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Free generator maintenance checklist: Ready when the power goes.
A printable generator maintenance checklist for diesel and gas standby sets. It covers the engine, the batteries and charger, and a test run with the transfer switch. Use it for weekly checks or monthly service visits, then print it or save a PDF.
1. Pick a template
Suggested: weekly or monthly
2. Mark each check
0 of 12 checks done0 pass · 0 fail · 0 N/A
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What it covers
The standby generator checks.
How often: weekly or monthlyEngine
- Check engine oil level
- Check coolant level and look for leaks
- Check fuel level and look for fuel leaks
- Inspect belts and hoses
- Check the air filter restriction indicator
Electrical
- Check battery voltage and clean the terminals
- Check the battery charger is working
- Inspect wiring and control panel for alarms
Test run
- Run the generator and record running hours
- Check voltage and frequency on the panel
- Listen for unusual noise or vibration
- Check the transfer switch is set to auto
These are common checks to start from. Your machine’s manual and the safety rules for your site come first, so add or change checks to match them.
From the field
Tips for a better check.
- Write down the running hours at every visit. Oil and filter changes usually go by hours, not by date.
- Batteries cause many failed starts. Check the voltage and the charger every visit, not just once a year.
- Leave the transfer switch on auto after the test run, and tick it off on the sheet.
Want this check to come up on schedule? See how preventive maintenance plans work in Catalyces.
Know the rules
What NFPA 110 asks of a standby set.
For emergency and standby generators in the US, the key standard is NFPA 110, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems. Fire codes and inspectors use it, and hospitals reach it through NFPA 99. Your authority having jurisdiction decides which edition applies.
NFPA 110 calls for a weekly inspection of the generator set, including the batteries. It also calls for a monthly exercise of at least 30 minutes under load. The load must be at least 30% of the nameplate kW rating, or enough to reach the minimum exhaust temperature the manufacturer recommends.
Many buildings cannot put that much load on the set. In that case, NFPA 110 calls for a yearly load bank test. Long runs at light load are what cause wet stacking in diesel engines: unburned fuel and soot build up in the exhaust. A load bank burns it off and proves the set can carry the building.
Diesel fuel also ages in the tank. NFPA 110 calls for a fuel quality test at least once a year. Water and microbial growth in old fuel block filters at the worst moment, during a real outage.
Keep every test on record: the date, running hours, load, voltage, frequency and who ran it. Inspectors and insurers ask for that log first.
Run these checks on every job
Questions
Standby generator checklist questions.
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