Home standby generator maintenance schedule

The information provided below is for reference only. Specific maintenance tasks and schedules can be found in the generator owner's manual under the maintenance section. Owner's manuals for specific models can be found on the product information page on our website. Performing the tasks outlined in the maintenance schedule on time is essential in prolonging the life of the generator and keeping it in good working order. 

Note: Many Generac authorized service dealers offer maintenance plans and dealer managed Mobile Link subscriptions for generator owners. To inquire about the availability of a maintenance or service plan, contact a Generac dealer.

See here for more information on dealer managed service plans: How do I upgrade to a Dealer-Managed plan in Mobile Link?

Environment

• Generac Next Generation Series 10-28 kW air-cooled standby generators
• Generac Guardian Series 10-26 kW air-cooled standby generators (2017 to present)

Important notes

• Home standby generators come shipped from the factory with conventional oil in the engine. Do not switch to synthetic oil before the break-in period is reached.
• † Change the engine oil and oil filter after the break in period. The break-in period for most home standby generators is the first 25 hours of run time. The PowerPact 7.5kW model requires its first oil change after the first 20 hours of runtime. See the owner’s manual for the full maintenance schedule: Where can I find an owner's manual for my home standby generator?
• Generators that operate in extremely hot or cold environments below 40°F (<4.4°C) or  above 85°F (>29.4°C) require an oil and oil filter change every year or after every 100 hours of run time since last service. This is due to the strain that extreme environments put on the engine and fuel system: How Do I Change the Oil and Oil Filter in a Generac Air-Cooled Home Standby Generator?
• ‡ Inspect/adjust valve clearance after first 25 hours of run time.

Note: Next Generation Series generators and the 14 & 18 kW Guardian Series generators use hydraulic lifters, and therefore do NOT require a valve clearance inspection or adjustment. See the spec sheet to confirm if your generator has hydraulic lifters: Where can I find a spec sheet for my home standby generator?

I'm looking for someone to perform scheduled maintenance for me. What do I do?

Many Generac authorized service dealers offer maintenance plans and dealer managed Mobile Link subscriptions for generator owners. To inquire about the availability of a maintenance or service plan, contact a Generac dealer.

See here for more information on dealer managed service plans: How do I upgrade to a Dealer-Managed plan in Mobile Link?

Maintenance Periods

A home standby generator has several maintenance intervals. Some intervals occur on a regularly scheduled basis, while others are dependent on the usage of the generator. Similar to an automobile, certain maintenance items occur after a set number of miles (in the case of generators, run hours), while others are dependent on time. The generators run hours can be found in Mobile Link or at the control panel. See How do I find out how many run hours are on my home standby generator? for more information.

"Break-in" Maintenance

The "break-in" maintenance occurs after the first 25 hours of runtime (The PowerPact 7.5kW after the first 20 hours of run time.) See How do I perform the break-in maintenance for a home standby generator? for more information.

Note: The Break-In Maintenance period is designated as Schedule C Maintenance for Next Generation series generators.

Continuous Use Maintenance

When the generator is running continuously during an outage, continuous use maintenance should occur daily (every 24 hours). See Continuous use maintenance for home standby generators for more information.

Yearly Maintenance

Yearly maintenance is performed every 100 hours or every year, whichever comes first. See How do I perform the yearly maintenance for my home standby generator? for more information.
 

Schedule A Maintenance

Schedule A maintenance is performed every 200 hours or every two years, whichever comes first. See Schedule A Maintenance for more information.

Schedule B Maintenance

Schedule B maintenance is performed every 400 hours or every four years, whichever comes first. See Schedule B Maintenance for more information.

Schedule C Maintenance

Schedule C maintenance, or Break-In Maintenance, is performed after the first 25 hours of run time. See Schedule C Maintenance for more information.

Note: The Schedule C Maintenance reminder only occurs with Next Generation series generators.

Sediment Trap Inspection and Cleaning

Sediment Trap inspection and cleaning should be done per local codes and guidelines. See How Do I Clean the Sediment Trap in a Generac Air-Cooled Home Standby Generator?