When trouble comes, you need to be prepared for it. That’s why you have a generator! But you’ll only truly be prepared if your generator is ready to run when the power goes out. You need to make sure it stays in good condition and is ready to use. How can you tell when something is wrong with your generator? Here are some signs to be aware of. If you spot any of them, it’s time for repair. Whether you want to schedule preventive maintenance or you need generator repair in Adamsville, AL, we’ve got you covered.
Sounds
Like your vehicle, air conditioner, or any other complex piece of machinery, a generator’s first indicator that there’s a problem is a sound. It might rattle, groan, shriek, or click. Is it a mechanical problem, or an electrical one? It could be either, which is one of the reasons it’s so important to have repairs done by someone with the proper qualifications. Don’t risk electric shock—not to mention voiding your warranty—by trying to fix it yourself.
Smells
The odors to be most careful about are those that indicate a serious safety hazard. An electrical issue or fire might smell like melting plastic, scorched metal, or even rotting fish. (Electrical fires release ammonia into the air, just like dead fish do.) A gas leak will smell like mercaptan, the sulfur compound that’s added to natural gas so leaks will be easier to detect. Turn off the generator and get help immediately!
Power Issues
A whole house generator, as the name suggests, will supply power to the whole house. If lights are flickering or only parts of your home’s electrical system are up and running, it’s overloaded or experiencing a partial failure. Don’t keep overtaxing the generator. Get repairs before you end up with a generator that doesn’t work at all.
Damage
Because the body of a whole house generator sits outside, like the outdoor unit of an air conditioner, it is vulnerable to certain types of damage. It might get clogged with debris, hit by a falling tree branch, or corroded by exposure to years of rain and weather. It may even look like a perfect place for snakes to hide, or for wasps to build a nest. Take a look at your generator regularly, and if you spot any exterior damage, or anything leaking from it, get repairs.
Total Failure
If your generator starts up and runs but your home still doesn’t receive electricity, there may be a problem somewhere in the electrical connection between the generator and your home. But if the generator simply won’t start up at all, the problem is almost definitely with the generator itself. Either way, you need help, and if you need your generator right now, that’s extremely inconvenient.
Preventing Generator Problems
The best way to avoid this situation, so you’ll have the power you can count on during any outage, is to have routine generator maintenance done each year. Whether you’ve used the generator or not, wear and tear occurs, old fuel goes stale, and the system needs to be cleaned and tuned up.
“Your experience is what matters most!” Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating today for help with all your electrical needs.
