Summer is fast approaching, and that means the Florida hurricane season is, too. A standby generator is a terrific piece of equipment that helps protects your family and home during hurricanes and other storms. Is your standby generator ready to handle a sudden blackout?
Here are some of our favorite DIY tips for ensuring your generator is good to go when storms hit.
- Run the generator every few months. This keeps the electric starter’s battery charged. Of course, before starting up your standby generator, make sure you and the generator are outside in a well-ventilated area, so you don’t breathe in any harmful fumes.
- Routinely check the fuel. This will help prevent any stale fuel issues. The oil in a generator has a shelf life of about five years, but the time it takes for fuel to go stale is still up for debate.
- Check the fuel lines. Over time, a generator’s fuel lines can become clogged, torn, or cracked, preventing the gas from reaching the fuel system and causing the generator not to start or run efficiently. Sometimes it’s easier to simply replace a worn fuel line than try to fix it.
- Stock up on extra oil. Powering large appliances like stoves and refrigerators is hard on a generator’s oil. Replacing the oil frequently, say every 50 hours, means you never have to worry about not having the power you need when storms roll through.
- Replace or clean a dirty air filter. While you can wash a dirty filter, it’s pretty easy to tear it. If the air filter looks dirty, swap it out with a new one. They’re relatively inexpensive, and a clean filter ensures your generator runs as efficiently as possible.
- Check the spark plugs. Bad spark plugs can’t create an electrical arc, so your generator can’t power up. You can clean dirty plugs with a wire brush. A good rule of thumb is to replace a spark plug when you replace a dirty filter.
The Benefits of a Standby Generator
Often your first line of defense against power loss during a hurricane, standby generators:
- Quickly and automatically deliver power to your South Florida home during a blackout.
- Keep HVAC systems, TVs, refrigerators, computers, and other appliances operating.
- Maintain your home’s comfort and safety levels.
Reliable Power Systems can repair or maintain your home’s standby generator to ensure it’s ready when you need it most. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact us online today or call us at 561.757.4405.
