Yearly maintenance for home standby generators
Home standby generators require regularly scheduled yearly maintenance to help ensure proper operation and longevity.
Environment
This article applies to:
- Generac Next Generation Series 10-28 kW air-cooled standby generators
- Generac Guardian Series 10-26 kW air-cooled standby generators (2017 to present)
How do I know when to perform yearly maintenance?
A yellow maintenance light will appear at a yearly interval starting from the generator's activation date. A yellow maintenance light will not prevent the unit from running during an outage, but is a reminder that the unit should be inspected. For more information about status indicator lights, see the What Do the Green, Yellow, and Red Status Indicator Lights Mean on Home Standby Generators? article.
Note: For Next Generation series generators, a solid yellow LED indicates the controller is in MANUAL mode and the generator is running. The yellow LED flashes in one second intervals when a warning is active or maintenance is required. Owners should check Mobile Link for information on what specific alert is present.
Who can perform maintenance?
Homeowners can perform regular maintenance tasks as outlined in their generator owner's manual. Alternatively, homeowners can contact a local certified service dealer. See Where Can I Find a Company to Perform Standard Maintenance On My Generator? for more information.
Regardless of who performs the maintenance, maintenance records must be kept and documented for future reference. The Mobile Link for Generators app offers the ability to record and track maintenance tasks. See the Viewing, Adding, Deleting, & Exporting Maintenance Schedule Records in Mobile Link article for more information.
Consult your owner's manual for additional maintenance information. See How Do I Find a Copy of My Home Standby Generator Owner's Manual, Spec Sheets, or Installation Manual? for instructions to locate your generator's user manual.
What are the yearly maintenance tasks?
When do I need to change my oil?
Yearly maintenance may include changing the oil and oil filter, but this is dependent on multiple factors - run hours, time intervals, and environment. Generac recommends the following guidelines for oil and oil filter changes:
Run Hours
Note: Generators that operate in extremely hot or cold environments <40°F (<4.4°C) or >85°F (>29.4°C) 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.
Time Interval
- At a minimum every 2 years - regardless of run hours.
What type of oil do I need?
We recommend using Generac 5W-20 full synthetic oil for all home standby generators, no matter the temperature.
For more information on determining the right type of oil and when to change the oil see the following articles:
What does annual maintenance cost?
Home standby generator maintenance costs depend on a few variables; including the generator model, the frequency of use, who performs the maintenance, and location. For generator owners who feel comfortable doing so, performing maintenance yourself can reduce the cost. The pricing for maintenance (and service contracts) offered by Generac authorized dealers is determined individually by each dealer. We recommend contacting a Generac service dealer near you to inquire on specific maintenance costs, and learn more about annual service plans they may offer: https://www.generac.com/home-standby-generators/dealer-locator/
Next steps
After maintenance procedures have been completed, it is important to follow the post-maintenance check procedure to ensure any maintenance alarms are cleared and the home standby unit is in a Ready to Run status.
