Investing in a generator is never a small decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For one thing, you\u2019re investing in something that\u2019s designed to give you power \u2013 reliable, on-demand power \u2013 in the middle of an emergency situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Secondly, though, the best generators on the market today aren\u2019t going to set you back only a few bucks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re going to have to spend a decent amount of money to get a quality generator you know you can trust, and it\u2019s important to find a generator that you can rely on for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But just how long do generators last, anyway?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, there are a couple of things that have a huge impact on how long your generator is likely going to run for that we highlight below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read this detailed guide to learn how long generators last (on average) and what you can do to extend the life of the hardware you spend your hard-earned money on!<\/p>\n\n\n
Generator technology is better today than ever before, and units of all shapes, sizes, and capacities are running for much longer than they ever did in the past, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the end of the day, though, standby generators generally have much longer lifespans than portable generators. These solutions are bigger, more robust, and often made with higher quality (and heavier) construction materials. Not to mention the fact that they are designed to last and last (and last)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s break down the average lifespan of the two major types of generators right now, standby units and portable options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a rule of thumb, you can expect to get anywhere between 1500 and 3000 hours of \u201clife\u201d out of your generator if it is a standby style unit.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re running your generator for 30 minutes a week to \u201cexercise\u201d the mechanism, that means you\u2019re knocking off about 26 hours per week year after year \u2013 even if you\u2019re not using it in an emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most manufacturers advertise their generators (of the standby variety) running for anywhere between 20 years and 40 years reliably. You might need to do a little bit of regular maintenance and potential upgrades over that lifespan, but this is pretty close to a \u201cbuy at once for life\u201d kind of investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Portable generators, on the other hand, are much smaller, much lighter weight, and (generally) are going to have a much shorter lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re looking at a lifespan of between 150 hours and 200 hours or so. You don\u2019t have to exercise these generators the same way you do a standby unit, though, so you don\u2019t have to worry about burning out these machines before actually getting to use them in an emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expect to replace these generators every five years or so, especially if you\u2019ve had to use them in an emergency for any extended amount of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those serious about extending the life of their generators are going to want to be sure that these machines are serviced on a routine basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Manufacturers usually recommend a routine servicing based on running hours or every six months or so, regardless of whether or not the generator has been used. You can probably stretch that by two or three months if you want to, and some people get by with generators that are serviced every season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s what a common portable generator maintenance schedule looks like:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as you are keeping a close eye on things, and making sure that everything is running smoothly throughout the year, you probably shouldn\u2019t have to maintain your generator any more often than every six months to every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll want to check all mounting surfaces to make sure everything is free and clear of dirt, debris, rust, and corrosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also want to inspect both the intake and the exhaust louvers, guaranteeing that they are free and clear of any kind of obstruction. You don\u2019t need anything bottling up your intake or exhaust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure that the fluids are clear and even consider flushing your fluids (including your fuel source) every six months or so. You\u2019ll want to protect the control panel and then give the battery a close inspection, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any rust or corrosion on the control panel or the generator terminals needs to be removed ASAP!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll know that your generator needs to be replaced if it starts to \u201cmisbehave\u201d, if the power that it produces is inconsistent or unreliable, or if the generator itself simply refuses to power on or generate any electricity at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPortable Unit Lifespans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Often Should Generators Be Serviced?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Every 8 hours or daily<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Check oil level<\/td><\/tr> Clean around the air intake and muffler<\/td><\/tr> Check hoses for leaks<\/td><\/tr> First 5 hours<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Change oil<\/td><\/tr> Every 50 hours or every season<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Clean air filter<\/td><\/tr> Change oil if operating under heavy load or in hot environments<\/td><\/tr> Every 100 hours or every season<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Change oil<\/td><\/tr> Clean\/adjust spark plug<\/td><\/tr> Check\/adjust valve clearance<\/td><\/tr> Clean spark arrester<\/td><\/tr> Clean fuel tank and filter<\/td><\/tr> Every 250 hours<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Clean combustion chamber<\/td><\/tr> Every 3 years<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Replace fuel line and LPG hose(Propane hose)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n How Do I Know My Generator Needs to Be Replaced?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n