Generator Maintenance Tips to Prepare for Winter

Depending on how stormy the past summer was, your generator may need maintenance. With spring and summer being the most common times for generators to kick on and provide power backup, whether it was due to a simple power outage or natural disaster, fall is then the ideal time to check in on the status of your home standby generator.

With the winter months ahead, that means snow and ice storms are not far away. This type of weather is also known to cause power outages and can be especially dangerous due to the danger of being left in the cold without access to heat, clean drinking water and food. Generators provide that much needed access to power to run appliances and keep your home warm. You certainly don't want to find out your generator requires repairs in the middle of a snowstorm!

To avoid this, we've created a helpful list of generator maintenance tips to help you and your family best prepare for the winter months ahead.

Generator Maintenance Tips for Winter

Here are several steps you can take to perform home generator maintenance and avoid generator failure this winter:

• Change the oil. New generators often need their oil changed after the first 25 hours of use. Subsequently, you'll replace the oil after every 50 to 60 hours of use. Stock up on oil and replacement filters before the storms come. You don't want to find yourself in need after the power is out.
• Stabilize the fuel. If you don't use your generator often, store it with an empty tank or add a fuel stabilizer. This will slow the breakdown of gasoline and keep the fuel system from clogging up. Some stabilizers can keep gasoline fresh for up to 12 months.
• Inspect parts. Like any machinery, parts eventually wear out and need replacing over time. Check the air filter, fuel filter and spark plug. These are the items that need cleaning or replacement most often.
• Keep the area clear. Generators require proper ventilation to work effectively. Make sure there isn't any debris, such as leaves, snow or twigs surrounding the generator. As a best practice, we also recommend shoveling a clear path to the generator after a snowfall. This ensures easy access to it when you may need it most.
• Run the generator. Letting your generator sit for extended periods of time without use can spell trouble once when you need it. Like the human body, generators need to keep things moving to stay in working order. Running your generator once a week for about ten minutes will help keep moving parts lubricated.

Professional Generator Repair

If you've recently performed some of the above steps and find your generator still isn't working properly, it may be a sign it needs professional repairs. Our trained and certified technicians can provide you with effective service to troubleshoot the issue and, in many cases, provide on-site repairs.

It's best to leave generator repairs to the pros. Give us a call if you come across any generator issues, big or small!

Join our GenPro Maintenance Program

Here at Bradley Mechanical, we recommend frequent and professional generator maintenance to help our customers avoid significant issues in the future. This helps to ensure you and your family are protected during power surges and outages and will keep you warm and safe during some of the coldest weather.

GenPro, our semi-annual generator maintenance program, provides routine maintenance twice a year to keep your unit operating at optimal performance levels. The GenPro benefits include:

• 15% off generator parts & labor.
• Emergency service access 24/7.
• Battery replacements included ($300 value!).
• Yearly filter changes are included.
• Protective ceramic coating on the exterior of the generator.
• Extended life of your unit & investment.
• Lower energy costs during use with proper equipment & frequent adjustments.
• Increased capacity of your unit.
• Generator Mobile Link(tm) Access.
• Peace of mind in knowing your unit will work when you need it most.

Contact us directly to learn more about becoming a GenPro member. You can also schedule a one-time maintenance visit for your generator with Bradley Mechanical to discover our quality workmanship. Regardless of how you utilize our services, our courteous and friendly staff are available to help whenever, wherever.

We have been servicing generators in Richmond and Central Virginia for over 50 winters. Let our trained technicians help you prepare for the cold weather ahead. Call us today at (804) 748-6728.