As we all know, it can be easy to get
comfortable with items in our ownership
which can lead to forgetfulness on needs of
regular/recurring maintenance.
Interestingly, generators which are intended
to be used during emergencies and power
shortages unlike an HVAC system, which most
households utilize every day, your generator.
If you haven’t had to use it in some time, you
may have a bit of an “out of sight, out of mind”
mentality. You may sometimes forget to take
care of the generator, secretly
hoping you’ll just never need it. But annual
generator maintenance is a key component
to keeping your home running and your family
comfortable in an emergency.
Your generator seems like a pretty simple
machine – you pour gasoline in, & it produces
an electrical energy output. But your portable
generator is actually a complex machine, &
requires upkeep in order to run in its most
efficient manner. Here are some compelling
reasons to call your electrician today and set
up an inspection.
Reasons for
Generator Maintenance:
You Won’t Get Caught off Guard: Most often,
the need to use your generator comes up
quickly, and the scenario may be unexpected.
That is the wrong time to find out that your
generator is not operational. Annual generator
maintenance keeps your machine running in
top form, and identifies any required fixes
during downtime – not during an emergency.
You’ll Beat the Crowd: Many think
that since they have fair warning about
storms that are on their way is on the way,
they can put off maintenance until it appears
they may need to utilize the generator.
Unfortunately, just
before a major storm, everyone is vying for the
same resource, and there is absolutely no
guarantee that you will be able to reach
(let alone schedule) a qualified electrician to
come out and test your unit. And if
the generator is not working and a part
needs to be ordered, you also have no
guarantee that you can receive and install
the part in time.
You’ll Keep the Fuel Flowing: Without
proper maintenance, your fuel system
can get clogged or exhibit algae growth
which could hinder its operation – or shut
it down completely. Having any machine
sit for years with fuel and oil runs the
risk of problems occurring – ones which
could shut the generator down completely.
You’ll Protect Your Investment: A generator is
not a small investment. Many people
think they can save money by not
subscribing to annual maintenance
plans, but this could end up costing
you a lot more money
in the long run. Fixing small problems
before they become large ones is one
of the most prudent benefits of annual
generator maintenance. Keeping the
generator properly maintained will also
likely result in the equipment lasting
much longer and reaching its full life
expectancy, putting off the need to
replace the unit prematurely.
FAct about Maintenance
Routine maintenance is a key to ensuring
safe, efficient, and trouble free operation
of your generator. During a maintenance
check and inspection, the technician will
check and replace the air filter, check the
oil filter and replace if necessary,
check the spark plugs, & replace the
oil as needed. They will also generally
perform a load test, switching your
home’s power over to the generator
(simulating a disaster).
Only by testing your generator’s
ability to actually power what you
expect it to can you be sure that
the unit is running as expected.
At Saunders Electric, we offer annual
generator maintenance plans for Generac
equipment, to ensure that your investment
& your family are protected.
Waiting until a storm is on the way
– or worse, already upon you is a
risk you shouldn’t take. If you have
a generator onsite in the Central &/or
Northern Saskatchewan area & are
wanting some additional information
or added peace of mind,
please feel free to give us a call.