|
Is Your Generator Storm Season Ready?
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center says there's a 70 percent chance of nine to 15 named storms, of which four to eight will strengthen to a hurricane and of those one to three will become major hurricanes. If you loose power during a storm, is your generator storm ready? Is your staff prepared to operate, maintain and fuel the generator?
Here are a few tips for the safe and reliable operation of your generator:
- Assign a staff member or group the responsibility for the safe and reliable operation of the generator. Develop a written plan for the maintenance, operation and fueling of the generator.
- Read the generator owner's manual.
- Train staff to maintain, operate and fuel generator. If power is needed 24/7, is there staff on duty 24/7 that can operate and fuel the generator? If outside contractors are involved, make sure their contact information is readily available.
- Replace basic items such a oil, air filter and spark plugs on a regular basis as recommended in the owner's manual.
- Check the quality of the fuel. How long has the fuel been in the storage tank?
- Run the generator under load on a periodic basis.
- Check out the operation of the automatic transfer switch.
- Keep good records of maintenance, fueling and operation of the generator.
- Keep flammable materials away from the generator exhaust.
- Keep the pathway to the generator clear.
|
