Continuous use maintenance
Home standby generators often run for extended periods during outages. Homeowners must regularly inspect the generator to ensure optimal operation.
Environment
This article applies to:
- Generac Next Generation Series 10-28 kW air-cooled standby generators that are approaching or exceeding 24 hours of continuous use.
- Generac Guardian Series 10-26 kW air-cooled standby generators (2017 to present) that are approaching or exceeding 24 hours of continuous use.
What is continuous use?
Continuous use is defined as a scenario where a home standby generator is approaching or exceeding 24 hours of continuous run time. Much like driving a car a long distance, checking to ensure fluid levels are adequate during extended usage is essential. After every 24 hours of continuous run time, Air-cooled Home Standby Generators need to be shut down for a minimum of 30 minutes to allow for continuous use maintenance tasks to be performed.
How can I safely shut down my generator when it's been running during an outage?
Detailed steps on how to safely shut down your generator when it's been running during an outage can be found in this article: How Do I Shut Down My Generator When It’s Powering My House (During an Outage)?
Continuous use of maintenance tasks
Perform these tasks if the generator has been running continuously for 24 hours or more:
- Check oil level and top off if necessary- How Do I Check the Oil Level in My Home Standby Generator?
- Check fuel lines and connections for leaks - How to check lines and connections for fuel or oil leaks
- Check the enclosure louvers for dirt and debris and clear if present
Key considerations when performing generator maintenance during continuous use
When a generator is running for extended periods of time, it may be necessary to perform additional maintenance tasks (such as oil and oil filter changes) if the service interval has been reached. For example, if a home standby generator has been running for a combined 200 hours since its last oil change, the oil and oil filter will need to be changed. Service intervals are specified in the owner's manual, are mentioned in the sections below, and can also be viewed here: Where Can I Find the Maintenance Schedule for My Generac Home Standby Generator?
Note: The generator's accumulated run hours, time elapsed since last service, and operating environment will determine when, and if, these tasks are necessary. Run time can be checked at the control panel, or in Mobile Link: How do I find out how many run hours are on my home standby generator?
Click on the below scenario that best fits your situation to determine required maintenance:
IMPORTANT: before any maintenance is performed, the generator needs to be safely shut down: How Do I Shut Down My Generator When It’s Powering My House (During an Outage)?
Generators that have reached 25 hours of total run time
Generators that have reached 25 hours of total run time (also known as the break-in period) should have these service tasks performed: How do I perform the break-in maintenance for a home standby generator?
Generators that have reached 200 hours of run time since last service
Generators that have reached 200 hours of run time since last service require an oil and oil filter change and a battery inspection:
Generators that have reached 400 hours of continuous run time since last service
Generators that have reached 400 hours of run time since last service require an oil and oil filter change, battery inspection, air filter replacement, and spark plug replacement:
Generators running continuously in extreme environments <40°F (<4.4°C) or >85°F (>29.4°C)
Generators that are running continuously in extremely hot or cold environments will require an oil and oil filter change after every 100 hours of run time since last service, due to the strain that extreme environments put on the engine and fuel system:
Who can perform these tasks?
Generac recommends contacting your local Independent Authorized Service Dealer (IASD) for service. See How Can I Find a Generac Service Dealer in My Area? for more information.
Maintenance can also be performed by homeowners who feel comfortable doing so. Regardless of who performs the maintenance, it is important to keep records of all maintenance and services performed as indicated in the terms and conditions of the manufacturer's warranty statement. The Mobile Link for Generators application provides functionality for creating and tracking maintenance tasks. See Viewing, Adding, Deleting, & Exporting Maintenance Schedule Records in Mobile Link for more information.
Next steps
After maintenance procedures have been completed, it is important to follow the post-maintenance check procedure to ensure the home standby unit is "ready to run" as well as document/record the maintenance performed.
See also
