Read the manual thoroughly and understand all of the instructions, cautions, and warnings before using this equipment. If any section of the manual is not understood, contact your nearest authorized dealer, or contact Generac Customer Service at 1-888-436-3722 (1-888-GENERAC), or Generac.com with any questions or concerns. 

What should I know about my home standby generator after installation?

This article outlines the most important things to know about your newly installed home standby generator.
 

Environment

This article applies to both air-cooled and liquid-cooled home standby generators. 

 

Post install considerations

A home standby generator is a significant investment in protecting your home against the unpredictability and inconvenience of power outages. Like cars, they require regular maintenance, an awareness of how the system works, and good record keeping. Being a responsible generator owner will lead to a positive experience and deliver reliable back-up power for years to come.

 

1. Activation

Activation is a process that establishes documentation of ownership in the event of theft, ensures the warranty is properly assigned, and enables automatic operation and connectivity features. 

• How do I activate my home standby generator?
• Where can I find the serial number?
• What does my warranty cover?

 

2. Mobile Link

Mobile Link allows you to monitor generator status, maintenance reminders, and alerts from your phone or computer. It’s not required for generator operation, but provides convenience and peace of mind.

• How do I set up a Mobile Link account?
• What are the available Mobile Link subscription plans?.

 

3. Maintenance schedule

Follow the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual to help ensure reliable performance. Maintenance intervals and required tasks can vary by model. As a general guideline, the first service should occur after 25 hours of operation (break-in maintenance). 

• Where can I find a user manual or other documentation?
• How do I perform the break-in maintenance?
• Where can I find the maintenance schedule?
• What is Schedule A maintenance?
• How do I perform the yearly maintenance?

 

4. General operation

It is recommended that all generator owners have a basic understanding of how the generator works: how to open and lock the lid, navigate and read the control panel, check the oil level, etc. The best place to learn the basics is in the operation section of your owner's manual. Additionally, these resources provide more information:

Control panel

• Evolution 2.0 controller menu map Note: this is for generators manufactured after 2018.
  
• How do I change the date/time of my generator?
• How do I set the scheduled generator exercise date and time?
• How do I clear an error or alarm code?
• What does Hours of Protection mean on the generator?

Generator enclosure & engine

• How do I open an air-cooled home standby generator lid?
• How do I change the oil and oil filter in a Generac air-cooled home standby generator?
• How do I check and change the air filter?
• What do the green, yellow, blue, and red status indicator lights mean on home standby generators?

 

5. Scheduling service

If you experience an issue or see a red status light, contact your nearest Generac IASD. These technicians are factory-trained and authorized to perform service work and evaluate repairs for warranty coverage. Only Generac IASDs can submit warranty claims and perform warranty service. You can find a list of Generac dealers using the dealer locator.

• What is a Generac Independent Authorized Service Dealer (IASD)?
• How can I find a Generac service dealer in my area?
• What error codes do I need to call a dealer for?
• How does the home standby generator warranty process work?

Quick tips

• If your generator starts but does not power the home, ensure the main line circuit breaker (MLCB) is ON.
• Not every error code requires a service call from a dealer. Many issues can be resolved by generator owners independently: What does it mean when my generator displays an error code: Auxiliary Shutdown, code 2800?
• The green, yellow and red status indicator lights are like traffic signals: Green means go (ready to run), Yellow means caution (inspect for error codes/issues), Red means stop (call your service dealer), Blue means the Next Generation Series generator is in Service Mode. 
• If your generator is displaying a charger missing AC error following installation, or if you are having issues with generator's battery, contact your installer: What does it mean when my generator displays an error code: Charger Missing AC, code 2780?