Hurricane season has passed, and you made it through without needing to use your generator much. Now it’s time to sit back and ignore your generator until May, right? Wrong.
Many homeowners tend to ignore their generators in the off-season, from December to May. However, this quiet time is when the most damage can occur to your generator. That’s why it’s essential to conduct off-season generator maintenance to avoid wet stacking, corrosion, and other generator damage. Read on for a comprehensive guide to fighting corrosion and wet stacking during the off-season.
The Silent Killer of Idle Generators: What is Wet Stacking?
Idle generators can quickly fall victim to wet stacking. When a generator isn’t used for more than the standard exercise period each week, it never gets hot enough to burn off all the fuel and carbon. The result is called wet stacking. Wet stacking symptoms include black sludge coming from the exhaust pipe, a sputtering engine, and reduced power.
Wet stacking commonly occurs during the off-season when the generator is generally just sitting. Running the generator at less than half its rated capacity prevents the engine from reaching optimal temperatures and can cause wet stacking. Wet stacking can permanently damage your system.
The solution? Load bank testing.
What is Load Banking? (And Why Your Generator Needs It)
Load banking is when an artificial load is placed on your generator to test its performance under controlled conditions. Load bank testing simulates real-world demand without a true outage to ensure your generator operates safely and effectively when it’s needed.
The benefit of load banking is that it burns off carbon buildup and prevents wet stacking. This process forces generators to work harder, raising exhaust temperatures, and burning off excess carbon. Load bank testing helps improve engine efficiency, reduce long-term wear, and prevent performance issues during emergencies.
The best time to do load banking is when you don’t need it, aka the off-season. Conducting load testing during the off-season ensures your generator is clean and ready for the next storm season. This test should be completed at least once a year.
Fighting the Florida Fade: Enclosure Care & Waxing
It’s very common to see corroded generator enclosures in Florida. This is because the local salt air is corrosive year-round, not just during storm season. That’s why it’s critical to protect your generator by cleaning and waxing the enclosure.
Winter is the best time to clean and wax the unit since it’s dry season and just about the only time it’s dry enough to get the job done properly. Waxing your generator will help prevent corrosion over time from Florida’s harsh salt air.
If you want to DIY it, here are some tips:
- Wash the unit with mild soap (car wash style)
- Apply a marine-grade wax
- Inspect locks and hinges for rust
- Remove rust from generator
The Landscaping Audit
You should also pay attention to your landscaping during the off-season. Overgrown plants and seasonal debris can interfere with your generator’s performance if left unchecked. To operate safely and efficiently, your generator needs proper airflow.
Maintain 3-5 feet of space on all sides of the unit to ensure unrestricted airflow. This helps protect your unit from overheating and reduces the risk of unexpected shutdowns during continuous operation.
If there’s anything obstructing or suffocating the generator, remove it for safety. This may include trimming back shrubs, bushes, and tree branches or removing leaves, mulch, and debris from the bottom of the unit. A landscaping audit ensures your unit has room to breathe safely.
Why Standard Maintenance Isn’t Enough
While general generator maintenance like standard oil changes is essential, it’s not enough. A deep clean and load bank service during the off-season helps fight corrosion, wet stacking, and other damage.
Many people with generators aren’t aware of the risks of not doing these tasks. Standard maintenance is great and all, but more can and should be done to keep your generator in tip-top shape.
Reliable Power Systems offers load bank testing, deep cleaning, and waxing in our maintenance plans. We’ll handle standard maintenance tasks, plus these lesser-known preventative measures.
Ensure your generator stays in optimal working condition by signing up for a maintenance plan today.
Reset Your System for 2026
As you can see, off-season generator maintenance such as enclosure maintenance and generator load bank testing as critical to the health of your unit. Keep your generator ready for action by performing these maintenance tasks. Or contact us to ensure this off-season generator maintenance is done right so you are prepared for whatever is thrown at you.
Don’t wait for the first hurricane watch of the year. Secure your investment now! Call Reliable Power Systems today at (888) 960-5187 to reset your system before storm season in Florida. We proudly serve all of South Florida, from the east coast to the west coast.
