Preparing Your Diesel Generator For The Winter Months

During the summer months, it is unlikely that you will have to use your generator much. Other than a couple of power cuts, you can usually rely on an uninterrupted power supply from the mains in the UK during the warmer months.

However, it is fair to say that things can be quite different during the winter. Whilst we’re quite lucky that here in the UK, we have relatively mild weather the vast majority of the time, over the past couple of years, we have had some harsh winters.

As a business owner, it is essential to ensure that your diesel generator is prepared for the upcoming winter months and that you can still rely on it no matter what the conditions outside may be. So, below are some tips that can help prevent power failures in winter.

Book In A Comprehensive Generator Service

It would help if you had a comprehensive diesel generator service on an annual or biannual basis as standard anyway. But mainly if you haven’t used this power source much in the past few months – i.e. during the mild summer climate – it may be worthwhile getting another service in before winter hits. An experienced engineer can then ensure that there aren’t any significant issues with your diesel generator so you can rest assured you’re protected over the winter.

Complete Any Required Generator Maintenance Work

It isn’t uncommon for business owners to overlook the importance of generator maintenance. When the stand by power supply is just that – backup – it’s easy to be put to the bottom of the urgent ‘to-do’ list.

However, as we head into the winter months, it is essential that you complete any required maintenance that you’ve been putting off – from fuel tank cleaning to generator repairs. ensure you’re giving your diesel generator the best chance of surviving the winter months.

ensure You Have Enough Fuel On-Site

During the winter months, storms and snow can easily take down power lines and this often means you rely on your diesel generator more than you thought you would need to. For this reason, it is essential to ensure that you have enough fuel on-site to keep the generator working and, in turn, your business running. You may find it challenging to get generator fuel deliveries if the weather conditions are really bad too, so you need to have enough to see you through.

Get To Know Exactly How Your Generator Works

Often, business owners don’t know how generators work. While this isn’t necessarily a problem, during the winter months it can be beneficial to be more familiar with how you start, shut off and adjust your generator. Should there be a power outage, you will be ready to handle the most common issues generator owners face.

Load Bank Testing

As the colder months approach, ensuring your generator is ready to perform reliably in winter conditions is a priority. An essential aspect of this preparation is load bank testing, a process that evaluates the performance and capacity of your equipment under simulated full-load conditions. This service is particularly vital for businesses that rely on uninterrupted power, as it ensures your generator is prepared for the demands of winter. Load bank testing puts your generator through its paces, confirming its ability to handle its full power output. This is especially crucial in winter when energy demands often spike due to heating systems and extended lighting use. Testing under controlled conditions identifies potential issues before they lead to costly failures during an actual power outage.

Running a generator without sufficient load can result in “wet stacking,” where unburned fuel accumulates in the exhaust system, leading to inefficiency and potential damage. Load bank testing helps burn off excess fuel deposits, ensuring your generator operates at peak efficiency.

Installing a Diesel Generator In The UK

Hopefully, the information above will be helpful to any business owners who rely on their diesel generators to ensure that they’re ready for what the winter months may have in store. By pre-planning and getting a power outage contingency plan in place, you can relax, knowing that your uninterruptible power source won’t let you down. If you’re ever in a situation where your mains power fails, then it will kick in as it is designed to.

If you don’t yet own a diesel generator and are interested in purchasing one or are searching for a reliable company that provides generator maintenance services, we can help! With over three decades of experience working in the UK power generation industry, you can trust that you will be in the best possible hands whenever you turn to our team with Vital Power. We pride ourselves on meeting our customers’ needs and requirements and will go above and beyond. Please don’t hesitate to contact us today to speak to a member of our team.