Generator Maintenance: How it Puts Money Back in Your Pocket During an Outage
It has been a while since the last storm season and your generator has not seen much use. Can you be sure it will fire up once the power is off? One might ask if some attention to it now is worth it to avoid a costly repair down the line.
Homeowners in the Tampa Bay area put these questions to us at Integrity Home Solutions on a regular basis. As a company of veterans with our roots in the community, we are the ones neighbors in the region call for everything from HVAC and plumbing to electrical, drains and, of course, generator maintenance. Give us a ring at (813) 686-9908 if you would like to discuss your generator.
For all that you put into a home generator as a means of being prepared for a storm, it is still only as good as its ability to function when called upon. Regular maintenance is what gives you that assurance.
The Cost of a Generator You Have Let Go
There is no getting around it. Months of inactivity can leave a generator to fail at the most inopportune time. Batteries go flat, fuel degrades and minor components wear out without notice. Then the power is out and the unit will not start and you have to make do.
The expense of that can add up quickly. There is the matter of ruined food in the freezer and fridge, or having to put up at a hotel because the house is too warm. A sump pump loses power and you have a flood on your hands. Not to mention the premium you will pay for an emergency repair over and above what routine service runs. In most cases these are expenses you could have done without; keep up with your generator and the small issues do not turn into emergencies.
What Our Technicians Put a Stop To
Our technicians are insured, certified and background-checked for a reason. When they are on site to service a generator they are on the lookout for anything that spells trouble in the future.
Routine maintenance is the best way to sidestep such things as:
- A battery too weak to get the unit going
- Fuel that has gone bad and clogs the system
- An engine put under strain by a filter in need of changing
- Spark plugs and belts worn to the point of failing under load
- Oil or coolant levels so low as to damage the engine
- Electrical connections that are loose and disrupt the power
- Debris and pests making themselves at home in an idle generator
Any one of those can put your generator out of commission during a Tampa Bay storm if you let them. They are inexpensive to put right on a scheduled visit.
Regular Service Makes the Numbers Work for You
Consider the tab for an outage with no generator to fall back on. You are looking at a couple of hundred dollars for the food in the refrigerator and freezer alone. Add in a few nights at a hotel and the cost of an emergency call out in the middle of a storm which is harder to come by than planned maintenance.
With a generator in proper order, the equation is different. It will run clean and long, starting when it ought to. You are safeguarding your home’s systems and the equipment you have already put your money down on. And by extending the life of the unit you can put off the day you have to replace it entirely.
Service Intervals for Your Generator
We recommend a professional look at least annually for most home generators, more so if you are running it frequently. In between our visits we advise you to give it a brief run here and there and make sure the surroundings are clear.
You can also sign up for our maintenance membership. It is a worry-free way to get priority handling and regular service for your home systems. Call and we will tell you how enrollment is done and what is included.
Integrity Home Solutions is Who Tampa Bay Homeowners Rely On
With over 10,000 Google ratings from the neighborhood we have put in the work to be trusted. We are licensed in all four of our trades (electrical license EC# 13011308) and insured, and our technicians are vetted before coming to your home.
Some of what we stand behind:
- Emergency service 24/7, 365 days a year
- Appointment windows we guarantee
- The kind of transparent, flat-rate pricing that has no surprises
- Most parts in the truck for same-day service
- Financing via Synchrony, Wells Fargo and ServiceFinance
Make sure your generator is up to the task before the next storm comes through. Some maintenance today is good for your wallet and your home tomorrow. Contact us at (813) 686-9908 to get your generator maintained and have your power when you need it.