What it is

Standard maintenance covers oil and filter changes, battery testing, spark plug or injector inspection, checking the transfer switch, and confirming the weekly self-test is running and passing.

When it's needed

• Most manufacturers recommend service roughly every 12 months or 100–200 run hours.
• After any extended run during a real outage.
• If the weekly self-test starts failing or showing warnings.

Process

• Visual inspection of the unit, pad, and surrounding clearance.
• Oil, filter, and spark plug service per manufacturer schedule.
• Battery load test and terminal cleaning.
• Functional test including transfer switch operation.

Cost factors

• Single visit vs. an annual maintenance plan
• Parts replaced during the visit (filters, battery, plugs)
• Travel distance for service areas outside a technician's normal radius

Limitations

Maintenance extends reliability but doesn't prevent every failure — a unit still needs the weekly self-test monitored between service visits.

FAQ