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What Maintenance Does A Whole House Generator Need?

Author: Leddy Power Systems
by Leddy Power Systems
Posted: May 22, 2022

A whole house generator, as is evident from the name as well, is a type of standby generator that is tasked with the job of providing a convenient supply of electricity to fulfill all of your home’s electrical needs in the event of a power outage.

It doesn't run on a volatile fuel (like diesel and gasoline) alone. It also requires proper care to operate smoothly and efficiently for a longer duration. To keep your whole house generator in tip-top condition, there are a few simple things that you have to do daily.

This article will cover some of the essential things you need to do to keep your whole house generator in good condition. But first, let’s discuss the way a whole house generator works.

How does a whole house generator work?

The whole house generator is designed to convert the mechanical energy to electricity. And, to generate the mechanical energy it employs a heat engine. In addition to the heat engine, a typical whole house generator comes equipped with an array of components like; an alternator, voltage regulator, fuel delivery network, cooling system, exhaust system, instrument panel, battery, and frame.

They all works together to turn the mechanical energy of the engine into electricity. Now that we are aware of the working principle of a whole house generator, let us discuss a few whole house generator maintenance tips to ensure that your generator is always kept in proper working order.

Tips to keep your whole house generator in good condition

Fill up the fuel tank

Just like any other machine, a whole house generator requires proper maintenance. Keeping the fuel tank full to eliminate wear and tear is perhaps the most important thing you can do to keep your generator in proper working order. Therefore, you should check the fuel level in your generator regularly and once you notice that your generator is low on gas, top it off right away.

Check the oil level

Your whole house generator comes equipped with an internal combustion engine. It converts thermal energy to mechanical power- which essentially helps the alternator to generate electricity. To operate smoothly and efficiently, the engine needs an adequate amount of motor oil.

Unavailability of a sufficient amount of lubricant can make the engine run rough and seize up. Therefore, check the lubricant level regularly and if necessary replace it. Besides, you should also check the condition of the oil filter. If it is clogged or damaged, consider installing new ones.

Check the coolant level

Another important thing that you need to keep an eye out for in your whole house generator is the coolant level. As we have discussed earlier, the whole house generator is outfitted with a cooling system.

The sole purpose of the cooling system is to keep the engine temperature stable so that it can run for a very long time. Unavailability of an adequate amount of coolant due to leaks in the system can paralyze your generator’s cooling system. Therefore, check the coolant level regularly and if its level is declining, top it off.

Keep the battery charged

As you are probably well aware, a properly functioning battery is essential for smooth generator operation. The primary responsibility of a generator battery is to energize the engine starter and the control panel. If there is something off with the battery, your generator won’t start.

Therefore, if you are finding it hard to start your generator, chances are its battery is not working properly and needs to be replaced right away. To keep the battery properly charged, you need to run your generator every two months for about an hour.

In conclusion

A whole house generator is something that will allow you to run different types of electrical appliances in your home in the event of a prolonged power cut. However, if you ignore your generator's maintenance schedule, it will increase the risk of technical failure, which will cost you a lump sum of money.

Therefore, you need to familiarize yourself with different aspects of home generator maintenance so that you can increase its life expectancy. Some of the most important things that you can do to ensure the longevity of your whole house generator are- timely oil change, cooling system flush, battery inspection, spark plug replacement, and so on so forth.

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Author: Leddy Power Systems

Leddy Power Systems

Member since: May 19, 2022
Published articles: 5

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