Common Back-up Power Generator Problems

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Top 5 Reasons Your Whole-House Generator Isn’t Working

Your whole-house generator is a lifesaver. What happens if your generator fails to come on just when you need it most? That could be a really unpleasant surprise. Here are the top five reasons why your whole-house generator might fail to start and what you can do to fix or prevent these problems.

1. It’s Low on Fuel

If you left gas or another fuel in the generator’s tank, that fuel could be stale. It could also be mixed with water. You can check by shining a bright light on the surface of your fuel. If you see whitish blobs floating on it, that’s condensation that has contaminated your fuel supply.

Solution: Drain the gas tank and the carburetor float bowl. Refill your generator with fresh fuel. Add fuel stabilizer to prevent contamination.

 

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2. It Has a Clogged Carburetor

This is one of the most common reasons why a generator won’t start. A clogged or dirty carburetor will keep your generator from working its best and may even cause it to shut down. You can’t just use a cleaner on it and hope for the best. You need to remove the carburetor, take it apart and clean it thoroughly.

Solution: Learn how to take apart, clean and put together your generator’s carburetor. If you don’t want to deal with it, call a professional electrician with the know-how to do this.

3. It Needs an Oil Change

Today’s generators have several safety features that prevent you from using the generator in an unsafe way. Many have shutoff sensors that prevent the generator from turning on if its oil levels are too low. Never run a generator with dirty oil or low oil levels. Doing this could cause permanent damage.

Solution: Follow the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for changing filters, oil, and fluids in your generator. You can make this easy by setting up regular maintenance appointments with a SESCOS technician who will maintain and troubleshoot your generator to ensure it’s always ready to start.

4. It Needs a New Battery

A generator’s battery won’t last forever. In most cases, the battery lasts four to five years. There’s no way to know if your battery is nearing the end of its life without regular, routine maintenance.

Solution: Learn to watch for the signs of a dying battery. Regularly test the batteries, chargers, and cables. If you have a maintenance plan and do regular testing of your generator, you can prevent this problem.

 

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5. The Power Is Going Up and Down

Is the generator’s power fluctuating wildly? Electricians refer to this as “surging” or “hunting.” There are several reasons it could be happening. A clogged carburetor, worn spark plug, engine failure or an electrical overload could all be at fault.

Solution: Turn off the generator until you can isolate the source of the surging problem. You will probably need professional help with this situation.

Stay Ready for the Worst Weather

Over the past year, hurricanes and high winds have shut off power to thousands of Virginia homes. If you have a whole-house generator, you probably avoided the worst of the weather extremes. Make sure your generator continues to protect you throughout the year. Contact SESCOS today to set up a service and maintenance plan for your whole-house generator. We sell, install and repair all brands and models of the generator.