How to Store a Generator

How to Store a Generator

Do you know that after purchasing a backup generator, the next thing to think about is how to store it? How long are you going to use it? How long are going to store it? What is the procedure of storing your generator after use? These are basic queries that you should have the answers to when you are owning a power generator

How to Store a Generator

Either way, you don’t have to worry if you don’t have answers to the said queries. While you are here, we are going to solve the puzzle for you.

But before guiding you on how to store a power generator, we first take a look at some of the reasons why you should keep it safe.

Why is it crucial to safely store your generator?

Generators can be lifesavers during a state of emergency and when there is a blackout. Power generators have been in use in areas where there is constant power off and extreme weather conditions. Either way, you will need to store your generator appropriately to fully benefit from your generator.

Your generator won’t work as expected or as long unless you keep it following the right procedure. Proper storage is important to keep its body parts protected. As a result, it will increase its durability.

It is important to protect your generator from climate and elements of weather. Variables like snow, rain, and moisture can damage your generator. Any type of water is harmful to your generator. It can rust the metal parts from back to front.

For this reason, small covers and sheds are ideal for storing a generator. They don’t give in a lot of moisture.

A cover or shed ensures that debris and soil particles are kept under control. Many people out there tend to store generators in large rooms or work sheds. Even so, this probably won’t be a decent alternative. Generators are particularly sensitive to temperature changes, soil, and rust.

These are some of the reasons why you need to store your generator appropriately.

What you need to store your generator properly 

At the point where your generator is not going to be used for an extended period, it is crucial to store it appropriately. Failure of which can lead to damaging your expensive investment. Besides, for this reason, the service life may also decrease.

Generators are primarily dependent on gas or petrol as fuel which are critical in terms of how to store them. However, storage is not just about fuel in your generator, it is all about the entire generator. There are different requirements for different generators.  

But, below learn out what you need to store your generator safely.

Fuel stabilizer 

one thing that you need to keep your generator for long is a fuel stabilizer. If you don’t want to dump and waste your fuel, then you need a fuel stabilizer. These stabilizers can be added to the fuel in your generator. This prevents the fuel from reacting. A fuel stabilizer can help you keep your generator with fuel for over a year. However, it has been recommended that it should be kept not beyond 8 months.

Fuel stabilizers work to ensure that your fuel does not absorb moisture from the environment. 

To put it simply, using a fuel stabilizer can save your gasoline or petrol while storing your generator.

Generator cover

If you intend to keep your generator outside your home or in the carport, a cover for your generator is a decent alternative that you also need. A cover protects the generator from dirt and moisture to some extent. It is also used as protection against extreme temperature conditions.

There are numerous heavy-duty covers that you can buy to protect your valuable investment. Regardless of whether it is extremely hot or it’s snow falling out there, with a heavy-duty generator cover, you won’t have any worries.

Most cover generators are waterproof as well as resistant to rusting.

Storage shed

If you have a standby generator and have space, building a storage shed becomes ideal. If you need to store your generator, a smaller than regular shed is ideal.

A scaled-down shed would not allow moisture to escape inwards. This will protect your generator from corrosion. Sheds mostly work by controlling the temperature and protecting your generator from changing weather elements. You can also buy a ready-made generator shed from the market. 

Procedure for safely keeping your power generator

After ensuring you have some of the things that we have stated above, then it is time now to store that generator safely.

Disconnect your generator

You can start by removing all the connections with the generator. After removing all machines, run the generator for a few minutes. Once you find that it runs as expected, then check its oil level. If the oil level is low adding more. If it is ok, don’t add anything.

Drain the fuel or use a fuel stabilizer

In the next step you have two options; To either drain out the fuel in your generator or use a fuel stabilizer.

 Using a fuel stabilizer eliminates the need to empty the tank. Add a fuel stabilizer and make sure the tank is full to the brim.

On the other hand, you can purge the fuel in a certified compartment. This is where you can independently add a stabilizer to the compartment to make sure your fuel stays in order. 

Run your generator again

When you have flushed the tank, run the generator until all of the extra fuel is used.

Check and store your generator 

Check the spark plugs or parts that need replacing. You can now store the generator in a small shed or a separate carport or cover it.

Conclusion 

If you keep your generator properly, you will continuously use it for years to come. We have guided you on how to keep your generator safely. It may seem like too much overall now, but once you get the hang of it it’s easy. So, follow the prescribed steps to keep your generator properly.

Types of Electric Generator

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *