How often do you run your portable generator?

Bigwig - April 2, 2023

AdviceGear

For those who have portable generators, how often do you run them?  

I have 2 generators that I run for 30 minutes once a month that coincides with the monthly siren test on the first Saturday of the month.  I also run one of the generators to power the whole house for 30 minutes twice a year.  I have an interlock setup versus a transfer switch so I can select which circuits I want to power.

2  

yeah very important to exercise them, also to use fuel additive to keep that fuel from going stale. We’ve had a generator sitting in the shed for the last 10 years…never needed it until 2 weeks ago when a very severe storm hit, causing 3 days of power loss, then followed by another round of storms 1 week later with a 24 hour loss during dropping temperatures…and I was ready! 

 

I start mine about every 6 weeks or so.  I keep the gasoline tank full and with plenty of Sta-Bil Storage mixed in.  The Sta-Bil label says to keep the gasoline tank at least 95% full, to eliminate condensation in the tank.  When I exercise the generator, I only use LP gas.  My understanding is, LP gas burns cleaner and will not gum up the carburetor.

I also keep a trickle charger on the battery.