Generator Maintenance
Won't fail when needed. Test monthly.
Monthly test (5 min)
- Run generator 5-10 minutes monthly.
- Check fuel.
- Listen for unusual sounds.
- Check oil level.
- Catch issues before crisis.
- Critical for medical equipment users.
Annual service
- Oil change.
- Air filter check.
- Spark plug.
- Battery check (if electric start).
- Fuel system inspection.
- Costs $150-300.
- Hire generator pro for whole-home units.
Fuel matters
- Use stabilizer (Sta-bil) — gas spoils in 3 months.
- Or use ethanol-free gas.
- Drain gas before long storage.
- Whole-home propane = 10+ year storage.
- Natural gas best — no fuel storage.
Safety
- NEVER run inside garage / home (CO poisoning).
- 20+ feet from house, doors, windows.
- Carbon monoxide detectors in home.
- Don't backfeed via dryer outlet (electrocutes utility workers).
- Hire electrician for transfer switch.
- Cover from rain (special covers exist).
Whole-home worth?
- $5K-15K install + propane tank.
- Auto-starts when power out.
- Worth it: medical equipment, frequent outages, hot/cold climates.
- Generac, Kohler, Cummins brands.
- Battery backup (Tesla Powerwall) alternative.
- Solar + battery growing.
Senior priority
If on oxygen, CPAP, or have refrigerated meds — generator critical. Talk to power company about medical priority restoration. Battery backup ($2K-5K) covers fridge + medical 24-48 hours. Cheaper than whole-home generator.