WINTER MAINTENANCE
PREPARATION FOR GENERATION
PPS Power offer tips on how to ensure your generator will perform to its highest specification this winter by following a few simple procedures.
If the past year has proven anything it’s that British weather has become increasingly unpredictable, and waiting until a storm hits to test your generator isn’t a wise decision. Regardless of whether you are a small business, home owner or a giant corporation you can never be too prepared for an unexpected power cut.
A backup generator’s sole purpose is to provide reliable, consistent power whether for standby or prime applications. Much like any power equipment, generators require routine maintenance to ensure they can perform to their highest specification. An idle generator can inherit a number of critical issues, so ensuring your standby generator unit is ready to perform when needed can save costly repercussions later down the line.
“THE BEST WAY TO KEEP YOUR FUEL IN GOOD CONDITION IS TO RUN
YOUR GENERATOR EVERY FEW WEEKS.”
When fuel is left for long periods of time, particles can separate and an unsightly thick gunge can build up within the engines fuel filters, injectors and fuel pump. Some standby generators are equipped to automatically cycle the fuel themselves to aid condition of the fuel. However, for smaller portable units, the best way to keep your fuel in good condition is to run your generator every few weeks, especially over the winter season, and conduct regular fuel testing to make sure of no water build up (condensation) in the fuel tank, which can lead to bacteria.
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We recommend running the unit for 10 to 20 minutes to keep the fuel moving around the engine.
We have not mentioned about fresh fuel, which is absolutely critical to the health of your generator, so ensuring you have a good supply of fuel is a no brainer. For those with an existing reserve, if the fuel has been sat for more than 6 to 12 months, adding a stabilizer can help prolong your fuel’s life span, if not clean it. But the most obvious thing is make sure your fuel tanks are topped right up ready for the worst.
Check the oil regularly (at least once a week) and top up if needed. We would advise replacing and maintaining the oil on a regular basis to avoid nasty build ups and clogging. When replacing your oil, you should be changing your filters, otherwise you are passing new oil through the grime built up by the previous batch. It is best to have a good supply of oil and filters in advance, having a last minute dash to find the correct oil or fuel filter type is the last thing you want in the middle of a storm.
Antifreeze-Coolant prevents your generator from overheating whilst in operation, so monitoring the condition of your coolant is critical. In the winter it is essential to check the mix of the coolant solution (inhibitor to water) as it has the potential to freeze, that can result in the splitting of the radiator and or cylinder block in extremely low temperatures.
Batteries need to be checked for a clean and tight connection on all terminals, ensuring that there are no loose, dirty or corroded terminals that could cause a problem when power is required. Some older generators may still have the older style vented
batteries that need regular checking and topping up with distilled water.
Air Filters are crucial to the overall condition of your generator, as they regulate the air quality throughout the whole unit. We advise that air filters are changed regularly to prevent the engine over- compensating for a blocked filter.
Performing these and other maintenance tasks will ensure your standby generator will be able to power your home or business in a power cut.
www.PPSPower.com
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