The calls after a big North Jersey storm split into two groups. The first group has no power and wants a generator. The second group has a generator and no power, because the unit never started. Almost every one of those second calls comes down to maintenance that did not happen. Here is what a standby generator actually needs.

It is an engine that sits outside all year

A Generac standby generator is a small engine, a battery and a transfer switch living in a weatherproof box next to your house. It sits idle most of the year, then gets asked to run for hours or days at a stretch in the worst weather of the year. Oil breaks down while it sits. Batteries lose capacity in the cold. Filters clog. None of that announces itself until the power goes out.

The weekly self test

Every unit exercises itself on a schedule, typically once a week for a short run. This keeps the engine lubricated and confirms the battery can turn it over. Two things to know: you should hear it run on schedule, and if it stops, that is a warning. The exercise cycle is not a substitute for service. It tells you the engine starts. It does not change the oil.

The annual service

Generac’s maintenance schedule for residential units calls for service based on both running hours and calendar time, whichever comes first, and the owner manual for your model has the exact intervals. For a typical North Jersey home that means a professional service visit once a year, and sooner after a long outage where the unit ran for days. A proper annual service covers:

  • Oil and oil filter change
  • Air filter and spark plug inspection or replacement
  • Battery load test and terminal cleaning
  • Checking the transfer switch operation under load
  • Fuel supply check, whether natural gas or propane
  • Firmware and controller review, reading the fault log
  • Clearing the enclosure of leaves, nests and debris

The warranty angle

Generac’s warranty expects the unit to be maintained per the schedule. Service records from an authorized dealer are what you hand over if a warranty claim ever comes up.

Things you can do yourself

Keep the area around the unit clear, especially of snow. Listen for the weekly exercise. Look at the controller display now and then for a warning light. Do not open the enclosure and do not attempt an oil change yourself unless you are comfortable with small engines and you record it.

Things to never do

Never run a portable generator indoors or in a garage. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet to feed the house. That practice, called backfeeding, pushes power onto the utility line and can kill a line worker. A standby unit with a proper transfer switch is the safe version of what people are trying to do with an extension cord.

Related reading

If your generator has not been serviced in the last year, or it did not start during the last outage, get it on the schedule before the next storm, not after.

Questions people ask

How often should a Generac generator be serviced?

At least once a year by an authorized dealer, plus the weekly self test the unit runs on its own. Heavier use, like a long outage, moves the next service up. The owner manual for your model sets the exact hour and time intervals for oil and filter changes.

What is the weekly exercise cycle?

Every Generac standby unit starts itself on a schedule, usually once a week for a few minutes, to keep the engine and battery ready. If you stop hearing it run, something needs attention before the next outage.

Does Andy service generators he did not install?

Yes. A. Russo is an authorized Generac dealer and services Generac units across North Jersey regardless of who installed them.