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Follow these 12 pointers to keep your portable generator in top shape and ready to power up when you need it.

Portable generators are incredibly useful during power outages, outdoor projects, camping trips, and events. But with that convenience comes responsibility.

Power outages aren’t always predictable. You can predict a power outage during a major storm, but outages can occur out of the blue too. Maybe a transformer blows or the power company's equipment fails. No matter the reason, power outages are disruptive and can cost your company lots of money. Today you’ll find out how critical commercial generators are to properties, thanks to advice from Virginia Power Solutions – a commercial generator installation service in Richmond, VA.

If you have purchased an emergency generator for your home or business, it is important to periodically test it to make sure that it is working properly. After all, there are few things in life as useless as an emergency generator that won’t operate when you need one the most. In general, you should do a test run on an emergency generator once a month. In fact, some generators are automatically programmed to turn on and run for a short time at the same date and time each month. Some generators may have different specifications for a test run, however. In those cases, homeowners should always defer to the operating instructions that came with the purchase of your emergency generator.

There are certain items that you want to count on to work as expected when you need them. The brakes on your car, parachutes, and your emergency generator are a few that come easily to mind. With the first two, failure can be catastrophic. When your generator fails, it may just be a major inconvenience. But it’s one that can wind up costing you a lot of money if you are a commercial business owner. Residents, too, can lose everything they had stored in their refrigerators and freezers if the power stays off too long.

Face it — those needing an emergency generator repair are not having the best of days. Chances are great that they are in the throes of or the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster or serious weather event. They need their power restored, and as quickly as possible. The problem is that in the wake of such unfortunate events — heavy blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. — the local power grid may not be repaired in hours. In fact, for nonessential businesses and residential homes, repairs might take days, weeks, or even months if the event was cataclysmic.

Commercial generators are intricate pieces of equipment that power your building when the electricity fails to operate. For a business, having a commercial-grade generator can make all the difference in continuing operations. It is essential to keep in mind that you will have to hire a commercial generator installation service once you have purchased the product. A generator still has the power to protect your business. It can keep the building's alarm functioning, therefore protecting your property and products inside. These pieces of equipment are complex. Therefore, it can sometimes be challenging to determine which generator is right for your building. Have you begun to feel the confusion mounting? If so, don't hesitate to give the professional team at Virginia Power Solutions a call. Our team has been providing the Richmond, VA metro area with high-quality generators for both residential and commercial clients. Our team even offers installation of your generator and has the necessary credentials and permits to complete that installation.

You count on your generator in times of crisis. But what happens when your generator lets you down? While it’s good to know who to call when you need emergency generator repair, it’s also important to know how to troubleshoot your own unit.