Generator Maintenance & Service

Why it is not optional

Two things happen when a standby generator goes unserviced. The first is mechanical: oil degrades whether or not the engine runs, batteries lose capacity, fuel systems gum up, and rodents treat a warm enclosure as an invitation. The second is contractual — most manufacturers require documented servicing at their specified intervals, and skipping it gives them grounds to decline a warranty claim.

The failure mode is specific and it is the reason people buy these: the unit sits fine for two years, the grid goes down, and it either does not crank or it starts and then drops the load. By then it is too late to find out.

What we do on a visit

Every scheduled visit covers the generator and the automatic transfer switch:

• Change engine oil
• Replace oil filter
• Replace air filter
• Replace fuel filter (if equipped)
• Replace spark plugs when condition requires
• Inspect the air-cooling system — fan, shrouds, airflow paths and ventilation
• Inspect exhaust system and mounting hardware
• Inspect engine components for abnormal wear, leaks or damage
• Inspect and test battery condition, connections and charging system
• Inspect electrical and mechanical connections for tightness and corrosion
• Utility-loss simulation and automatic transfer switch test

How often

Manufacturers generally specify servicing at least annually, and sooner if the unit accumulates runtime hours. Whichever comes first is the trigger. Units that run frequently — a rural property with an unstable supply, or anything carrying a commercial load — need more.

Our GenWatch plans come in one-visit and two-visit versions for exactly that reason. Two visits a year suits most people who rely on the generator rather than merely own one.

We service what we did not install

You do not need to have bought from us. We service and repair Kohler, Generac and Cummins units regardless of who put them in, including warranty work on the brands we are authorized for. If the original installer has gone quiet or gone out of business, that is a common enough reason people call.

When it is repair, not maintenance

Maintenance is scheduled preventive work. If your unit is throwing a fault, failing to start, or shutting down under load, that is repair — a different visit with diagnostics, and it is quoted separately from plan work.