Purchased GP5500 portable generator following hurricane Sandy. Have not needed to use it since yet always started and ran it monthly over the past 8 years. This time I went to start it and fuel was leaking from the carburetor. Took to a local and very reputable small engine repair business and was told the generator would cost too much to repair, that I was better off just buying a new one. He also said that he couldn't even get the parts necessary to fix it either through Generac or any other source. He referred to the problem being a "heav". Have no idea what that is. User's recommendation: Buy another brand.