Winter Maintenance for Your Backup System
A backup generator system is incredibly worthwhile, especially during the winter months. If a storm or other problem with electrical service in your area causes your home to lose power, having a backup system installed ensures that your home will stay lit and warm during the inclement weather.
When service is turned off to a home during the winter months, the situation can become dangerous quickly. As winter approaches around the corner, it’s important to make sure your generator is ready for the winter storm possibility. The temperature inside of your home can dip down to a dangerous level within just a few hours, and in addition to the discomfort and health risk of this cold, there is also an increased chance that the pipes in your home will freeze and burst, creating a big mess if power isn’t restored quickly. It’s why many homeowners have chosen to install backup generator systems to protect themselves in the event of a power outage.
You need to do more than just install a backup generator system to protect your home, though. You also need to do preventative maintenance on it and winterize your system so that it’s ready to go if your home ever loses power during the winter months. So what’s involved with winterizing a backup generator?
To start, it’s important to test and run your backup generator system before it starts getting cold outside. This allows you to see how the system runs and identify any potential problems with its operation. If you notice that your generator is running strangely, sputtering or showing any other symptoms of irregular operation, call for maintenance on your system to ensure that it’s winter ready.
You should also change the oil and oil filter in your backup generator system to make sure that all lubricants are fresh and ready to keep the motor running during the cooler months. You’ll also want to check the condition of electrical components within the generator, including the battery, spark plugs and ignition contact points. During the winter months, you’ll also want to inspect your generator regularly and prevent snow and ice from building up on or around the unit. This can block ventilation or put stress on the generator that can impact proper operation when you need it most.
At GenTech Generators, we can help you make sure you’re ready for winter with our preventative maintenance service. We inspect your backup generator, perform an oil change annually, inspect all connections, hoses and belts for leaks and much more. Best of all, when you buy a new generator system from us, you’ll receive two free maintenance visits during the first year to help you make sure that your system is ready to go whenever the power goes out.
The last thing you want to do is wait until it’s too late to seek service. Whether you need maintenance for your existing system or are interested in learning more about installing a new backup generator, find out more today by calling GenTech Generators at 301-469-7800.