Standby Generator Repair and Maintenance

When owning a generator, you will be responsible for checking the oil in your generator based on the operations manual and keeping the air vents clear of debris and snow.

Yes, you will need to register your generator with your manufacturer if your installer does not do it for you.

It’s never a bad idea to be prepared with a cold weather kit. These kits typically include some kind of automatic thermostatically controlled battery pad warmer and oil filter heater.

You can keep an ear open during its weekly test/exercise to make sure it is running, and if you know a storm is coming, you can check to make sure it is “ready to run” by looking at the control board.

Yes, your generator will test (or exercise) itself weekly.

No, but this is New England so you really, really should have it set to test weekly.

Depending on the brand, tests should last anywhere between 12 and 20 minutes.

Yes, but again, this is New England! LaPlante believes your generator should be set to test itself every week.

If you run out of fuel, your generator will shut off. Once the tanks are refilled you will need to reset the generator and see if it will run. If it still does not work after trying the reset a few times, call the installer.

If you run out of power, each 100 gallons will get you approximately 48 hours of power.

If you run out of fuel, your generator will most likely fault-out on an error message long before it actually starves itself for gas, preventing any damage to your generator.

If your generator stops working, call the certified installer who installed your generator.

If your generator is not working, someone should come out to fix your generator within 24 to 48 hours, though it could take longer if dealing with a major storm.

The authorized warranty provider takes care of warranty calls.

If you have a warranty call, the authorized warranty provider takes care of the paperwork.

You should have your generator serviced once a year or when it reaches 100 hours of run time. Whichever one comes first!

Yes! Checking oil levels after 8-24 hours of run time (the exact hours found in the operations manual for your generator) is always a good idea. Make sure to add some oil if it’s ever low. Generators take very little oil in comparison to a car. Most generators only take 1.5 to 1.8 quarts.

Yes, not maintaining your generator on an annual basis may void your warranty.

LaPlante advises you to have a maintenance agreement so you can make sure the warranty stays intact and that your generator runs when needed.

Although it depends on what needs to be done to service the unit, $385 per year is a good estimate for what a maintenance agreement will cost.

Included in the maintenance agreement is a 31-point safety inspection, spark plug replacement, oil and oil filter, possibly an air filter and depending on brand, adjusting the valves, updating software, checking voltages, hertz and more!

No, service calls are not included in the maintenance agreement.

No, parts are not included in the maintenance agreement.

LaPlante makes sure to contact you for your annual service! We cannot vouch for what other companies do.

Your generator uses 5w30 synthetic oil.

To be prepared in advance of a storm, you should check the control board to make sure it says “ready to run,” and check to make sure the system is in “auto.” If you want to take it one step further, you can start it manually and let it run.

Yes, it will. To ensure proper operation you will need to keep the area around all four sides of your generator clean from snow and debris.

Yes, all new generators will allow you to set your exercise date and time.

All brands are different, but the company you choose can tell you how to reset an error code, or you can find it in the operation manual that your installer will give you. You can also always check our resources where they are posted for everyone to see!

A whole house transfer switch (with the correct generator) will power the entire house so you will have access to everything as if you were on utility power. A selected circuit transfer switch powers up to 16 circuits in your house, therefore it will not power up everything in your house, only the essentials.

All manufacturers will advise you against building anything around you generator. The reason behind this being that your generator is meant to be in open air outdoors, not enclosed with restricted air flow!

Yes, you can keep your existing portable generator setup just in case you ever need it.

If you want to get rid of your portable generator, the good news is there will always be people who will buy it from you!