Six Home Generator Maintenance Tips That Keep It Reliable
A whole-house generator is an excellent backup during power outages, keeping your home running smoothly. These systems turn on automatically when the power goes out, ensuring that essential appliances and heating/cooling systems keep working. Yearly home generator maintenance is key to keeping your generator in good condition and helping it last—possibly 20 years or more.
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What Maintenance Does a Whole Home Generator Need?
Whole-house generators are an important investment in your home’s safety and convenience. Without regular care, home generators can develop problems that prevent them from starting when you need them most. However, home generator maintenance ensures the following:
- Best Performance: Prevents wear and tear from reducing efficiency over time.
- Reliability: Lowers the risk of breakdowns during emergencies.
- Cost Savings: Fixes small issues before they turn into expensive repairs.
By setting aside a little time for maintenance, you can keep your generator running smoothly for years. In many cases, maintenance pays for itself. Plus, you want your generator to turn on when you need it most.
Essential Maintenance for Whole-Home Generators
1. Check and Change the Oil
Like a car, your generator needs clean oil to run well. Over time, oil becomes dark and thick, which can wear down the engine. While you can change it yourself, we can also take care of it if you prefer professional help. We can do this during any routine home generator maintenance visit.
When to Check: At least once a year or after heavy use.
How to change your generator’s oil:
- Find the oil drain tube.
- Loosen the wing nut and let the old oil drain into a container.
- Use a funnel to add new oil, either regular or synthetic, depending on your choice.
Pro Tip: If your generator runs for 48 hours or more, let the engine cool before checking or changing the oil to prevent damage.
2. Replace the Air Filter
Your generator’s air filter keeps dust and dirt from clogging the engine. A dirty filter can block airflow, making the generator less efficient.
How to maintain your home generator’s air filter:
- Remove and shake out any dirt for a quick clean.
- Replace the filter if it’s been a few years or looks very dirty.
This simple step helps keep your generator running at its best.
3. Inspect and Replace Spark Plugs
Old or dirty spark plugs can keep your generator from starting or cause it to run poorly. Checking and replacing them is an easy but important step.
What to Do:
- Compare your spark plugs to new ones. If they look corroded or dirty, it’s time to replace them.
- Replace spark plugs every two years for the best performance.
This small fix keeps your generator running strong.
4. Inspect the Battery
Your generator’s battery is essential for starting it. A weak or dead battery can leave you without power when you need it.
What to Check:
- Look for corrosion on the battery terminals.
- Use a battery tester to make sure it holds a charge.
Maintenance Tip: Clean corroded terminals with baking soda and water or a battery cleaning solution. If the battery isn’t holding a charge, replace it before it fails.
5. Keep the Area Clean
Your home generator needs more than internal care—it also needs a clean and clear area around it.
What to Do:
- Remove leaves, grass, and shrubs from around your generator to allow proper airflow and prevent overheating.
- Keep the exhaust area clear to prevent harmful gases from building up or damaging nearby plants and structures.
A clean environment helps your generator work safely and efficiently.
6. Stay on Top of Scheduled Home Generator Maintenance
Every standby generator has an owner’s manual with a maintenance schedule and specific tasks. Following these guidelines helps keep your generator in good condition.
Extra Maintenance Tips:
- Buy a maintenance kit designed for your generator model to make upkeep easier.
- Schedule professional inspections once a year to catch any issues early.
- If you’re unsure how to perform these tasks, a professional technician can help.
Looking for Professional Help?
You don’t have to handle home generator maintenance alone. If maintaining your generator feels overwhelming or you want the peace of mind that comes with expert care, our team at Five Star Home Services is here to help. We have years of experience serving homeowners throughout Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, and nearby areas, specializing in keeping whole-house generators running efficiently.
Why Choose Us?
- Fast service available—because you shouldn’t have to wait.
- Certified technicians trained to work on all major generator brands.
- Transparent pricing—no hidden fees, just honest service.
- Five-Star Customer Care—because we put homeowners first.
Schedule Your Generator Tune-Up Today!
For expert maintenance, call Five Star Electric today at (833) 405-8009 and get a free quote.
Final Thoughts on Home Generator Maintenance
Regular home generator maintenance is key to making sure your whole house generator lasts and works when you need it. Simple tasks like checking the oil, replacing air filters, and inspecting the battery can make a big difference when the next power outage happens.
And if you’re not sure where to start, Five Star Home Services is just a call away. Say goodbye to power outage worries and hello to dependable backup power—24/7.
Call Five Star Electric today at (833) 405-8009 for expert maintenance and a free quote.
About the Author
As the Director of Electrical Operations at Five Star Home Services, Matt Koch is a master electrician with 26 years of experience in the industry. Matt brings a deep understanding of electrical systems and a commitment to excellence with every customer. He loves helping customers and is a part of the Five Star Home Services Family.
As a single father, Matt currently resides in Lancaster, Ohio. His daughter, Aubree is 15. Outside of fixing people’s electrical systems, Matt enjoys golfing when he has time.
Additionally, he is an active part of his daughter’s swim team.
