Your standby generator engine is very similar to a car’s engine. And just like your car, it needs regular maintenance to run efficiently every time it starts. A generator maintenance plan can be tailored to your needs. These plans include regularly scheduled inspections, fluid and filter changes, environmentally safe disposal of used fluids, oil analysis and complete testing of the system. A planned maintenance program helps identify minor problems with equipment and correct them before they become major problems, ensuring your backup power supply is ready to perform when you need it. As with any mechanical system, poorly maintained standby generators are more prone to failure, which is why manufacturers require proper maintenance as a condition of the warranty.
When selecting a generator maintenance program you should consider:
How often do you anticipate your generator running? The more frequently your generator starts and the longer it operates, the more frequent the need for regular maintenance. For example, a residential customer may only need to service their generator annually; whereas a generator for a hospital may require service on a weekly basis.
What is your generator backing up? Are you ensuring the comforts of home when the lights go off? Does your generator provide power for critical care, data infrastructure, or security? The greater your liability is when your power fails, the more frequently you may want to have your equipment inspected and maintained.
Is your facility required to comply with any local or national codes related to standby power systems? For instance, many facilities fall under NFPA 110 guidelines. This standard covers performance requirements for emergency and standby power systems providing an alternate source of electrical power in buildings and facilities in the event that the normal electrical power source fails. NFPA 110 presents installation, maintenance, operation, and testing requirements as they pertain to the performance of the emergency or standby power supply system (EPSS) up to the load terminals of the transfer switch (https://www.nfpa.org). If you are required to follow specific codes, your maintenance agreement should be more comprehensive and include additional services such as load banking, fuel testing, and automatic transfer switch maintenance.
Is the generator service company licensed and/or certified by a particular equipment manufacturer? The quality of a service plan is only as good as the person performing the services. Technicians should be certified, receive continuous training, have the ability to service all makes and models, and have access to fully-stocked service trucks to respond to the most challenging onsite conditions.
Clifford Power Systems is solely committed to power generation, and our technicians have the training and experience to make us the experts in this field.
For more information about planned maintenance or other services offered for standby systems, contact your local Clifford Power Systems representative or request a quote on our Services page.
Clifford Power Systems, Inc. provides dependable generator equipment, service, and rental. We are solely focused on power generation and offer professional consultation to meet all your project needs. Contact us at any of our locations in Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, or Arkansas.
Clifford Power is an authorized Generac® industrial power dealer.