Purchasing a good quality generator is surely a big investment. It will be safe to say that it’s your hard-time companion. But before purchasing this valuable product many questions comes to your mind. Would it be worth it? Would it last during a long power outage? What would be its life span? These are the major concern for most of us. But fortunately, our experts are here to answer these questions.
How often to run the generator
Running a generator when not in proper use is recommended. Try to run it without any load for at least 30 minutes once a week or once a month. It will not only improve the working of the generator but also keeps it alive by lubricating its internal parts. It will save the parts from getting rust. When your turn on the generator, the motor circulates the oil in every part of it thus keeping the parts frictionless.
How long will a generator last
Ok, first discuss how long will a generator last in a time of power shortage. This is one of the most important concerns of the majority of the people who own a generator. But one thing to be made sure of here is that how long the generator works has no effect on its durability. There are many other factors that count at this point.
A backup generator has a very high capacity and it can run continuously until the fuel supply is there. The three fuels that most household generators use are natural gas, propane, and diesel.
All the owners who own a gas generator know that these are the most feasible generator as they didn’t have to care about the gas. These generators run on the same gas that is supplied to their house. On the other hand, if your generator runs on other fuel sources, you must monitor the fuel supply.
According to the user manual, the fuel capacity of the generator is enough to run it for 24 hrs but again it depends on o the efficiency and the quality of your generator. If you think that it’s not enough for your house, you can have some extra source of fuel.
But if you want to save fuel in a long power shortage, I recommend you to turn it off after 2 hours for at least 15 minutes. So that it will take some rest and gets cool. Excessive heating is also not a good option for your valuable generator. By lowering the amount of electricity required, you can minimize the burden on the generator.
How many hours will a generator last
There are many factors that affect the working of the generator. The quality of the generator and its capacity matters a lot. Our expert team will advise you to run the generator for no more than 500 hours constantly whereas a standby good quality generator can power a small home for up to 3,000 hours.
The length of time a whole-house generator can run depends on two things:
- Type of generator (Quality, Capacity)
- The energy source (Fuel Supply)
every generator has its own particular qualities that are unique; although there are some generators that can run continuously for 24hrs, others are only made to run for a few hours. So, you can buy the one according to your needs.
How long does a whole-house generator last
The most common question asked by people is how long does a whole house generator last? There isn’t a single answer to that. There are many factors and conditions that directly affect the life span of the generator.
However, most people are of the view that the generator has the capacity to run continuously until it has an adequate fuel supply. But unfortunately, this is not the case. Full-house generators are often utilized to supply a house with temporary backup power.
The life span of a generator is impacted by three factors:
- Fuel
- Oil
- Heat
Let’s discuss all these three points one by one;
Having excessive fuel is a problem
Yes, you have read right! Having an excessive amount of fuel is a problem. If your generator is at full load, it will consume a lot more oil. So, if it’s possible, avoid running your generator continually, regardless of the gasoline it requires. This prolongs the generator’s life and lowers your fuel expenses.
Even with infinite resources, the gasoline supply can run out before you can purchase more. Diesel and propane generators in particular fall within this category. Installing and filling a 1,000-gallon tank in the backyard is not always an affordable option.
But in case of a prolonged power outage, running the generator continuously becomes a necessity. So we recommend you have a supply of fuel in your storage so at the time of need you didn’t have to wait for the fuel.
Normally, a backup generator fuelled by propane consumes two to three gallons per hour. For a 500-gallon tank and a 1,000-gallon tank, respectively, that is approximately equal to one week and two weeks of continuous electricity.
Fuel is nowadays very expensive so people are much concerned about it. Whether your generator runs on propane, diesel, or gas, it’s very expensive.
Here, I can rightly say that standby generators are not an affordable long-term substitute for grid electricity since fuel costs more than it. It is only designed to be used in brief power outages.
But we have got a good option for you. You can run your diesel-operated generator for 9 hrs continuously. Moreover, this fuel is easy to store, with a 132 two-gallon tank, you may use the larger generators. Over 100 hours of run duration can be possible if your tank is enlarged.
You Must have excessive OIL
Fuel and oil both are necessary for the generators. If you have a fuel supply but lack oil, your generator won’t work, or vice versa. So before using a generator for the long term you must have enough supply of oil and fuel as well.
According to our experts, it is recommended to change the oil every 100 hrs of generator usage. However, if your generator is air-cooled, you might need to replace the oil every 50 hours.
If the oil in the generator is not enough it will stop working and will affect the engine. In order to protect the engine, many generators have the function of automatically turning off themselves when the oil level drops.
Heating Issue
Standby generators easily heat up after excessive usage. Overheating of the engine is surely not a good sign for your generator. It is an indication that some damage has been caused. No matter what fuel the generator uses, you must give it a chance to cool every twenty-four to thirty hours in order to conserve it. It is best to turn it off if it is supplying power to your home at night or during the day.
If the motor on your generator runs at 3600 revolutions per minute, you need regularly shut it off. These generators only work well for brief periods of time because of how hot they run and how much oil they consume.
How to Buy a Generator That Lasts Longer
Here are some tips that will work for you to buy a generator that lasts longer. Let’s have a view;
- Buy a good quality brand generator
- Check if it has a pressurized lubrication system; as it will lubricate the engine parts completely thus saving engine from any damage.
- Generator size and capacity matter a lot.
- But a generator that is cost-effective and quill helps you in cutting down your fuel expenses.
How Long will a Generator Last – FAQs
Conclusion
To conclude, a portable generator may run for a certain time without stopping on a tank of fuel. generally 12 to 18 hours.
You will discover that, with a sizable propane tank, your limiting constraint is most likely mechanical in character. For the majority of propane generators, that works for 5-8 days.
You may use a sizable standby generator that is connected to a gas line. It has approximately 20 to 21 days or 500 hours of run time.
