How often should you schedule your generator service?

Skipping it eventually leads to water damage or an expensive repair.

Staying on schedule matters beyond the repair bill: a consistent maintenance record is one of the factors in a home's Roots Home Health Score, and well-kept homes typically sell faster and closer to asking price.

How to do it

Like any engine, a generator needs periodic oil, filter, and spark-plug service to stay reliable. A standby unit that runs your whole house especially benefits from professional annual maintenance.

1. Book the yearly service, or do the oil, filter, and plug change yourself if you're comfortable with small engines.
2. Have the coolant, battery, and fuel system checked on larger standby units.
3. Confirm the transfer switch operates and the unit picks up the load cleanly.
4. Keep the service log, which many warranties require.

Alternatives & optional extras

• Break in a new generator with an early first oil change, as the manual specifies.
• Portable-generator service is largely DIY; whole-house standby units are usually worth a pro contract.

Time: ~1 hour · Typical cost: $150–$300 for a standby service; ~$30 in parts DIY

If you skip it

Skipping service leaves the generator likely to fail under the load of a real outage, when you're relying on it most.

Other backup generator maintenance

• Run generator test cycle — once a month

Related systems to keep on schedule

• Electrical panel — start with: test gfci outlets, every 6 months