Spring Generator Maintenance: It’s Time to Show Your Backup Power Some Love
The good news: Your generator survived the winter! The bad news: After sitting idle for months, it (and you) might be wondering if your generator can still do the job. Spring is when we find out – and spring is also when we fix it.
It’s not that generators are unreliable – far from it, as we in New England know. It’s that generator ownership and generator readiness are two completely different things. Generators that get regular care work reliably. Generators that sit untouched for months develop issues that nobody knows about until the moment you need power.
At Palmer, we want to ensure that your generator is functioning when you need it. If you have an automatic standby generator – a permanently installed, exterior backup power system that automatically detects utility power outages and restores electricity to a home or business within seconds – our technicians are here to help you stay ready for whatever the New England season has in store for us.
Winter Does a Number on Your System
Your generator wasn’t built to sit untouched for six months, and cold temperatures can do real damage to the equipment. Generators that sit through a winter and don’t receive proper service could potentially develop multiple problems. Let’s walk through what happens:
Batteries don’t store as much power.
When temperatures drop, a chemical process called sulfation happens inside the battery. And it’s permanent — you can’t reverse it. A generator battery can lose up to 50% of its capacity during a cold winter. That’s huge. When spring arrives and you need that battery to start your generator, it could already be half as powerful as it should be. A battery that was once strong enough to turn the engine might not have enough power anymore.
Oil gets thick.
Oil thickens in cold weather. This might sound minor, but it really matters. Thick oil makes cold starts significantly harder. Your generator’s engine has to work much harder to turn over when the oil is too thick. Every internal component faces extra strain. And strain reduces the chances of a successful start, especially when you’re already dealing with all these other winter-inflicted problems working against you.
Rust and moisture accumulate.
Temperature goes up, temperature goes down, temperature goes up again. This cycling creates condensation inside engines, and moisture plus metal equals corrosion. Internal corrosion weakens components, increases electrical resistance… It’s a chain reaction that starts invisibly and compounds over months.
The combination of these problems doesn’t just reduce your generator’s performance, it can prevent it from starting at all. And most of the time, you won’t know until you actually need it.
Here’s What the Data Says
According to Consumer Reports, generators that get annual professional maintenance work 94% of the time when you need them. Generators that don’t get serviced work about 27% of the time.
Think about that for a second. Would you get on a plane that works 27% of the time? Of course not. But that’s what you’re doing if your generator hasn’t been serviced and a storm knocks out power.
Spring Is the Perfect Window
Storm season is coming. According to the National Weather Service, spring storms cause over 40% of annual power outages in most regions. That means your generator will be needed right when spring and early summer hit. You want it tested and ready before those storms arrive.
There’s also a practical scheduling benefit: Service companies like Palmer often get swamped in the fall with generator maintenance requests. By scheduling yours in the spring, you’ll get faster service, avoid the rush, and have months of confidence heading into the season when you’ll need your backup power.
What a Service Visit Actually Includes
When you call for spring maintenance, here’s what a qualified technician will do:
✓ Inspect the whole system for wear, damage, and rust.
✓ Change the oil and filters to clear out winter buildup.
✓ Run a load test to make sure it produces the required power.
✓ Check the battery to ensure it can start the engine.
✓ Verify safety systems are operating correctly.
This isn’t just checking a box. Each step catches different potential problems. An inspection might spot corrosion you didn’t know was there. A load test reveals whether your generator can reliably power your home under real conditions.
When it’s done, you’re not wondering anymore. You know your generator works.
The Math Is Simple
Spring maintenance with Palmer is a one-time investment for the life and maintenance of your automatic standby generator that keeps the system ready for the whole year.
Did you know that an emergency repair during a power outage can cost thousands? Emergency service means premium rates, and your situation is urgent so you can’t shop around. On average, Americans experience 5.6 hours of power outage per year, and each instance can cost homeowners hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars:
- Replacing a fridge full of spoiled food: $200
- Emergency supplies: $100
- One day of lost productivity: $200
- Property Damage: ~$7,000
- Alternative housing for one night: $150
One spring maintenance visit to maintain the usability of your backup generator costs less than what you’d lose in a single day without power. That’s not just smart – it’s a good investment in your power needs.
Ready to Get Your Generator Ready?
Spring is the perfect time to schedule maintenance: Palmer Gas is actively booking spring service appointments for automatic standby generators. Our certified technicians will inspect your system, identify any issues before they become problems, and make sure your backup power is genuinely ready for any weather.
Whether it’s been a year since your last service or you’ve never had one done, we’re here to help. One phone call gets your generator from “hopefully it works” to “I know it works.”
Palmer Gas
603-898-7986
service@palmergas.com
www.palmergas.com
Get your generator ready- Schedule your appointment!
