Generator Maintenance: How to Keep Yours Ready Year-Round

The most common reason a generator fails during an actual outage isn't a defect — it's that it sat unused for months with stale fuel and a low battery. Run it under load for 20-30 minutes every month or two, even when there's no outage, to keep the engine and battery in working condition.

Add fuel stabilizer to stored gasoline, or run the tank dry before long storage periods — gasoline left untreated for months can gum up a carburetor. Propane doesn't have this problem, which is one reason dual-fuel units are popular for infrequently-used backup.

Check oil level before every use (and change it per the manufacturer's interval), keep the air filter clean, and inspect the spark plug annually. These are the same basic maintenance items as any small engine.

Store it somewhere dry, and keep a cover on it if it lives outdoors between uses — moisture and dust are slow, quiet killers of small engines and electrical components.