Fall into Power: A Guide to Generator Maintenance For Winter Preparedness

In addition to being a beautiful season in New England, fall is also an important time for property maintenance, such as generator maintenance. To ensure that your standby or portable generators are ready for New England’s winter weather, make commercial generator maintenance and home generator care a priority this fall. Keep reading to find out which tasks to add to your fall to-do list and how Northeast Generator can help you ensure that your home or business stays safe, comfortable and operating as usual this year.

Generator Maintenance: 5 To-Dos for Your Fall Checklist

According to the results of a recent study as shared by Newsweek, the East Coast (and parts of the Northeast in particular) is noted as one of the regions that is most vulnerable to outages. To prevent the need to find emergency generator services near you, routine generator maintenance helps ensure that your generator works properly, so that your home or business is prepared when severe weather arrives! Below, find some important tasks to complete this fall.

• Schedule a generator inspection and maintenance services.

  • If you don’t already routinely monitor your generator, fall is the perfect time to inspect your generator thoroughly for any signs of damage or wear. Issues like dirt and debris buildup, leaks or loose wiring can jeopardize the safety and efficiency of your generator.
  • Schedule your appointment for generator maintenance or necessary generator repairs now. From routine upkeep like topping off fluids and changing filters to more significant repairs or replacements, our team at Northeast Generator will help ensure that your generator is in good working condition before the winter weather arrives.

• Assess your fuel supply and replenish it as needed.

  • Make sure that you have an adequate supply of fuel, such as gasoline or propane, depending on your generator type.
  • If you have a gasoline generator, store fuel in proper containers and keep it in a safe, dry, and well-ventilated area.
  • If you have a propane generator, you will need to contact your propane supplier and request a delivery to ensure that you have the necessary amount of fuel.

• Clean up the area around your standby generator.

  • Fallen leaves and grass clippings lead to clogged generator vents. Keep the area around your generator clean and be sure to clear any debris that may have made its way into the vents. If snow arrives, you’ll also need to remove it from the standby generator and the area around it.
  • In addition to causing your generator to overheat and fail to provide power when you need it most, clogged vents can also trap carbon dioxide in your home. Therefore, it is not only important to clean in order to avoid clogs but also to make sure to have carbon monoxide detectors in your home, particularly in areas near the generator and sleeping areas. At least once a month throughout the year, the National Fire Protection Association® recommends checking all carbon monoxide detectors to confirm that they are working properly. 

• Perform regular testing as part of ongoing generator maintenance.

  • To ensure that your generator starts and operates correctly, perform these tests on a weekly or monthly basis. These tests should be completed outside of severe weather conditions in order to avoid any issues during an actual power outage.
  • At Northeast Generator, we also offer remote generator monitoring for residential and commercial generators. These packages enable homeowners and business owners to access current information about their generators, such as fuel levels, alerts about faults or reminders about essential generator maintenance, from any location using a smartphone, tablet or PC. Our team of skilled technicians also has access to this generator information, which makes it easier to troubleshoot and resolve any generator repairs or emergency needs as quickly as possible. 

• Make the necessary arrangements if you plan to use portable generators.

  • Choose a well-ventilated area that is away from windows and doors to place your portable generator.
  • To avoid backfeeding and electrical hazards, use the appropriate extension cords and transfer switches with portable generators.
  • DO NOT operate a generator indoors or in enclosed spaces, as this can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. (Additional generator safety tips are available in this guide from the Electrical Safety Foundation International.)

In addition to specific care related to generator maintenance and operation, here are three more tips to ensure that you, as well as your generator, are ready for any winter weather conditions.

• Watch the weather forecasts, so you are prepared to start your generator if needed or to clean and clear the area in the event of snow.
• Have the contact information for local utility companies and emergency services, including the number of reliable generator services company near you, in your phone or posted somewhere that is easily visible in case of any issues.
• Even if you have completed your necessary generator maintenance and know that your generator is working as it should, you may want to create a winter weather emergency kit just in case. Some essential supplies to include are flashlights, batteries, warm clothing, blankets, non-perishable food, and a battery-operated radio. 

When using generators during winter weather, remember that safety is the top priority. To communities across Connecticut, as well as in eastern New York and western Rhode Island, Northeast Generator offers routine generator services including fall and spring generator maintenance and repairs, as well as the necessary solutions in the event of a power-related emergency. Following this guidance for fall generator maintenance will help ensure that you have safe and reliable power during New England winters. Whether you are looking for the best generator for your home or business, contact Northeast Generator today!

Schedule your Maintenance Appointment Today!