Do I Need to Put Fuel in My Generator During the Winter? 

If you’re the owner of a new generator, you’ve taken the first steps towards keeping the lights turned on and your family safe and comfortable in the event of an outage. However, in order to maximize your generator’s performance and ensure that everything functions as it should, you’ll also need to understand basic generator maintenance. One common question that we hear from generator owners is in regards to wintertime care and whether or not it’s necessary to put fuel in a generator during the winter. Here’s an overview of what to know about fuel and other maintenance during the coldest months of the year—to learn more, please reach out to Generator Technologies Inc. directly for generator maintenance you can trust.

Generator Fuel Needs During the Winter

If you want your generator to work during the wintertime in the event of a blackout, it better have fuel. However, you may be wondering how much fuel is really necessary and whether or not you need to add anything to the fuel, and you may have questions about other maintenance needs.

First, you should check your generator’s wattage guide, which can be a resource for determining your fuel needs. Also note that in colder environments, fuel doesn’t burn as efficiently, so you may need more than you think.

Next, once you have an idea of how much fuel you’ll need and you’ve added this amount, don’t forget to add a stabilizer. If your fuel will sit unused for more than a month—as it very well may—you should definitely add a stabilizer. With a stabilizer, fuel can stay fresh for up to one year. 

Other Winter Generator Maintenance

In addition to topping off your fuel and adding a stabilizer, there are a few other important things to check during the wintertime. For example, be sure to:

• Check and change your oil
• Inspect your generator—look at the air filter, fuel filter, spark plug, and other parts to ensure that they are in good condition
• Check your battery
• Keep the area around the generator clear—after snowfalls, be sure to remove it and keep the areas within five feet of the generator clear to avoid damage

Call Generator Technologies Inc. for Maintenance and Repair

If you have questions about winter generator maintenance and how the team at Generator Technologies Inc. can help, don’t hesitate to call us today. You can reach our team online or by phone at your convenience for all of your seasonal generator questions.