During this festive holiday season, you get to wear your favorite cozy sweaters, enjoy visits with your friends and family and maybe drink a little too much hot cocoa. But you also may experience freezing weather and power outages. Think how bad it can get if your house is full of guests, the turkey is in the oven and suddenly everything goes dark because a heavy snowstorm knocked out the electricity. This scenario is why your home generator is such an important piece of equipment. Because a generator is your family’s backup plan for heat, light and keeping the food fresh, you need to make certain that it works perfectly before you need it.
Give Attention to the Fuel and Fluid
Your generator needs the right fluids to run properly. Before the first big freeze hits, you need to check the oil level and the oil quality. Old, dirty oil can cause the engine to wear out quickly or even fail to start when you need it most. You must also treat the gas with a fuel stabilizer so that it can be used when you need to run your generator.
Since most portable generators run on gasoline, and gasoline can “go bad” or become stale after a few months, you must make sure the fuel tank is full of fresh gas. If the generator has been sitting unused since last year, stale fuel can clog the carburetor. This is a major pain to clean, and that means your generator won’t start when the lights go out.
The Test Run Is Critical
Never let the moment a winter storm hits be the first time you’ve tried to start your generator in six months or so. A monthly test run is one of the most valuable things you can do for this machine. A test run means starting the generator outside and letting it run for 15 to 20 minutes. Let it warm up fully so that the parts are lubricated and the engine stays ready to go. Running this test helps burn off old fuel from the carburetor and gives you a chance to hear any strange noises that will let you know that you have a problem, such as grinding or sputtering.
Keeping It Clean and Connected
After you’ve done the big maintenance jobs, there are a few small but equally important tasks to keep in mind.
Make sure the air filter is clean. A dirty filter makes the engine work harder and burn more fuel, which is a waste of your money. Additionally, if your generator uses an electric start, check the battery terminals to make sure they are clean and free of corrosion.
Finally, you need to schedule professional service. Professional maintenance will ensure that your generator is ready to work, and you have a chance to repair problems that you didn’t know existed. Contact McHales for a generator installation that’s ready to brave the Levittown, PA winters.