← All documents

Off-Grid Maintenance Calendar

The recurring jobs that keep systems alive, by season. Put it on the wall. A surprising share of off-grid breakdowns trace back to a skipped routine, not bad luck.

Monthly, all year

  • Run the generator under load for 20 to 30 minutes; check oil; note hours
  • Battery bank: check state of charge trend, terminal corrosion, tight connections; note the lowest overnight voltage
  • Walk the solar array: debris, shading from new growth, loose wires, animal damage
  • Water: check the pressure tank cycling, pump runtime, and any drips; clean the pump strainer
  • Stove (heating season): empty ash; check door gasket seal with the dollar-bill test; inspect the stovepipe
  • Test smoke and CO alarms; check fire extinguisher gauge
  • Check propane levels; inspect hoses and regulator for cracks; soapy-water leak test at fittings
  • Composting toilet: check the fan runs, vent line clear, add medium

Spring

  • Chimney: sweep and inspect the whole run; check the cap and flashing; look for creosote glaze
  • Roof: walk or glass it for winter damage; clear valleys and gutters; check rainwater screens and first-flush diverter
  • Solar: clean panels; check tilt (lower for summer if adjustable); inspect all MC4s and grounds
  • Water: flush and sanitize storage tanks; test well water (bacteria, nitrates) after snowmelt; check for frost damage on lines
  • Driveway: re-grade ruts, clear culverts, check crown; order gravel top-up if needed
  • Septic: pump schedule check (every 3 to 5 years); walk the field for wet spots
  • Firewood: stack next winter's wood now, off the ground, top covered, sides open
  • Generator: change oil, air filter, spark plug if due; fresh fuel or stabilizer in stored gas
  • Garden: soil test, compost spread, fence inspected and repaired

Summer

  • Battery bank: check electrolyte (flooded) or BMS logs; equalize if the type calls for it; keep it cool and ventilated
  • Fire season: clear defensible space; store fuel away from structures; hoses and pump ready
  • Water: watch storage and spring flow through the dry season; note the lowest flow date for hydro or supply planning
  • Propane: schedule the fill before fall demand and delivery delays
  • Order next winter's consumables: filters, plugs, gaskets, stove rope, chain and bar oil; check the spares wall against the reference
  • Inspect and treat wood structures, decks, and the chimney cap for rust

Fall

  • Stove and chimney: inspect and sweep again if you burned hard last spring; replace door gasket if the seal fails; new CO alarm batteries
  • Firewood: confirm the winter supply is seasoned (moisture meter under 20 percent); move a month's worth close to the door
  • Solar: raise tilt for winter; plan snow clearing; confirm the generator can carry the house if the array is buried
  • Water: drain or heat-tape exposed lines; insulate the pressure tank room; know the shutoff locations blindfolded
  • Rainwater: disconnect or winterize catchment in freezing climates; drain first-flush diverters
  • Generator: full service before it becomes the winter lifeline; stock oil, plug, filter; fill propane or stabilize gas
  • Vehicle and access: snow tires, chains, roof rake, shovel, sand or grit, and a plow arrangement in writing
  • Pantry: rotate stored food forward; top up staples; check water storage

Winter

  • Clear snow off panels after storms (a soft brush on a pole); never walk on them
  • Watch battery state of charge daily; run the generator before the bank gets low, not after
  • Check the chimney for creosote every 4 to 6 weeks of hard burning; sweep mid-season if it builds
  • Keep vents clear of snow: propane regulator, composting toilet vent, furnace or heater intake and exhaust
  • Roof snow load: rake when depth or weight gets serious; watch for ice dams at the eaves
  • Exercise the generator and check fuel weekly in deep cold

Every few years

  • Septic tank pumped (3 to 5 years, by use); inspect baffles
  • Propane tank recertification (20 lb cylinders every 12 years, then 5); regulator replacement around 10 to 15 years
  • Chimney liner and stove inspection by a pro; stove firebrick replaced as it cracks
  • Well pump and pressure switch service; pressure tank air charge checked yearly, tank replaced when waterlogged
  • Battery bank end-of-life planning: watch capacity fade, budget the replacement before it is urgent

From liveoffthegrid.com. Manufacturer intervals override these general ones; keep every manual in the binder.