Annual Standby Generator Maintenance

Basic home generator maintenance is an absolute must for homeowners with a standby generator.

Oil and Oil Filters

The first, and by far the most important, thing to do is change the oil and oil filters in your generator. Although every make and model is a little different, the fundamentals are always the same. For the sake of demonstrations we’ll use graphics and data from the Cummins Standby Generators we install as an example. Cummins Standby uses 0W30 oil, but that may vary for other units.

Obviously you’ll want to check the oil levels from time to time on your generator, but much like a car, you’ll want to be replacing the filter and oil on a use-based interval. Since standby generators don’t move, you’ll be tracking “hours of use” rather than miles. Cummins for example recommends that you change the oil and filter after the first 25 hours of use, after the first 100 hours of use, and then every subsequent interval of 200 hours. 

You’ll also want to make sure you’re checking the oil regularly in between those recommended changing periods. These specific recommendations are directly from the manufacturer for the Cummins Standby Units, but it is highly recommended you take a look at the owner's manual of your specific generator and take a look at the maintenance suggestions. It will likely be very similar to what is recommended for the Cummins models.

Battery Upkeep and Replacement

The battery that comes with your unit should have a robust lifespan, but just like car batteries, these things do seem to have a turnover over every couple of years, but it is not something you should be replacing often, if at all. If replacing the battery becomes necessary, make sure you always follow safety precautions and instructions in your manual for shutdown, being as safe as possible. Per the Cummins manual:

“Make sure which terminal is positive (+) and which is negative (–) before

making battery connections, always removing the negative (–) cable first and

reconnecting it last to reduce arcing.”

What is more important here is occasionally checking the battery terminal to make sure everything is functioning properly; looking out for loose connections in the terminal housing, making sure there are no leaks or any other malfunction typical of a battery. It is sometimes suggested to clear residue build on the battery if it becomes noticeable.

Air Filters, Spark Plugs and More..

There are also a handful of other things that may be beneficial to check on or possibly replace over the course of your standby generator's life. Things like spark plugs and air filters work here the same way you would expect them to in a car. 

Spark plugs loose their efficacy over time after being exposed to overheating or getting a significant amount of carbon buildup. It is also the case that spark plugs that are improperly spaced can cause issues and will likely have a shorter life span. If you’re familiar with this process you can pretty easily check the plugs yourself, or if you have a service provider that maintains your unit, you could have them check the plugs as well.

Air filters naturally accumulate dirt and particles over time and it is recommended that they be replaced when they become visibly dirty. The rate for needing to replace this also likely depends on the air quality in the area of your generator, if lots of dirt and debris gets kicked up around your generator you may want to replace it more often than others. This is another thing you shouldn’t need to replace more than every couple years.

Conclusion:

Always keep your Owners manual around since it has specific information about maintenance regarding your model of home generator. What is recommended by one manufacturer may not necessarily be recommended by another. Many standby generators are similar in form and function but not exactly the same. Always consult your manual. Here is one for the Cummins unit we recommend.

The other takeaway is oil; checking oil levels and replacing filters and oil is by far the most common and important maintenance you can do for your generator. If all the other pieces are too difficult or complicated, consider this to be the most important and the one worth understanding.

Hurricane Home Solutions is a Cummins certified sales and service provider, we service a majority of New York State and are experts on a wide range of standby generators. We love encouraging home owners to maintain their units to the best of their ability, but we also understand that not everyone is interested or able to do that. If you’re looking for a service provider feel free to give us a call at our main office in Rochester (585) 244-0099 or submit a form here on our website.