Your home standby generator was built to take responsibility off your shoulders. When the power fails, it will automatically sense the outage and kick into action to restore power on its own—you shouldn’t have to move a muscle. That doesn’t mean it’s entirely self-sufficient, though. Just like your car or lawn mower, home generators are machines that need some TLC from time to time. They perform best when owners stay on top of maintenance, and they can’t run forever without a helping hand.
A home standby generator is an investment. And the best way to make the most of an investment is to make it last. Maintenance has its costs, but letting your generator fall into disrepair is much more expensive in the long run. Taking the time to check on your generator every now and then could save you hundreds—even thousands—of dollars in repairs.
You don’t always need professional help to keep your generator in top shape, either. For most quick checks and fixes, you’ll only need your owner’s manual. Go to the maintenance section, and you’ll find detailed guidance on how to care for your generator. The checklist is shorter and less complicated than you might think. Most importantly, you don’t have to tackle everything all at once. Each product manual includes a service schedule showing you when (and how often) to take each step. So, though your schedule might recommend checking fuel lines before each use, other tasks can safely wait for years at a time. And that’s not guesswork: Generac has been supplying home backup power for more than 60 years, and our experts know everything there is to know about the generator lifecycle. Each action plan is the product of that experience, carefully calculated to maximize lifespan and minimize costs over time.
You probably already have some sort of home maintenance routine. It’s different for everyone: maybe you clean your furnace filter every season, unclog the shower drain every other month, or replace the batteries in your smoke detectors twice a year. Whatever your existing checklist looks like, it’s worth making room for generator maintenance.
Think about it this way: in the spring and fall, many homeowners clean out their gutters to avoid clogs and water damage. While you’re at it, you can (and should!) take similar steps to protect your generator. It doesn’t take much time or effort—and you won’t have to climb any ladders, either. First, get rid of any shrubs or grasses surrounding the enclosure. You’ll want about three feet of space on all sides for proper airflow. Then, clear out any debris that’s made its way inside. And that’s it! There’s one potential issue, easily avoided. (Pro tip: try to remember this step whenever you mow the lawn or whack weeds. Make it a regular detour, and it’ll become a subconscious habit in no time.) Other steps on the maintenance checklist are just as simple, whether you’re monitoring oil levels or moving your sprinklers. It’s all doable—and it all matters in the long run.
Try to remember this step whenever you mow the lawn or whack weeds. Make it a regular detour, and it’ll become a subconscious habit in no time. Other steps on the maintenance checklist are just as simple, whether you’re monitoring oil levels or moving your sprinklers. It’s all doable—and it all matters in the long run.
Marking your calendar is a great first step, but it can take some time to get the ball rolling. We all put tasks off for tomorrow—but sometimes, tomorrow comes with unexpected storm warnings. And if you wait until the last minute to check on your backup generator, you might discover that it’s not up for the task when you need it most.
If you’re ever in that situation, you have options. Depending on the issue, you could use our resources to troubleshoot on your own. Failing that, you could reach out to a professional. But if the forecast spells trouble for your area, you won’t be the only one looking for specialist help. The best way to avoid that last-minute scramble is to take preventative measures. If you schedule a maintenance checkup before storm season starts, for example, you can feel confident your backup is ready to go at any time. As one Generac owner put it, “When [the storm] came, our home became like a sanctuary for us.” But that sanctuary isn’t guaranteed if your generator isn’t properly maintained. You’ve already done so much to safeguard your home—why take unnecessary chances?
Fortunately, it’s easy to stay on top of maintenance with a little planning. Do what it takes to keep your home backup in great shape, and it’ll be ready to handle surprise weather events, unexpected grid failures, and everything in between.
“We felt really lucky that we had the generator. It’s a lifesaver. That’s not just a term to use—it truly is a lifesaver.”
- Pham Family, Houston, TX
Generac home standby generators are built to last decades, but they need upkeep every now and then to reach their full lifespan. Without proper attention, key components can break down over time.
You can’t always control when or how your generator changes, but you can commit to taking simple steps that’ll help it stand the test of time. In the short term, maintenance will keep your generator running smoothly and efficiently. In the long run, your backup will protect your home for many years to come.
When the power goes out, you shouldn’t have to worry about your generator’s condition. At the end of the day, you perform regular maintenance so you can know, without a doubt, that you’ll have backup power when you need it. A few simple steps today can save you from costly repairs or disruptions down the road. You already invested in peace of mind—now, make sure that investment pays off for years to come.
Get started by checking your manual for more information on how to maintain your specific home standby backup. Or, if you know there’s a storm coming, learn how to prepare your generator for severe weather. You have all the tools you need to make your generator last a lifetime.
