Power outages can happen at any time and for any reason, with negative effects ranging from inconvenient to potentially devastating. Generators are a great investment for any home or business as they protect you and your loved ones in the event of a power outage. That being said, your generator is only as good as its upkeep. It is easy to shove it in the garage and forget about it, but it is essential to keep your generator maintained so that it is in good working order when you need it most. By inspecting your generator regularly, you can rest assured that it will be ready to go at a moment’s notice in the event of a power outage. 

To learn more about generator inspections, and why it is important to conduct them regularly, please refer to the guide below: 

• Regular generator inspections ensure that your generator is in working condition when you need it most – Most power outages occur suddenly, giving you little to no time to make the necessary preparations to maximize the safety and comfort of yourself and your loved ones. By keeping your generator maintained throughout the year, you are ensuring that it is on standby to keep your home and devices powered. In the event of an outage, your perishable goods may be ruined if your generator is not in working order. You will also need your generator to power portable heaters or A/C units, heat water and cook food, and to charge your electronic devices. All of these essentials are dependent on your inspections and continued maintenance of your generator. 

• Your generator is only as good as it is maintained – As previously mentioned, a generator is only as good as it is maintained. You should make sure to inspect your generator every month or so. When conducting your inspections, you should look at factors like fuel level, battery level and oil quality. You need to make sure that you have enough fuel on hand to accommodate your generator’s needs. You should also consider that without regular use, the quality of the gas within your generator will degrade. This may make it so that your generator is ineffective when you finally try to use it in the even of a power outage. Worse than this, bad gas can potentially damage your generator. You also need to make sure that your generator’s battery is holding a charge and making a good connection. Finally, you should keep an eye on oil levels and quality. Your generator’s oil and oil filter should be changed every 50 to 200 hours of use. During these checkups it is a good idea to also run the generator for a bit so that you can keep an eye on fluid leaks, warning lights and check the automatic startup system (for generators that have the feature).

For other tips regarding generator maintenance or inspections, or for a consultation, contact the generator experts at Northside Power today!