Whether you despise or love the winter season, the truth of the matter is that it’s here to stay for a number of months. Winter can pose turbulent weather that can cause challenging driving conditions or power outages. Special care should be given to taking care of your home and vehicle in the event that the power was knocked out.
If you have a backup generator, you’ve likely already considered this scenario.Generators require maintenance from time to time, especially during the winter. Here are some tips to make sure your generator runs all winter long.
Stabilize The Fuel and Change The Oil
If you haven’t used your generator for some time, you will want to stabilize the gas with a fuel stabilizer, a liquid that extends the life of your fuel when your generator is not in use. Additionally, similar to an oil change with your car, your generator should have its oil changed regularly. You should always check on the oil levels to make sure your generator has enough oil to function properly.
Conduct Regular Checks
Even though you may only use your generator during desperate times, you shouldn’t wait until your power is out to check to see if it still runs efficiently. A regular check should involve details such as changing the oil, checking on the fuel and filters to ensure your generator runs as efficiently as it should. If you don’t check on it regularly, there could be the possibility that it either doesn’t run well or it doesn’t start at all, which is the last thing you want during a power outage.
Use a Transfer Switch
During the winter, transfer switches offer added safely. A transfer switch is an electrical device that allows you to connect your generator to your household wiring without the utility power and generator power from sharing the household circuits simultaneously. When you use a transfer switch, there’s no need to run multiple extension cords into the house. A transfer switch should be correctly installed by a professional and it shouldn’t be completed on your own.
Make Sure The Area Around The Generator is Clear
In the winter, snow can start to pile up in your backyard. Over time, if snow and leaves cover your generator, it may start to break down. Generators require ventilation in order to work properly. You will want to remove any snow off your generator and clear a path leading to it, in the event that you require a technician to come and take a look at it.
Run It Regularly
This can be a part of your regular maintenance checks, but it is important to run your generator every once in a while. If you don’t, it may have much more difficulty running during colder temperatures due to lack of use. You should run your generator once a week for ten minutes or so to make sure it operates properly.
While Brown’s Fuels doesn’t provide residential generator services, we offer generator refueling services for commercial use. If your business uses a generator to power your industry, give us a call at 1.888.542.7799 or send us a message online.