Due to the persisting electricity load-shedding problems, households around Pakistan greatly rely on alternative power sources, such as UPS inverters and generators. UPS inverters are maintenance-free but they generally offer low-capacity power backups for a limited time. So, people with larger households often prefer installing power generators. Since they have more mechanical equipment, they require more maintenance.
If you regularly maintain your generator at home, it would run perfectly. To help you in this regard, we have put together a comprehensive generator maintenance checklist in this blog, so make sure to read it carefully.
Now without further ado, let’s get the ball rolling!
How to Maintain Your Generator at Home: a Complete Checklist
So, take out your toolbox and be ready to get your hands dirty. With these important tips, you’ll easily be able to maintain a generator at home like a pro.
Cleaning and Servicing
Whether you are using your generator or not, it should be cleaned and serviced regularly. You can set a day in your calendar to service your generator at least twice a year if it is sitting idle. Meanwhile, if your home generator is used daily, you should carry out its cleaning and servicing more frequently. Don’t keep pushing off the cleaning and maintenance tasks, if you want to keep your generator in working condition.
Overall Inspection
While you are cleaning your home generator, inspect its moving parts closely. Look for any rusted or corroded components. They might be harmful to the functioning of the equipment, so replace them immediately. Also, don’t forget to check for any wiring problems and stuck buttons and get them fixed right away. Maintain a record every time you carry out inspection and maintenance of your home generator.
Fixing Loose Components
The generator has a lot of moving parts, which may become loose with time. It can be anything from wires and electrical components to fuel pumps and injectors. If you are not sure about fixing any loose, stuck or fraying part, you should seek professional help. It is better not to risk anything and stay safe.
Check Lubricants
When it comes to checking and changing lubricants, try to follow the manufacturer’s instructions if they are available. Also, the frequency of checking and changing your home generator’s oil depends on its usage. If you use it regularly, you should check the lubricants of your generator more often otherwise, inspecting and changing them once a year would be enough.
Replace Spark Plugs if Needed
A spark plug helps your generator produce power, which makes it one of the most important components. So, make sure to check it while serving and maintaining your generator. They are generally very cheap and can be easily replaced if you find them in a foul condition.
Check Fuel and Related Components
If the gasoline in your generator remains unused for a long time, it may lose its effectiveness, so it is better to drain it out of your generator’s fuel tank. Make sure to dispose of it properly and get rid of any remaining residues. Moreover, also check the condition of a fuel pump, injector and other related components in your generator to prevent any type of malfunctioning.
Keep Your Generator at a Safe Place
And, last but not the least, find a safe and shaded spot to install your home generator, especially if it is a large, immovable unit. Try not to expose your generator to moisture and dust. Also, as you can see in the picture above, generators that are designed to be installed outdoors come with a protective casing that protects the internal components from environmental hazards. On the other hand, if you have a portable generator, you can easily move it around your home, keeping in view the weather conditions.
Important Tools You Need for Generator Maintenance at Home
To maintain a generator at home, make sure that you have the following things:
- Extra spark plugs
- A toolkit with sockets, pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.
- Fuel Supply
- Lubricants and oil
- Anti-corrosives
- Weather-resistant cover for generators
- Extension cords
- Manufacturer’s instruction manual
Safety Tips for Operating and Maintaining a Generator
A power generator produces electricity with alternating current (AC) and has many mechanical parts, which is why you need to be extremely careful while operating and maintaining it. Check out these safety precautions!
- Always operate or maintain your generator in a well-ventilated area. The exhaust fumes that it produces contain carbon monoxide, which is a colourless and odourless deadly gas.
- Never touch a generator in damp conditions. Even if it is extremely necessary, wipe up the surface of the generator with a cloth and wear gloves before making contact with it.
- If you are going for a permanently installed home generator system, choose a proper enclosure or shaded area for its placement. Operating a large-size standby generator in such an environment would be much safer.
Here we’ll conclude our comprehensive guide on home generator maintenance and safety measures. We hope the information we have shared in this piece will help you keep your generator in good working condition. If you have questions or feedback related to the topic, feel free to drop us an email at blog@zameen.com.
On a side note, if you want to learn more about the latest home generator prices in Pakistan, check out this blog.
To read more such informative guides on the subject of home improvement, stay tuned to Zameen Blog, Pakistan’s No.1 real estate blog. You can also catch all our latest updates by subscribing to our email newsletter.
