To all our friends on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, happy spring! I know it’s only April and hurricane season is months away, but now is the right time to pull your generator out and crank it up.
Those of us in high-risk areas know hurricane season starts June 1. Early storms are somewhat rare, so many of us use the beginning of the season to crank our generators up for the first time. The only problem is that it’s too late. Let me explain.
By getting a head start now, you’re able to identify any problems. As long as you use Stabil or another fuel stabilizer, there’s a good chance your generator just needs to run out a little of the roughness from sitting for the past few months. Give it about 10 minutes or so, and you should be good to go.
But if your generator has been sitting longer or has developed a problem since you last started it, there’s may be some work to do. If you’re a gearhead like my friend Tom Gaige, it might be a fun project to work on over the weekend. Most of us need a small engine mechanic, though.
Want to take a guess at what happens when you wait until June 1 to find out if you have a problem?
You and everyone else who just discovered an issue are all trying to find a mechanic who can work on it. Most likely, you’re going to have to wait and hope a hurricane doesn’t come your way before they can get you back in the game.
So, get ahead of the game while the weather’s still nice out and go into hurricane season with more confidence in your home backup generator.
