Your generator is providing you with an essential service: emergency power. The worst thing that can happen is that your generator fails when you need it most. That’s why it’s so important to ensure your generator is regularly repaired, maintained, and serviced. This kind of proper maintenance ensures your generator is fully functional when the time comes.
While it might be easy to just address issues with your generator as they arise, the bottom line is that a poorly maintained generator will not function properly. You’ll save yourself time, energy, and headaches in the long run if you choose instead to properly care for your generator. A properly maintained generator can last decades, keeping you safe even during your most vulnerable moments during a power outage.
What does a generator do?
As much as we rely on electricity, it’s bound to fail every once in a while. A diesel generator kicks in when your electricity shuts off, providing you with emergency power in the case of severe weather conditions or other outages.
For most organizations and industries, keeping the lights on can mean the difference between business continuity and extensive downtime that costs you productivity, efficiency, and money.
In short, a generator is a durable, reliable backup power source that can really save you in an emergency situation. All a generator needs in return is a proper service and maintenance routine that will ensure it continues to have your back — no matter what happens.
Reasons Why Generator Maintenance is Important
1. It ensures your generator is functioning properly
Even if you only use your generator once or twice a year, you want it to be fully functional all year long. There’s more to a functioning generator than the ability to turn it on and off when you need it.
A generator service technician can check:
- Fluid and oil levels
- Belts, hoses, lines, and connectors
- Oil and air filters
- Control panel health
- Engine health
- Exhaust system
Regular, professional maintenance ensures all the various components of your generator are in top condition so that your generator can continue to function properly. When necessary, your generator service providers can replace oil, coolant, air filters, water filters, and even the batteries. Replacing these items on a rolling basis, as needed, means ensuring your generator is up to speed without spending extraneous money on items that don’t yet need to be replaced.
A maintained generator is a healthy generator, ensuring that it works properly every single time you use it. Additionally, a well maintained generator operates smoothly and efficiently, saving you time and money in the long run.
2. It allows you to catch problems right away
In general, diesel generators are reliable over a long span of time. However, as with any piece of equipment, issues can crop up along the way. The sooner you catch and address these issues, the better your generator will operate. Not only that, but you’ll save yourself from finding a sudden problem the next time you use it — which might be right in the middle of a power outage! Sometimes, there is no indication that something is wrong until the generator won’t run when you need it most.
That’s why having your generator serviced properly and regularly allows a technician to thoroughly examine your generator, identify any problems, and have them resolved prior to your next power outage. Leaving problems undiagnosed is one of the main reasons generators degrade over time or fail completely. The sooner you have your generator serviced, the sooner you can resolve underlying issues and ensure your generator is operating at peak performance at all times.
As much as we rely on electricity, it’s bound to fail every once in a while.
3. It increases generator efficiency
During maintenance, every component of your generator is checked, cleaned, and maintained. This process removes damaging dirt and debris from lack of use, the outside elements, or just general wear and tear.
The more well maintained your generator and its various components are, the more efficiently it will run. You won’t burn through fuel as quickly and you’ll find the life of your generator greatly extended. Overall, a healthier generator means improved efficiency.
The more well maintained your generator and its various components are, the more efficiently it will run.
4. It helps you keep an eye on your fuel
Regular maintenance allows your fuel levels and supply to be checked regularly. Ideally, diesel generators should have their fuel supply changed at least twice a year. Diesel fuel deteriorates over time, especially when the generator has gone a long period of time without being used. Since the purpose of most generators is only to be used in extreme circumstances or in case of emergency, it’s likely that your generator sits idle for long periods of time. The longer it sits, the more the fuel deteriorates.
Having your generator regularly maintained will ensure no fuel issues arise in between uses.
5. It prolongs the generator’s lifespan
If you’re going to invest in a generator, you might as well take care of it. Ultimately, maintaining your generator protects your investment by ensuring that it continues to serve you long after your initial purchase. Rather than continuously replacing your generator, you can properly maintain your current generator to help it last longer.
A generator that is properly maintained, cleaned, and repaired will last much longer than one that is allowed to fall into disrepair. Ultimately, you will spend less time and money on regular maintenance than you will if you have to continuously seek out and purchase new generators each time the old one fails.
6. It saves you money
Every single one of these benefits of regular maintenance also includes the benefit of saved money. Ignoring maintenance and repairs might save you a small amount of money up front, but will lead to costly major repairs later on — or, in a worst case scenario, having to completely replace your unit. A well maintained generator means less money spent on big repairs; you’ll be able to catch problems early, solve them quickly, and ensure your generator is running smoothly in between uses.
With proper maintenance, you’ll see your investment pay off over and over again throughout years of use.
Types of Maintenance
If we’ve convinced you of the importance of regularly maintaining your generator, then it’s time to understand what kind of maintenance options are available to you! Understanding a few of your options and which type of maintenance will best meet your needs is the first step toward a flawlessly functioning generator.
Scheduled Maintenance
Scheduled maintenance means having a regular maintenance routine that ensures your generator starts every single time it’s needed during a power outage. Making a plan to have your generator serviced a few times per year will ensure it never fails when you need it most. Regular maintenance justifies your investment by ensuring it always works when the time comes to keep your organization up and running during an outage.
Mains Failure Test
Having a mains failure test conducted on your generator once a year at minimum will ensure that the transfer from mains supply to generator is operating successfully. This is the ultimate way to test that your generator is operating properly and at peak efficiency.
Dummy Load Testing
If you want to test your generators under load but don’t want to interrupt your power supply, a dummy test loading can help ensure your generator is capable of running under load. Most stand-by generators do not run under load which can cause engine deterioration and result in unwanted downtime in the case of an outage.
Running an engine under low loads causes low cylinder pressures. Low cylinder pressures cause poor combustion, which can lead to soot formation and unburnt fuel residues which can clog piston rings. Overall, this kind of clog causes a further drop in efficiency and exacerbates the low pressure issue.
To put it simply, this cycle of degradation means that the engine soon becomes irreversibly damaged. It may not start at all or, if it starts, it may never be able to reach full power when required. However, if this problem is detected in the early stages, this process can be reversed by raising internal pressures and temperatures. This will burn off any built up material or residue. Catch this problem early and you’ll extend the life of your generator.
Generator Service Brisbane
Whether you’re looking for preventative maintenance, emergency response, specific testing, or refueling, Genergy Australia has you covered. If you’re ready to have your generator regularly maintained for maximum efficiency and productivity every single time you need it, it’s time to get in touch with dedicated service providers you can trust. We’re proud to have kept the community up and running for over 25 years. Let us help you maintain your generator so you’ll never have to worry about where your power is coming from.
