Having a portable generator will definitely come in handy once you experience a power outage. But before this happens, many users have the habit of abandoning their generator in the shed, only to be surprised when it does not work when it is needed. Since blackouts are unexpected, performing regular portable generator maintenance is necessary. This ensures that it is operating as it should be with no challenges to the power distribution.
In our guide, we will cover the ten things you should keep in mind when taking care of your portable generator. Let’s take a closer look.
There are several things you need to add to your portable generator home maintenance checklist Trusted Source Use Generators Safely at Home | FEMA.gov Generators are emergency equipment that provide a secondary source of power when there is an electric failure. Many survivors in Louisiana are using portable generators because of power failure in the wake of Hurricane Ida. Generators can be helpful during a power outage, but they present serious health and safety concerns. www.fema.gov , from the storage and cleaning to how you use the fuel and oil. Some of these will be required once a month, while others are done once.
It’s important to constantly monitor the wattage capacity of your portable generator as part of the portable generator maintenance schedule.
You need to make sure your generator can handle the total wattage of your home appliances, so check the starting and running watts.
For instance, if the running watts your home requires is 3500, you should consider getting the best 4000-watt generator.
If you want to extend the life of your portable generator, you should set up proper storage space for it. A generator should be kept in a cool, dry place to slow down rusting and keep it functioning well. You can consider purchasing a generator shed, cover, or tent like GenTent. This will protect the generator from any weather conditions and prevent costly repairs.
Keep your generator clean when you’re not using it. It’s not only about keeping it in a shed, as it can become dirty over time. Moss, mold, dust, and debris can build up on the generator and even get into the important components, causing it to get damaged. Check and clean your portable generator once a month to keep it running.
Once the power outage is over, you should empty the generator’s fuel tank before storage. It’s essential to pour as much fuel as you would use, although this is hardly ever clear. But whatever is leftover that you have can cause gum deposits if left for a long time. These deposits will obstruct performance by sticking to the chambers and metal surfaces.
It’s also essential to stock up on oil and filters when taking care of a portable generator. How much you keep depends on the generator, as the best 12000-watt portable generators will need more supplies than a 4000-watt generator. You never know how long the blackout will last, so you should have extra oil and oil filters.
You shouldn’t let your portable generator run out of gas. Ensure you have more than enough fuel on standby for it to work consistently, and don’t let it go off because of gas. The backup fuel will also help you during a long blackout. If you plan to run your generator often, you can go for a quiet option like the Predator 1400 Watt Super Quiet Inverter Generator.
Never use old fuel and oil for your portable generator. Even if you’re using the best portable generators, you can cause damage with old fuel and oil. Although you will empty out your fuel tank after each use, you shouldn’t store the fuel to use at another time. Using new fuel is more efficient and will prevent damage and erosion on the gen.
Backfeeding Trusted Source NJ Department of Community Affairs New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa today issued a warning to residents regarding the potential dangers of portable generators and nj.gov involves connecting a portable generator to the electrical panel in your home rather than using a transfer switch.
Since the electrical loads are unbalanced when you use backfeeding, the electrical power is not balanced, which can damage your generator and leave an accident.
Completely avoid using backfeeding to connect your generator. It is dangerous and also illegal in a lot of areas.
Another important task to add to your portable generator maintenance Trusted Source Generators | U.S. Agency for International Development Health-care facilities commonly use generators to provide either primary or backup power. While convenient, they require regular maintenance and access to a reliable fuel supply. www.usaid.gov schedule is the training, which is done once a month. Simply turn the generator on once a month to maintain it. It’s advisable to leave it to run for a few minutes before turning it off. This will lubricate all the components and circulate oil through the engine.
In general, you should inspect your generator regularly, at least once a month, to make sure that it is working. Check it for rusting and damage, dust, and contaminants, and make sure it is being properly stored. How often you inspect will depend on the frequency of use and the environment you use it in. Based on user reviews, the Predator 4550 Watt Inverter Generator is an ideal choice for minimal maintenance, but you should still take good care of it.
If you don’t take care of portable generator home maintenance, the main downside will be not having your generator work when you need it. Without maintenance, you won’t realize that your generator is damaged until you try to turn it on during a power outage. This can leave you in the dark.
Also, if your portable generator is not maintained, you can expect to spend money on extra costs. This is mainly repaired costs so that a professional can fix the problem and get it up and running. Avoid abandoning your generator so that you can save money and always have a backup power supply, i.e., the portable generator.
If you already own or are planning to buy a portable generator, you need to consider constant maintenance. Portable generator maintenance is needed to keep it up and running on demand, so make sure you store it in the right place, stock up on oil, oil filters, and fuel, and clean and inspect it often. By taking care of your portable gen, you always have it when you need it.
