June 2, 2025

How to Prepare Your Generator for Hurricanes and Severe Weather

Once again, summer is upon us, and once again, NOAA is predicting above-normal activity in the Atlantic for the 2025 hurricane season. Even if you don’t live in an area prone to hurricanes, spring and summer can bring severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and more. It’s just as critical to have your generator ready to go if the power goes out in summer as it is in winter. Here, your friends at WEN have collected some tips to help you make sure your generator starts up easily when you need it most.

1. Prepare ahead of time.

Make sure your household has the bare essentials covered. Make a physical list of the items and appliances you want to power in case of a power outage, and ensure your generator can power all of them. If others live at home with you, make sure they know how to operate the generator (if able), and are able to physically get to the generator. Consider having a professional electrician install a transfer switch, which makes switching from utility power to generator power a snap.

2. Catch up on maintenance.

If you’ve been neglecting your generator for a while, there is no better time than now to fire it up and take it for a spin to make sure everything still works properly. Perform any routine maintenance advised by your owner’s manual or the generator manufacturer. Stick to this schedule, and you shouldn’t have any problems in the future. If your generator won’t even start, here is a list of common reasons it may be having problems. If you need to order parts, tune up your machine, or get repairs done, now is the time to do that, not when the power is out, you’re sweating buckets, and getting feasted on by mosquitoes.

NEVER run your generator indoors, or within 20 feet of doors or windows. Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, tasteless gas.

3. Stock up on fuel and oil.

If your generator runs on propane (LPG) or natural gas, then your fuel supply won’t go bad. It’s a good idea, though, to make sure you have enough on hand to power your chosen appliances for a few days. If your generator runs on gasoline, ensure you have enough on hand, and that it is fresh (within 30 days of purchase). Old, stale gasoline may not work well in your generator, and can lead to problems down the road, like gummed-up carburetors. Fuel stabilizer is your friend, and can help keep gasoline fresher for longer.

It’s a good idea to keep some extra engine oil on hand as well. Determine how often your generator will need an oil change, per the maintenance schedule included in your owner's manual. Generally, it's around every 25 - 100 hours, depending on age, environmental conditions, and how hard the generator is run. Keep enough oil on hand to get your generator through at least one oil change.

4. Prepare a place for your generator.

No need to get out the decorative throw pillows, but it’s a good idea to make sure your generator has a dedicated area to run in case the power goes out. Make sure that you can get to this area easily, that you can keep it clear of foliage or other obstacles, and that the generator is not exposed to rain (since after all, water and electricity don’t play nicely together). Make sure the exhaust pipe cannot get blocked. We recommend at least five feet (1.5 meters) of clearance on all sides of WEN generators. Other manufacturers may have different recommendations.

If you live in an area prone to storm surge during hurricanes, select a location where the generator is less likely to be inundated, if possible. If your generator is submerged in seawater during storm surge, it's very likely it will not start again.

NOTE: NEVER run your generator indoors, or within 20 feet of doors or windows. Generators emit carbon monoxide, which is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and poisonous gas. Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to injury or death in minutes.

5. Regularly test and maintain your generator.

WEN recommends that you run your generator at least once a month to ensure there are no problems. Make sure to plug in a couple of loads and run the generator for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Not only will this keep your generator in tip-top shape, it will help familiarize you with your generator, which means you’ll be confident and ready to handle the worst that storm season can throw at you.

6. Keep an eye on the sky.

Check the weather forecast regularly, especially if you live in the South, along the East Coast, near the Gulf Coast, or in other hurricane-prone areas. Your local TV and radio stations, trustworthy weather-related websites, Ready.gov, and the National Hurricane Center's website are good resources. Usually, you'll have a few days' notice for hurricanes.

It's also a good idea to keep an emergency NOAA weather radio on hand, as part of your emergency kit or go-bag. Ready.gov has good information on preparing and maintaining an emergency kit.

Conclusion

WEN offers a range of generators to suit your needs. If you have questions about maintaining, using, or purchasing a WEN generator, check out our handy article, read your owner's manual, or feel free to give us a call at 1-847-429-9263 (Monday - Friday, 8 - 5 Central time), or drop us a message here, to talk to our friendly and knowledgeable technical support team. Also, check out some of our other handy articles about generators and preparing for emergencies.

Banner image by George Desipris, pexels.com.

Filed in: generator

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