Do You Have A Propane Generator Readiness Plan?

A whole-house propane generator can be a godsend in the cold winter months, when a Hudson Valley power failure can have catastrophic consequences for your home and family.

But a generator is only great if it operates immediately and perfectly when you need it most. To make sure it does, it pays to have a year-round Generator Readiness Plan that includes three components:

1. Pre-event preparation
2. Severe winter weather response
3. Post- winter event record keeping and maintenance

Let’s take a closer look at each of these three important Plan elements.

Pre-Event Preparation

Prior to the threat of severe weather (in any season, but particularly during winter, when a power outage can leave you without heat), take the following steps:

• Read up on your equipment– Review your generator’s operating instructions to be sure you’re ready if a power outage strikes.
• Stay on top of maintenance – Reliability is everything for a backup generator, and the best way to make sure your equipment is ready for action is to have it professionally inspected and serviced every year.
• Run your system – It’s important to run your generator during the cold weather months, for the same reason you’d start your car if it was sitting in the driveway for that long. Run it for about 20 minutes once a month during long periods of inactivity in cold temperatures – it will help to lubricate moving parts and maintain important seals. You can reduce test run times to once per season the remainder of the year.
• Keep your propane tank full – Have enough propane on hand to last at least a week in the event of a power outage in case roads are impassible for propane delivery trucks. Unlike heating oil or gasoline, propane can be stored indefinitely and at virtually any temperature, so don’t worry about your fuel sitting idle in a tank. Schedule a propane delivery today if your generator is less than half-full.
• Have a “Plan B” – Know what you will do if your generator does not start. For tips on preparing for a power outage, check out this link from Ready.gov.

During Severe Winter Weather

When severe weather is imminent, the most important thing to do is to make sure your generator and propane tanks are safe and accessible.

• Keep a clear path to the generator and propane tank – Make sure technicians can access your generator in case it has operating problems or needs refueling.
• Monitor and document generator operation – Monitor how your generator is working, and record when and for how long it runs, along with any problems or repairs that occur.

Offseason Record Keeping And Maintenance

Staying safe with a propane generator is a year-round process! Once winter ends, take care of the following important tasks:

• Review your Plan – After the storm, and again when winter ends, review what worked and what didn’t work with your Plan, making changes as needed.
• Maintain your generator – Be ready for the next round of severe weather before it arrives with its own challenges! 

Make sure you have enough propane for your backup generator in the event of a severe weather power outage this winter! Contact Bottini Fuel today to schedule a propane delivery in the Hudson Valley.