Keeping the power on during storm season

Towards the end of every year, Queensland is known to experience severe thunderstorms, and this can often leave thousands of homes and businesses across Australia without power. The area has even shared a nationwide blackout in the worst of the seasons. Then once a new year begins, there are heatwave conditions that sweep the area and prove just as critical, particularly if you have refrigerated stock for your business. To make sure your business doesn’t experience unnecessary downtime that puts your financial stability at risk, you should consider the installation of a new generator. Or, if you are already the unit owner, call in for professional generator servicing in Brisbane.

Why you should consider a generator for storm season in Australia?

A quality generator can be a lifesaver, especially for industrial and commercial environments which literally cannot afford downtime. You should be able to fall back on the power generation of your generator, but that isn’t enough. Your generator must be properly maintained and ready to go the moment you need it. That means generator maintenance is a must, especially in high-risk areas, like Queensland, where the storm season’s brunt hits. Generator failure can be catastrophic, and that’s why it’s worth taking the time now to ensure your generator is in good working order. This can include several things like cleaning out old fuel from tanks and checking for leaks. Using old fuel, the quality of your supply will quickly decline, and before you know it, you’re left in the lurch when a storm hits.

How to keep the lights on during storm season?

Typically, the stormy season runs from November to April. Winds have the potential to escalate to more than 200kph combined with hail, lightning, and rain; you need to be prepared. As a result, it’s time to consider energy storage.  It’s vital to ensure a power outage does not hit your business because that can cost you revenues. In summary, it’s time to prepare to avoid potential disruption. You can do this by considering your power solutions options or just looking into improved servicing for your current unit. The simple addition of an industrial generator will lower your bills and help you be more energy independent. The more independent you are, the more control over your energy. Reactive Generators only works with high-quality Genset brands with state-of-the-art technology like seamless switchover mechanisms. When the lights go out, your battery kicks in your electricity is restored.

Why is generator maintenance important before storm season?

All the heavy equipment on your industrial site needs its maintenance, so does the generator your business relies on. Failing to do so can leave you in a tricky position, especially during extreme weather events that have the potential to cause power failure for days on end. Around these times of the year, you should prioritise the scheduling of generator service before the tropical storm season hits. Doing this can avoid the cost of generator repairs in Brisbane if things suddenly go awry. Then you can have peace of mind that you’ve got a reliable power source if the electrical grid goes down or your solar power fails you. If you haven’t used your diesel generator since the last storm season in Queensland, now is the time to book a pre-storm season maintenance check. We’ve put together a generator safety checklist that details what is required before storm season.

1.    Check, clean or replace fuel containers

Cans or drum storage containers are easy enough to inspect and replace for any discerning generator user or technician. It would be best if you planned to store large volumes of diesel, and there are things you can do to keep it fresh while doing so. It would be best if you spoke to a professional about treating your fuel with a chemical meant to keep it fresh and stable.

2.    Consider bleeding your generator

This required the handiwork of a licensed pro to completely drain fuel and oil from the tank and dispose of it properly. Then they will refill the tank with fresh fuel, run the generator, and make sure the generator is working correctly. This is ultimately a test to spot any trouble with the generator and then to take it for repair, so it is ready for when you need it.

3.    Perform an oil change

The technician performing the required maintenance checks will also make sure that your generator has enough oil. If it’s been used heavily, it might be time for an oil change.

What does generator maintenance involve?

It’s important to know the difference between a generator check and generator maintenance because they require different proficiencies. One of these things is less intensive than the other. Checking your generator regularly to ensure it’s clean, ensuring that the fuel is fresh, and the electrical cords and cables aren’t damaged or worn is a typical generator check. On the other hand, scheduled generator maintenance is more comprehensive than a routine check and will involve things like oil checks, electrical component replacement, radiator inspection and much more. Once all these components are inspected, serviced, and replaced, the generator service technician will take a meter reading and test it at full load to ensure it’s operating at 100% capacity. They need to do this to ensure your power generator can take the full load it’s designed for, as it may need to operate at maximum capacity during a power outage caused by an extreme weather event.

How often should a generator be serviced?

We’ve already mapped out why it’s important to service your generator in preparation for storm season, but there is regular servicing to consider too. Rather than waiting for a disaster to strike, you can work servicing appointments into your industrial property’s schedule and budget. Plus, it’ll make sure that all your machinery is functioning with increased reliability and improved efficiency. Contact us to help you draw up a detailed servicing schedule and plan for your industrial property.