Vacation should not end with a flooded basement because the sump pump lost power while you were gone—or a standby generator that failed exercise cycles nobody was home to hear.
Prairie Power - Generator Solutions installs and services Generac standby generators across North Dakota and Minnesota. This guide helps you leave the house with a clear plan for backup power while you are away.
Before you leave: the essentials
Confirm fuel margin. For propane, write the tank percentage with today’s date and schedule a delivery if you will be gone through storm season. Automatic exercise cycles use fuel even when the grid is up.
Run a manual exercise as your owner manual describes—typically with utility power on so the transfer switch does not move the house to generator. Note run hours and any alarms.
Clear ventilation openings around the enclosure. Ask whoever mows while you are away to blow clippings away from the unit, not toward it.
Write instructions for whoever watches the house
House sitters are not electricians. They should not open energized equipment or reset breakers they do not understand. They can:
- Note whether utility power bounced or the generator ran during an outage
- Read run hours and alarm codes from the controller display
- Call 701-935-3617 or your service provider when something looks wrong
- Leave transfer switches and panel work to licensed professionals
Keep a one-page sheet in an obvious place: service phone numbers, where to read run hours, and which switches must stay untouched.
Automatic exercise while you are gone
Most standby units exercise on a schedule. Confirm the clock and program before you leave—especially after recent power bumps or daylight-saving changes.
If your model supports remote monitoring (Premier Uptime customers), use it. Otherwise, ask your sitter to text you after scheduled exercise days if they hear anything unusual.
Priority circuits matter when nobody is home
Sump pumps, well pumps, freezers, and medical equipment are the loads that cause real damage when power drops and nobody notices for days. Verify your priority circuit list still matches what the transfer switch actually covers.
If you are unsure, schedule a licensed visit before departure rather than assuming.
When to schedule professional service before travel
Book maintenance if you are due on a service plan, if the last exercise sounded rough, or if propane margin is thin. Our service plans page explains Essential Annual, Preferred Semi-Annual, and Premier Uptime visit rhythms.
When you return
Walk the unit, compare run hours to where you left off, confirm fuel level, and review any notes from your sitter. See our travel return exercise handoff guide for a full post-vacation checklist.
Your next step
Good stewardship before travel prevents expensive surprises after. Confirm fuel, exercise, clearances, and sitter instructions before you lock the door. When you want a technician to verify the system before a long trip, contact us for a free estimate or service visit. Kieley Electric handles every Generac installation and repair we sell in the region.