Generator Maintenance Tips: How to Keep Your Generator Running in Winter

If you have a generator, then you will know how imperative it is to keeping your home running smoothly, should there ever be a power outage. The problem is that if you do not maintain your generator, then you may find that it fails you in the moment you truly need it. That being said, there are ways for you to make sure that your generator is in the best possible condition, and it all starts with proper maintenance. If you want to find out more, then simply look below.

Sweep Around the Generator and Clean the Vents

Your generator will contain vents that can be seen on the cabinet’s exterior. In winter, it’s vital that you sweep around the area to remove any leaves, while also clearing the area of any snow. This will give the generator chance to ventilate properly and it will stop it from overheating, or becoming blocked. If a lot of snow has fallen, then shovel a path so that if you do ever need your generator, or if a repair needs to be done, you can do so with ease. At this point, it is wise for you to clear a path from the generator to the inlet plug, so again you can access it in the event of an emergency.

Run your Generator for a Few Minutes

When it’s winter, you’ll probably leave your car to heat up for a few minutes before you take it out on the road. This helps to lubricate any of the freezing-cold mechanisms that are present, and it also helps to maintain the seals, which can crack if they are left for long periods of time. Depending on the generator you have, you may find that they turn on automatically from time to time to exercise automatically. If yours doesn’t, make sure that you take the time to run it for a few minutes every now and again. This will keep everything working as it should and it will stop your parts from freezing up and locking in the event of extreme weather.

Invest in a Cold-Weather Kit

If you are handy then you can easily winterize your generator by using a cold-weather kit. A cold weather kit will normally include some battery warmers, a crankcase heater, and some motor oil. The batteries in your generator will lose their lifespan over time and they will not operate as well when colder temperatures hit.  A battery warmer helps to keep the battery in your generator warm, should the temperature ever drop too low. Your crankcase heater will stop the oil in your generator from coagulating should temperatures drop as well. This will help your generator to run smoothly. Lastly, motor oil is designed to operate in a range of temperatures. SAE 5W-30 oil is the best option here. The W in SAE 5W-30 stands for 5 degrees, which is the lowest temperature that the oil can be poured at. The 30 means that it will have a viscosity rating of 30 when the temperature outside is 100 degrees. The oil will help you to keep your generator running even when other oils begin to deteriorate in quality.

If you can invest in a cold-weather kit, then this will help you to make sure that the cold weather doesn’t stop your generator from working altogether and it will also keep you from experiencing any avoidable issues that could cost you greatly in the future.

Avoiding any Disasters with your Generator in Winter

If you’re not a highly trained professional and if you are not experienced when it comes to dealing with generators then it can be difficult to know when they need maintaining. They are usually out of sight, and this means that they’re out of mind most of the time. When you do notice a problem, you may find that it is too far gone for it to be repaired via general maintenance and that a full or part replacement is required. One way for you to avoid this costly situation would be for you to talk with our team at Generator Supercenter. We will take all responsibility for your generator, and our GenMonitor maintenance program contains a global monitoring system. We can remotely track the health of your generator, getting status alerts so we can respond to issues as soon as they happen.

Call (866) 516-7199 today to find a solution for your standby power needs.