Kohler Standby Generator Service & Repair

24/7 Service To Keep You Running

It’s important to perform regular maintenance on your home’s generator to make sure that it is performing its best when you need it the most. Regular upkeep will save you money in the long run by avoiding having to buy new parts or even an entire new generator system. The frequency of your maintenance depends on the amount your generator is used. Naturally, the more often it’s used, the more it needs to be maintained. Yearly maintenance is highly recommended because there is much to be done.

Benefits of Maintenance

Prevents expensive and inconvenient breakdowns. Don’t be left out in the dark. Maintenance checks make sure that all components are in good shape. Typically generators are maintained in the spring and fall, so if anything is wrong, there’s plenty of time to repair it before a cold, long winter.
Increases the lifespan of your generator. Would you go years without getting an oil change for your car or rotating the tires? No – the car would break and cost you thousands to repair. Translate that to taking care of your generator.

Professional Service

Power Products offer preventative maintenance and emergency generator servicing. No matter if it’s day or night, we’re here to take your call and help you with any of your generator problems. Our maintenance team can take care of:

Checking the oil and oil filter
Checking coolant level
Checking air filter
Inspecting belts and hoses
Replacing spark plugs or condenser
Checking the condition of the battery
Adjusting the voltage
Installing software updates

What You Can Do

Never try to perform generator maintenance on your own without proper training. Not only is this dangerous, but it can also void your warranty. Here are a couple things you can do to help:

Keep the area clean around the generator. Generator repairs can often be avoided if the owner makes sure to keep dust, leaves, and snow away as much as possible.
Call and schedule an appointment with a certified technician. Be proactive and prevent a problem before it occurs. Your family and your wallet will thank you.

Factors Affecting Standby Generator Service Frequency

Every standby generator should be run weekly for half an hour. This exercises the generator and ensures that it is ready to switch on in the event of a power outage. If you’re lucky, this weekly exercise is the only time throughout the year that your generator will need to switch on. However, we know that in New England that is often not the case.

If you experience frequent or lengthy power outages, your generator may be running for hundreds of hours per year. This type of heavy use puts a strain on your machine, so it may need more frequent service.

You should also consider your generator’s environment. Standby generators sit outside your home, so if your environment is particularly cold, hot, dusty, or otherwise difficult for your generator to manage, you may need to have it serviced more often.

Monthly Maintenance

There’s no need to have a professional technician come out to see your generator every month, but you also shouldn’t be ignoring your generator throughout the year. Once a month, you should perform some basic maintenance tasks, including:

Visual inspection. Look at the wire connections and clamps to make sure nothing has come loose. If you have a gas powered generator, check its piping for damage or leaks. Make sure that the generator and the area around it is clean. This may include clearing away snow during the winter months.
Check oil level. Between oil changes, check that your machine has enough oil. You may need to add some. Be sure to perform this check when the generator is off so that you can accurately measure your oil level.
Check coolant level. Take a look at the overflow tank. You may need to add some coolant.
Check fuel (for diesel generators). Be sure to add fuel when you’re running low. You don’t want to find out during a power outage that you’re running on empty.

Schedule Service with a Kohler Technician

There are basic maintenance tasks that you can perform yourself, but to ensure a long life for your generator you should schedule standby generator service with a qualified technician. Typically, this is done yearly, but keep in mind how often your generator runs and your specific generator model; you may need to schedule maintenance more often. During these scheduled visits, your technician will perform maintenance tasks such as:

Changing your oil and filter. Just as a car cannot keep running on old oil, your generator’s oil needs to be drained and replaced.
Replacing air and fuel filters. Your air filter keeps dust and debris from clogging up your engine, so it’s important to have a clean one installed.
Changing spark plugs. Spark plugs get worn out by frequent use. Your technician can install new ones to ensure your engine will keep running to the best of its ability.
Other services. Your technician will perform a thorough inspection of your entire generator. If your generator has been damaged or parts are worn out, it may require additional service.

The Importance of Standby Generator Service

Just like your car, your generator needs regular service in order to function effectively. You can do many of the simpler maintenance tasks yourself, but it is essential that you have a professional service your generator at least once a year. Want to make sure that your generator stays in tip-top shape? Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our certified Kohler technicians.

Kohler Standby Generator FAQs

How long will a Kohler generator last?

About 1500-3000 hours. The overall lifespan will depend on the type and size of your generator, but a typical range is about 1500-3000 hours.

What kind of oil does a Kohler generator take?

Full-synthetic oil. Your generator ships with KOHLER Genuine Oil 5W-30 full-synthetic oil, which is Kohler recommended. Although a synthetic blend may be used, our recommendation is full-synthetic oil.

Can you leave generator on overnight?

Never refuel a running generator, even a generator with a still-hot engine because heat from the engine parts or exhaust could ignite the gasoline. Turn the generator off overnight

Can I leave gas in my generator?

For long-term storage it’s typically recommended to store your generator without any gasoline in it. Drain your generator according to directions in your owner’s manual. Although removing the gas is highly recommended, you can store the generator with the gas inside if you use a stabilizer to prevent corrosion.

How do you reset a Kohler generator?

STEP 1: Go outside to the generator, open the cover and push the blue “OFF” button found on the generator controller. This will reset the controller and/or clear the fault. STEP 2: Wait 30 seconds.