Tips for Maintaining Your Natural Gas Generator
A natural gas generator is a saving grace in the middle of blackouts. It gives you peace of mind and helps to keep operations going. They are also a significant investment. If you’re spending top dollar on your generator, you want to extend its life span and maximize its use. You can keep your natural gas generator running at optimal efficacy for longer with routine services, careful inspections and regular cleaning.
How Long Does a Commercial Generator Last?
So, what is the average life of a generator? The life span of a generator depends on several factors. A natural gas generator’s life expectancy can last between 20-30 years. It requires regular maintenance and care to maximize life expectancy, keep it running smoothly and mitigate potential breakdowns.
Extend The Life Expectancy of Your Natural Gas Generator
Your generator is an investment you need in good working condition to keep operations running during blackouts. You’ll save money in the long run by taking a few extra maintenance steps and precautions. Here are some tips that can help you prolong your generator life span.
Check Engine Oil
Check the oil levels once a month and before starting your generator. Use the dipstick to check and fill it up to the optimal level if it’s running low. Running a generator when it’s low on oil will cause the engine to shut down. How often you need to change your oil depends on the generator brand, how often you use it and where you store it.
If there’s a lot of dust and contaminants in the environment around your generator, you’ll likely need to change the oil more often. If you’re in an area that is colder that can face sub-zero temperatures, consider using oil that maintains viscosity when experiencing colder climates.
As every generator may be different, the manufacturer should provide a guide on how often to change the oil filter — following these steps will keep your generator running longer. Always use the type of oil and filter recommended by the manufacturer. No matter how affordable it may be, the wrong filter or oil will only cost more in damages.
While you’re checking your oil, scan your generator for any oil leaks which could signify any potential issues or loose nuts/bolts.
Check the Radiator and Coolant Level
After you’ve checked your oil, move on to your coolant. Checking and maintaining your coolant level is essential to keep your generator running for longer. The coolant prevents the generator from overheating when it’s running. Remove the cap from your radiator only when your generator is cold — never check your coolant when your generator is still warm.
Look inside to see whether the coolant is above the radiator elements. If it’s below the recommended level, it’s time for a top-up. Slowly pour in the coolant until it reaches the marked level. Never add coolant to a running or warm generator, and only use the type that the manufacturer specifies. Check for leaks, too, that may come from loose pipes, the radiator or the ventilation fan.
Just like with engine oil, be sure to keep in mind any potential cold spells that could negatively impact the coolant. If you’re located in an area that experiences extremely cold weather, consider switching the coolant that is resilient to freezing.
Inspect Any Natural Gas Lines
As natural gas is highly flammable and toxic when exposed for longer durations, it’s important to inspect any gas tubes and lines connected to the generator. Inspect the line for deformities, leakage or unstable pressure. If you notice any signs of leakage or strange smells, it’s important to call a professional immediately. Working with natural gas comes with potential risks that a professional will know how to handle. They’ll make sure to fix any issues professionally while following the law.
Check Gas Levels
There are instances where natural gas generators may be converted to run off of propane gas. If you have a natural gas to propane conversion, it’s important to check your propane tank for any leaks, pressure issues, and most importantly – gas levels. In the event of an emergency or power outage, the last thing you would want is to be without gas to effectively run your backup generator.
Service Your Generator Regularly
If you want your generator to last, keep up with regular services. They keep your generator reliable and ensure it complies with new emissions regulations. Natural gas generators require more regular maintenance when compared to their diesel counterparts due to the fact that the engines are spark-ignited due to the spark plugs within the engine.
Regular services can save you both money and downtime — make sure you hire a specialist who knows exactly how to service your generator.
Check the Battery
One of the most common failures in a generator starting is, believe it or not – the battery. Your generator is very similar to a car — you need both fuel and a good battery to power it. Whether you’re using your generator or not, the battery may drain and will decrease over time. Check the levels monthly — if it’s too low, it can damage the battery by negatively impacting the maximum charging cycle and the battery can even go bad over time. When you don’t use your generator for several days, that can also cause battery failure.
Regular use of your generator and cleaning your battery can also improve its longevity. If you notice leaks or corrosion on your battery, terminals or wires, it may be time to call a professional to replace it. Even if you keep up with maintenance, your generator will need a new battery about every three years.
Additionally, you can install an add-on accessory known as a battery charging that can help keep your generator battery adequately charged and helps maintain the charging cycle of the battery.
Protect Your Generator
Protecting your generator is usually achieved by installing a weatherproof enclosure. These enclosures help keep the generator safe from the elements year round, especially in areas that are prone to severe weather.
Alternatively, you can install the generator within a dedicated generator room within your facility. While there are many more steps and precautions to take when setting up a generator room, it can help keep your generator safe from both the public and from severe weather.
Run Your Generator
Most generators will automatically self-test weekly or every other week. If there is a problem, the self-test will result in an error condition, which will need further investigation. If you don’t use your generator often, we recommend powering it up every week. Doing this will activate the internal fluids and condition the engine and other moving parts.
If you often run light loads on the generator, it will likely need more maintenance to stay healthy. When generators run below their optimal workload-to-fuel consumption ratio, they are prone to excessive wear due to the fact that they are not running up to maximum operational efficiency. This is also why choosing the right size generator for your building is crucial.
When you power it, let it run for about at least 30 minutes to allow the battery for the electric starter to charge up. The last thing you want is to discover your battery is dead when you need your generator.
While running your generator, you could also conduct a load test that checks to make sure that your generator is running at its rated kW and producing power based on its configuration. While this test is simple enough, we recommend working with a professional that can handle the setup, test, and check for any possible issues that may need to be addressed with the generator.
Clean Regularly
Your generator will also need a regular cleaning at least once a month. If dirt and grime build up, it may stop working. Pay special attention to the stator, rotor, exhaust, air filter and intake fans, removing any debris or dust. If your generator operates in a particularly dusty area, you’ll need to clean it more often. Also, check for rodents and other small pests that may try to make your generator enclosure their home. Keeping your generator and its enclosure clean will keep it running optimally.
Investigate Problems
Lastly, if you hear a strange noise, if the sensors point to problems or if you notice anything strange, shut down your generator and attend to it immediately. Investigating problems as soon as they arise can prevent them from snowballing into bigger issues. Don’t delay repairing your generator, and avoid running it on makeshift fixes. Addressing issues as they come up will prolong your industrial generator’s life expectancy.
Power up With Woodstock Power Generators
A generator is a major investment. You’ve undoubtedly done your research and carefully selected the right generator for your operation. After making this significant investment, protecting it is crucial. You can make it last longer by putting in extra effort to check the various components, service your generator and keep it clean.
At Woodstock Power, we stock high-quality used and new natural gas generators from respected manufacturers. When you purchase from us, you get a turnkey solution shipped to your facility immediately. Power your operations with a reliable generator — shop our inventory today!