Get Your Generator Ready for Winter 

Get Your Generator Ready for Winter 

New England winters can be harsh and unpredictable. Heavy snow, ice and high winds can knock out power and freezing temperatures can be tough on the generator you’re counting on when that happens.

The good news is that you don’t have to be a generator technician to do a quick winter check! There are a few things you can look for yourself before the first big storm. If you’re on one of our Preventative Maintenance plans, we’ll handle the more technical maintenance and testing for you.

When was your Generator Last Serviced?

Not on a service plan and can’t remember the last time your generator was serviced? That’s a good place to start. Routine service gives our technicians a chance to change the oil and filters, inspect the system and catch wear or other issues before they turn into a problem. It’s much easier to address those things during a scheduled fall visit than during an outage in January.

Pay Attention to the Exercise Cycle

Your standby generator should be exercising automatically on a regular schedule. If Northeast Generator installed your system, it’s likely already programmed to do this.

You don’t need to stand outside and watch the entire cycle. Just take note if you stop hearing it run at its usual time or notice a warning light, alert, unusual noise or odor. Those are good reasons to give us a call.

Check Your Fuel Supply
Use propane? Check the tank before winter and make sure you have enough fuel if an outage lasts longer than expected. If your generator runs on natural gas, we’ll check the fuel supply and connections as part of regular maintenance.

Don’t Forget About the Battery
You’re probably not going to pull out a voltage tester yourself, there are things you can spot just by looking. White, green or bluish buildup around the terminals can mean corrosion. Swelling, cracks or leaks are also reasons to have the battery checked.

Give Your Generator Some Breathing Room
As part of your fall cleanup, take a look around your generator. Clear away leaves, grass clippings, branches and anything else that’s collected around it.

Keep doing the same once the snow starts. Don’t let snowbanks build up against the generator (and be careful where you’re aiming the snowblower!). Your generator needs clear airflow to operate safely, never cover it while it’s running.

Want Us to Handle It?
Our team has been maintaining and repairing generators for 60+ years. Our factory-trained technicians service all makes and models, and we’re available 24/7 if something goes wrong when you need your generator most.

Already on one of our Residential or Commercial preventive maintenance plans? We’ll see you soon, if we haven’t already. If you’re not, now is a good time to sign up and let us take generator maintenance off your winter to-do list.