Yearly maintenance for home standby generators

Home standby generators require regularly scheduled yearly maintenance to help ensure proper operation and longevity. 

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)

 

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?

• Inspect for water intrusion - Inspecting for water intrusion

• Inspect battery - How Do I Inspect the Battery On My Home Standby Generator?

• Perform a fuel system leak test - How to perform a Fuel System Leak Test

• Inspect for corrosion - Corrosion Protection Procedure

• Change oil and oil filter (see below section) - How Do I Change the Oil and Oil Filter in a Generac Air-Cooled Home Standby Generator? 
   

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 

• After the first 25 hours of run time - after the "break-in period" (20 hours on 7.5 kW PowerPacts): How do I perform the "break-in" maintenance for a home standby generator?
• After every 200 hours of run time since last oil change.
• To find run hours, see the How do I find out how many run hours are on my home standby generator? article.

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 

• Change the engine oil at minimum every 2 years - regardless of run hours.

What type of oil do I need?

• What type of oil should I use in my home backup generator?
• How do I perform the "break-in" maintenance for a home standby generator?

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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.

• How do I return a generator to automatic mode after service?
• How Do I Clear an Error or Alarm Code On My Home Standby Generator?