The winter in Rochester, MN often runs from November through March, but you may find some cold temperatures and snow earlier or later in the year. An electric generator works with your home’s system to stay charged and kicks on as needed during an emergency. While home models supply power to everything in your home, including your appliances and devices. Find out why generator maintenance is important and how Paxton Electric can help.
Extend the Generator’s Life
People living in the Rochester area often choose generators that run on either diesel or gasoline, both of which you can pick up at any gas station. You usually need to empty the tank and add new fuel at least twice a year to ensure that it runs properly. Maintenance extends the life of the generator. While a standby generator will usually last for up to 3,000 hours of run time, other types can last for twice that amount of time or longer. With proper maintenance, you can use the same generator for over a decade.
Catch Small Problems
Our maintenance appointments help us find small problems with your generator and repair them before the next Rochester storm. There is nothing worse than finding yourself without power for days, but this can happen during the bigger winter storms. We talk with you about any symptom you found or noticed the last time you ran it and also look for worn wiring and other issues. If you only use your generator once or twice a year, you may find that field mice and other small rodents have built nests inside and/or have damaged some of its parts.
Avoid Fuel Issues
Fuel has a shelf life and can eat through plastic, which is why you need to use caution when storing it. At Paxton Electric, we examine the generator to make sure it has enough fuel the next time you use it and that the fuel is in good shape. We can also change the fuel to get it ready for the next Rochester storm season.
Check All Parts
Generator maintenance requires looking at all of the important parts. We check the oil to make sure that you don’t have old oil that can damage your generator, and we add more oil as needed. At the same time, we also check and replace the oil filter because filters usually do not last more than 1,000 hours. You can also trust that we’ll check the exhaust and the lines along with the control panel and hoses to ensure your generator is ready for the next power outage.
People living in Rochester, MN often lose power for a few days at a time during the winter and spring as storms pass through, but a generator gives you more than enough power. Call Paxton Electric today to schedule generator maintenance and to get your generator ready for the storms and outages ahead.
