If you own a power generator, it is essential that you perform regular inspections to ensure that your generator is in good working order when you will need it most. Regular inspections are important because power outages come suddenly and without much warning, so it is unlikely that you will have time to address any maintenance problems with your generator if you only inspect or maintain it right before or during bad weather events and outages.

When performing regular generator inspections and maintenance, it is important to look out for these common power generator problems:

Battery failure

With any generator, it is inevitable that the battery will eventually wear out and need to be replaced. When properly maintained, a generator’s battery can last up to 3 years. If you experience problems with your generator’s battery, and it hasn’t been a full 3 years since you replaced the battery, then there are a few things you can try to prolong your battery’s lifespan. First, check your battery terminals for corrosion. If you notice even a small amount of corrosion, then this might be the reason for your battery failure. Fortunately, this can be an easy fix. Using a wire brush and a bit of baking soda, scrub the corroded battery terminals until you have effectively cleaned away the erosion. By doing this every time you see corrosion appear on your battery, you can extend its lifespan for quite a while.

Generator overheating

One of the most common issues, most instances of overheating can be resolved by simply topping off your generator’s coolant reservoir. If your generator is still overheating after you refill the coolant tank, then a more serious issue involving your hoses or drive belts could be at fault. 

Generator stalling

If you notice your generator is stalling during operations, then there are two likely culprits. Firstly, if your generator uses natural gas then you are going to want to inspect your generator’s spark plugs. It is generally advised to change the spark plugs in your generator after every 100 hours of use. Even if it hasn’t been this long since they were last replaced, if you notice that your generator’s spark plugs are worn or cracked then you should change them immediately. If you determine that the spark plugs were not the cause of the stalling, then you will want to check your generator’s oil and oil filter. Like your spark plugs, you are going to want to change your generator’s oil and oil filter after about every 100 hours of use (although this varies from model to model so you should consult the owner’s manual of your specific generator model to know for sure).

For more information regarding generator maintenance or inspections, or if you are looking to purchase a generator or you are seeking professional generator repair, contact our team of professionals at Northside Power today! We are happy to help with any and all generator related issues.