How to Buy
a Used Portable Generator

Some people prefer to buy a used portable generator rather than a brand new one because of cost-saving benefits. This generator is also called “pre-owned generator” and “surplus used generator.”

There are many advantages to buying a used portable generator. If you are lucky and you happen to chance upon low hour used generators, you will be able to buy these units at attractive prices. Some are even able to buy used units sold at fifty percent less than their retail price.

Another advantage of using a pre-owned portable generator is that they are almost often readily available and can be purchased and installed in no time. Prospective users would no longer have to worry about such matters as limited availability and factory lead times. In addition, risk is very minimal as many used generators come from brand manufacturers that are known for making their products very reliable and durable. With the increased popularity of the Internet, it should be easy to find pre-owned generator units that were used only as standby power or emergency power backup.

These generators are only used when the primary power supply goes down. In many cases, these generators are seldom used; thus, they still have considerable maintenance free life ahead. There are only two obvious disadvantages with buying used portable power generators. One is that they were previously owned and used already.

This means that buyers would have to rely on the word of the seller when it comes to the previous usage, current condition, and history of the unit being sold. Second, some used generator units no longer have warranties that may turn out to be beneficial, in case there are technical problems encountered. Nevertheless, with diligence and patience, a prospective buyer should be able to purchase a good-quality unit from the hundreds of vendors that sell used portable power generators.

Moreover, there are certain factors that need to be considered when buying a used generator. These factors include age, hours and usage of the generator unit, history and reputation of the manufacturer, generator maintenance, and physical wear and tear of the unit.

One of the things that need to be done first when shopping for a good-quality generator is to check the age, hours, and history of the used generator. Many of these units come with an odometer that indicates its previous usage. It is preferable to buy those that had been used as standby power source, rather than a primary power sources. Pre-owned generators may come from auctions or foreclosure proceedings. So, if information about their history and age is not available, assess the history, reputation, and technical know-how of the seller.

Once you have gauged the technical expertise of the seller, you will have a fairly good idea about how a used generator has been maintained. The reputation of the manufacturer is also important. Since the generators are already pre-owned, it is preferable to choose a trusted brand rather than gamble on an unknown name. Lastly, before committing to buy a unit, visually inspect the unit for physical wear and tear.