Signs Your Standby Generator Needs Service
You installed a standby generator so it would carry the house through storms and long outages. Most problems show up as small warnings well before that day, whether you are in Benders Landing, Carlton Woods, Creekside Park or anywhere else we service. These are the signs worth acting on.
A gas smell: act first
If you smell natural gas or propane near the generator, leave the area and call your gas utility or 911 before anything else. Then call a service company.
Signs to schedule service
- A maintenance reminder or alert code on the controller screen.
- The weekly self-test does not run, stops early, or the generator is not in AUTO mode.
- Slow or weak cranking when the generator starts. A weak battery is one of the most common reasons a standby generator fails to start.
- Oil on the floor of the cabinet or a low oil level on the dipstick.
- Rough running, unusual noise, or smoke.
- Corrosion on the battery terminals.
- It has been more than a year since the last service, or you do not know when it was last serviced.
What to do
Write down any code shown on the controller and check your owner's manual. Then call GenServ or use the request service form, and tell us the brand, the size if you know it, and what you saw.
A unit that has been maintained on a schedule is far less likely to surprise you. See how often we recommend service in our article on how often a whole-home generator should be serviced.
Common questions
How do I know if my standby generator needs service?
Common signs are a maintenance reminder or alert code, a failed or incomplete weekly self-test, slow cranking, oil on the cabinet floor, rough running or smoke, battery corrosion, or more than a year since the last service.
What should I do if I smell gas near my generator?
Leave the area and call your gas utility or 911 first, then call a service company.
Can a weak battery stop a standby generator from starting?
Yes. A weak battery is one of the most common reasons a standby generator fails to start.
Should I wait for an outage to find out if my generator works?
No. If there is any sign of a problem, schedule service now rather than finding out during an outage.
Learn more on our Generac maintenance page or see plans and pricing.
We service the whole area, including: Benders Landing, Carlton Woods, Creekside Park, Spring, The Woodlands.
Ready to schedule service?