How Do I Prepare My Generator Before Winter Storms Hit
Start your generator now, while the weather is still mild, not in the middle of a January nor'easter. Run it under a light load, check the oil, and make sure you have enough stored fuel to get through three or four days without power.
Fall is the right time for this. You are already thinking about heat, drafts, and storm prep. Add the generator to that list, because PSEG Long Island and other utilities on the Island can take days to restore power after a bad coastal storm.
Run It Before You Need It
Pull the generator out of the garage or shed and start it. Let it run for fifteen to twenty minutes with a lamp or space heater plugged in, not just idling.
Check the oil level and change it if it has not been changed since last season. Most portable generators need an oil change every fifty to one hundred hours of use, and after sitting all summer the oil can break down even without being run. Consumer Reports has a generator maintenance guide that walks through the basics for different generator types.
Replace the spark plug if it looks worn, and check the air filter. These are small parts that cause big problems if a generator will not start during an actual outage.
If you have a standby generator wired into your house, schedule a professional service visit now. Most manufacturers recommend an annual check of the battery, the transfer switch, and the fuel line. Waiting until a storm warning is issued means you are competing with every other homeowner on Long Island for the same technician.
Check Fuel Storage and Carbon Monoxide Safety
Gasoline stored over the summer loses potency. Drain old fuel from a portable generator and refill with fresh gas, and add a fuel stabilizer if you plan to store gas for more than thirty days.
Keep enough fuel on hand for several days of use, but store it properly. Use approved containers, keep them away from the house, and do not store more than your local fire code allows. Suffolk and Nassau both follow New York fire prevention rules on this, and your town hall can tell you the limit for your property.
Never run a portable generator inside a garage, basement, or near a window, even with the door open. Carbon monoxide from a generator can fill a house in minutes. FEMA's guide on power outages and generator safety covers placement distance and ventilation in plain terms. Put a battery powered carbon monoxide detector near every sleeping area if you do not already have one.
Know Your Transfer Switch and Any Permits
If your generator connects to your home's wiring, it should run through a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. Plugging a generator directly into an outlet can send power back into the grid and put utility workers at risk. This is one place where a shortcut is not worth it.
Some townships on Long Island require a permit for a permanent standby generator installation, especially for the concrete pad and the gas line connection if you are on natural gas. Check with your local building department before you install one, and keep the permit paperwork with your other home records in case you sell the house later. Buyers this time of year tend to ask pointed questions about storm readiness, and a documented generator setup is one more thing that shows the house has been looked after.
Once the generator runs clean, starts on the first pull, and you know where the fuel and the carbon monoxide detectors are, you are set for the season. Put a reminder on your calendar for next October and do this again before the leaves are even down.