Before You Use That Generator…
If your new home already has a whole-house generator installed, you’re in luck—but before you fire it up, you should perform a thorough generator inspection, do any troubleshooting and set up a schedule for annual service.
Peak Performance
Like any piece of machinery, your generator needs regular maintenance to keep working at peak performance. For safety reasons, and to ensure your maintenance and repairs are up to code, your best bet is always to call a qualified electrician.
Southern Electrical Service Company (SESCOS) can help you with a thorough pre-use inspection of your generator. We’ll also set up regularly scheduled inspections and repairs that will keep your standby running smoothly.
Generator Inspection
- Check the oil and lube levels.
- Examine the radiator; is it rusty? Are the cooling hoses and belts free of cracks and tears? If the hoses are rubber, plan to change them for silicone ones as soon as possible.
- Inspect the electrical system; is the wiring up to code? Are the voltage and frequency at the right levels?
- Check the fuel system, especially for any accumulated fuel that could be degrading or spoiling, and make sure the water release valve is working.
- Make sure the batteries are powered and free of rust or grime.
Trouble Shooting Generator
Your generator should start immediately and be at full speed quickly. Reasons why it might not run properly, or start at all, include:
- It doesn’t have enough fuel or oil or has a blocked fuel line.
- The engine isn’t providing enough power and needs to be serviced.
- The engine is running but not putting out AC current.
- The generator is overloaded.
- It has a dirty or damaged air filter.
When troubleshooting generator, always:
- Wear protective gear.
- Turn the generator off.
- Check the color of any smoke you see:
- White smoke means the engine is not heating properly.
- Blue smoke means the unused fuel has collected in the exhaust system.
- Black smoke means there’s fuel in the combustion chamber; this is a dangerous situation that you should not try to fix on your own.
- For safety and code reasons, always call a professional electrician.
Annual Service
- Change the oil, the spark plugs, and the air filter. You should do this every 2 years or 200 hours of use. In cases of extreme temperature changes, or if the generator has been exposed to sand, salt, and dust, you’ll need to do this more often.
- Run a weekly check by turning it on and letting it run for about 10 minutes. Pay attention to any unusual sounds or startup problems. Once a year, run it at full power for an hour.
- Keep a maintenance log tracking all of your repairs and any work done by professional technicians.
Keep it Humming
The Generator Team at SESCOS can check your generator out thoroughly before you use it, making sure you don’t get any unwelcome surprises or have it fail you in the middle of a power emergency. We can also set up a regular schedule of tests and maintenance, giving you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your generator will be ready when you need it.
If you don’t have a generator, we can help you pick the one that fits your needs and your budget. We sell, install and service all types of generators and we’ll make sure that you’re always powered up. Contact our trained generator services team for your emergency power back-up solution.