How to keep your portable generator in tip top condition

How to keep your portable generator in tip top condition

A portable generator is a significant investment, but if you don't maintain it properly you can shorten its operational life significantly, or in severe cases find that your portable generator won't operate when you need it most. By following just a few simple procedures you can maintain your portable generator in tip top condition and on that cold dark night when the power goes out you'll be glad you did.

Proper maintenance starts from the moment you get your brand new generator out of its packaging. You'll want to read the owner's manual from cover to cover, to ensure that you assemble it correctly. If you are anything like me reading a manual is the last thing you want to do, but when you've invested anywhere from a few hundred dollars up to a few thousand the time spent reading the instructions is time well spent and might just save you a fortune in repair bills in the long run.

After assembling the components of your generator you'll want to fill the crank case with oil and the fuel tank with fuel. It is vital you use the correct grade of oil and the right fuel, if you get this wrong you can severely damage your generator, or at the very least having it perform at less than a hundred per cent. Next you need to fire up your generator for the first time and let it run for a good few minutes. You'll want to make sure that the engine runs smoothly and doesn't race one minute and nearly stall the next.

Presuming your generator runs properly out of the box, you are going to need to carry out on-going maintenance to keep it operating at peak condition, making sure that it will always start in an emergency.

Always ensure that your generator is stored in a dry, dust and dirt free location. Consider purchasing a cover for your generator if you feel you can't guarantee your storage area will stay suitably clean. Regardless of whether you have a cover or not you will want to run a soft bristle brush, or a slightly damp cloth over your generator from time to time to clean it. I cannot stress highly enough that you should never, ever wash your generator down with a garden hose or pressure washer, water and engines just don't mix.

If your generator is fitted with a battery you might want to attach it to a trickle charger, if you have one, just to keep the battery topped off. There's nothing worse than wheeling your portable generator out to find the battery is flat.

Like anything with an engine ensure you have your generator regularly serviced, check the owner's manual for their recommended service schedule and stick to it. If you are mechanically minded you may feel confident enough to service the engine yourself, but be aware this may invalidate your warranty.

By following the above advice you should ensure your portable generator runs smoothly for years to come.

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