The Right Way to Store Your Generator

Generators, either portable or industrial, are sound investments. They will come handy when they are needed most—during power outages. When there is a hurricane or other natural calamity, the risk of power outage is very high. The inconvenience of an outage multiplies the longer it lasts. A power outage of only a few minutes could be manageable, but one that stretches on for multiple days could become downright miserable—and even dangerous. 

The main inconvenience caused by power outages is the inability to operate appliances and devices. This could result in food spoilage over time. The magnitude of the inconvenience is greater in industrial and health settings. Factories could shut down, and the lives of hospital patients could be threatened. 

The best temporary fix to the problem is to have a standby generator, such as a Perkins diesel generator. If you decide to purchase a generator, be aware that it will need to be maintained, even when not in use, and that it should be stored properly.

The following are some tips for safe generator storage: 

• A generator should be stored without fuel. If there is still fuel left when you turn off the generator, you can transfer it to your car or truck.
• If you do store the generator with fuel in it, add stabilizer to prevent corrosion.
• If you store fuel containers alongside the generator, use approved containers and keep them in a well-ventilated area away from the house.

Before putting your generator in storage, check it for any signs of fuel leaks. It must be thoroughly cleaned to remove accumulated debris inside and outside. The area around the generator’s muffler should be clear of any combustible material. Take your generator for a tune-up before storing it in order to ensure that it works when you need it.