Seasonal generator preparation

Outages cluster. EIA's data shows that major event days are what separate a normal year from a bad one: in 2024 the average U.S. customer lost about 663 minutes of power including major events, but only about 132 minutes excluding them. That means your generator's real job happens on a small number of predictable-ish days, and the prep window is the calm month before them.

Before storm season: run the service that's due, load-test the battery, confirm the exercise cycle is running, and verify the fuel supply. If you're on propane, check the tank level and schedule a fill — deliveries get slow the week a storm is forecast, and so do generator technicians.

Before winter: the fuel choice matters. Natural gas units can struggle in extreme cold conditions, while propane performs better in the cold but burns through a tank faster. If you rely on propane in a cold climate, plan the tank size around a multi-day outage, not an overnight one.

For portables: don't leave untreated gasoline in the tank between seasons. Start the unit every two weeks for five to ten minutes if there's fuel in it, and store fuel outdoors and away from the house — Ready.gov's guidance keeps both the generator and its fuel outside and at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages.

How to choose

Book service in the off-season

Every generator owner in your county calls the same week a hurricane is named. Schedule your two-year or 200-hour service months earlier.

Test the CO alarms on the same day

Ready.gov recommends working CO detectors with battery backup on every level. Put it on the same calendar reminder as the generator service.

Fill the propane tank early

A 20 kW propane unit can cost roughly $220 a day to run. Size your reserve for the length of outage you actually expect, then top it off before the season.

Exercise portables every two weeks

Five to ten minutes is enough. It's the cheapest insurance against a varnished carburetor.

Walk the clearances again after landscaping

Shrubs grow. A standby unit needs its manufacturer clearances kept clear — at minimum 5 feet from windows, doors and soffit vents per Bob Vila's installation guidance.