll be saving yourself time, money, and a whole lot of worry. Just remember to save the serious problems for the professionals at Synergy Equipment. Call or head into one of our many locations throughout Florida and Georgia to see our full selection of generators and get all your maintenance questions answered!