Signs Your Standby Generator Needs Repair
A standby generator is one of those things you don't think about until the power goes out — and that's exactly the problem. Most standby generator failures aren't sudden; they show up as small warning signs weeks or months before the unit is actually needed. Here in Teller County, where winter storms and grid outages aren't rare, catching those signs early is the difference between a warm house and a cold one.
1. It doesn't auto-start during an outage
The whole point of a standby unit is that it starts itself. If the power drops and your generator stays silent — or takes several tries to crank — the transfer switch, battery, or starter system usually needs attention. A weak battery is the single most common cause, and it's also the easiest to catch during routine maintenance before it strands you.
2. It runs rough, surges, or stalls
A generator that hunts for RPM, surges up and down, or dies shortly after starting is almost always a fuel problem. Stale fuel and ethanol-blend gas are common culprits — ethanol absorbs moisture over time and gums up the carburetor, especially on units that sit unused between outages.
3. Smoke that isn't clear
Some exhaust haze on startup is normal. Persistent smoke isn't: - Black smoke — running too rich, often a dirty air filter or fuel mixture issue - Blue smoke — burning oil, which can mean worn rings or an overfilled crankcase - White smoke — usually moisture, but can also mean a coolant leak on liquid-cooled units
4. It won't hold full load
If your generator starts fine but trips breakers, dims under load, or can't keep your well pump and furnace running at the same time, the unit isn't producing full rated output. This can be a governor, voltage regulator, or a simple wear issue — but it's worth diagnosing before you actually need that capacity.
5. Warning lights or fault codes on the panel
Modern standby units log fault codes for a reason — don't clear a code without understanding what triggered it. A low-battery or "service due" warning ignored today is a no-start event during the next storm.
6. Unusual noise
Knocking, grinding, or backfiring are not "it'll work itself out" noises. Caught early, most of these are inexpensive fixes. Ignored, they turn into engine-out repairs.
7. The weekly self-test isn't running
Most standby generators run a short self-test on a schedule to confirm they're ready. If yours has stopped running its test — or the test runs but sounds different than it used to — that's the generator telling you something changed.
Why this matters more here
Teller County loses power more than most of the Front Range, and when it happens it's usually during the exact weather that makes a generator matter most. Regular maintenance catches almost all of the issues above before they become no-start emergencies — and it's a lot cheaper than an emergency call during a storm.
If you're seeing any of these signs, or it's just been a while since your unit was serviced, give us a call. We come to you, anywhere in Teller County.