When the power goes out and it’s raining on your roof, do you dread it? That means you should of expect your Generac generator to fire up, but when you go to the garage, nothing happen. Nothing except for a silent sound of doom which translate into your heating system offline and your refrigerator warming.
This thing are critical to your comfort. So what makes them fail? Most owners consider standby generators to be set-it-and-forget-it device.
That is where the danger comes into play. Standby generator have specific conditions under which they will begin operation. Most of the time when they don’t start, it isn’t some huge engine problem but rather an unattended to little thing that nobody noticed.
Knowing these little things can keep your house and food safe from spoilage while keeping you from calling someone in the middle of the night. A few cents worth of gas and a valve turned one way or another can mean difference between feeling good about having the right investment or panicking. The number one reason that a generator won’t start is due to fuel problems.
Why Your Generac Generator Won’t Start
Fuel System Issues and Stale Gasoline
If your unit has been sitting idle for six months or longer, what’s in your tank turned to varnish which gums up the carburetor (especially on an older model). Simply adding fresh gas isn’t going to solve the problem; it needs to be drained out first. Otherwise, it will still gum up and not allow the engine to draw in clean fuel and air.
That seems easy enough but is number one cause of silence when calling on these units.
Electrical Connections and Transfer Switches
Another frequent failure point are the electrical connections at the transfer switch or the generator terminals. Typically this mean that there is a transfer switch where your generator connects to your home.
If connection on the transfer switch are corroded or loose, they won’t send start signal to the generator. Inspect terminal on the generator and the transfer switch for loose nuts and corrosion. A solid connection allow the control panel to talk to engine.
Without it, the engine doesn’t know it’s supposed to wake up. This will save you hours of frustration later and only take five minutes to visually inspect.
Low Oil Shutdown Sensors
A very rigid safety sensor monitor oil level.
Because of this, Generac engines has what they call a low oil shutdown, meaning that the engine won’t even start if there isn’t enough lubrication. That’s great when you think about it, as it protects against seizing up. But it also mean that if the dip stick is just a little short (not down below “add” or whatever) then it won’t come online.
Top off the oil at each seasonal transition. And be sure to use the correct viscosity for your climate (too-thick oil in cool weather can be problematic for starting). Thick oil require more effort on the part of engine to pump around; be sure to select the proper oil based off expected temperature range.
Air Filters and Spark Plug Maintenance
Maintenance items such as an air filter and spark plugs gets overlooked. An air filter choked with dirt restrict airflow while a worn-out spark plug won’t fire the fuel mixture. Both cause a no-start situation, yet both are inexpensive, easily replaced part.
Replacing the spark plugs and air filter annually keep the combustion chamber fed properly. A fresh plug and a clean filter can mean difference between starting reliability and a dead engine. It is not rocket science, just good old-fashioned engine care.
Battery Health and Starter Issues
Last but certainly not least, there’s the battery. The generator has a 12-volt battery like your car does and that’s what cranks the starter motor. In winter, batteries will goes dead.
They’ll also go dead if you don’t exercise the system on occasion. If the control panel lights aren’t lighting up or they’re dim, bet on the battery being the culprit. Use a multimeter to check it out and change it out if needed.
A new one provide the oomph for the starter to turn over engine. If the engine doesn’t turn over, it won’t run. You buy a Generac because when the storm comes on, you don’t want it not working.
Keeping it maintained is what makes that happen. Test the battery, change the plugs, check the oil, tighten down wires, drain old fuel. Small things for a big silence.
Your food won’t be spoiled. Your house will stay warm. The thunder will roll outside while you’ll sleep in peace.