Standby Generator Maintenance and Repair in the Seattle-Tacoma Area

Generator maintenance and repair for Seattle-Tacoma homes

Home Comfort Alliance maintains, diagnoses and repairs home standby generators across the Seattle-Tacoma area. Our licensed electricians check the generator, its fuel supply and its transfer equipment so it starts and carries your home’s loads the next time the power goes out.

A standby generator can sit unused for months and then has to work perfectly during a storm. Regular maintenance and prompt repairs are what make that possible. Service and repair visits carry a trip fee.

Quick checks before you call for generator service

A few safe checks can save a service call or speed one up: confirm the generator’s controller is set to automatic, write down any warning light or error code, and make sure the fuel supply is on. Leave the engine, wiring and transfer switch to a licensed technician.

• Mode: the controller should read automatic, not off or manual. Generators are sometimes left off after a previous service or a storm.
• Warnings: note the exact error code or message on the display.
• Fuel: on propane, check the tank gauge; on natural gas, check whether your other gas appliances are working.
• Breaker: note whether the generator’s own circuit breaker is off or tripped and tell the technician.

Signs your standby generator needs service

Schedule generator service if the unit did not start or did not take over during an outage, shows a warning or error code, has stopped running its regular self-test, or is making unusual noises, leaking or showing damage.

• No power to your backed-up circuits during an outage
• Warning light, alarm or error code on the controller
• Missed or failed exercise runs
• Hard starting, rough running or shutting down under load
• Oil, coolant or fuel leaks
• Signs of rodents or nesting inside the enclosure
• More than a year since the last maintenance visit

How often should a standby generator be serviced?

Home Comfort Alliance recommends servicing a standby generator once a year, and more often if it runs frequently or for long stretches during outages. Like any engine, it needs fresh oil and filters, and its battery, controls and connections have to be checked to stay ready.

Scheduling maintenance before the fall and winter storm season gives time to fix anything the visit finds before you need backup power.

What Home Comfort Alliance generator maintenance includes

Home Comfort Alliance’s generator maintenance covers oil and filter service, diagnostics and load testing, so problems show up during a scheduled visit instead of during an outage.

• Oil and filter service: fresh oil and filters to protect the engine through the next year of exercise runs and outages.
• Diagnostics: a review of the controller, alerts and overall condition to catch developing problems early.
• Load testing: running the generator under electrical load to confirm it can carry the circuits it was installed to power.

Standby generator repair

When a standby generator will not start, will not transfer or shuts down under load, Home Comfort Alliance diagnoses the cause and repairs the generator and its connected electrical equipment.

Common causes include a weak or failed battery, controller faults, transfer switch problems, fuel supply issues, engine wear and wiring damaged by rodents. Because the generator ties into both your electrical system and your gas or propane supply, the repair often means checking both sides.

What to have ready when you call

• Generator brand, model and serial number from the label on the unit
• Any error code or message on the controller
• Fuel type: natural gas or propane
• When the generator last ran and when it was last serviced

What happens during a generator service visit

A Home Comfort Alliance generator service visit moves from a quick conversation about the problem to a tested, working system, and ends with a clear explanation of what was found.

1. Tell us what you are seeing. When you book, share the brand and model, any error code and when the generator last ran.
2. Visual check. The technician looks over the enclosure, fuel connection, wiring and surrounding area for leaks, damage or pests.
3. Diagnostics. The controller, its alerts and the system’s condition are reviewed to find the cause of a fault or spot developing problems.
4. Maintenance or repair. Oil and filter service on a maintenance visit, or the repair the diagnosis calls for.
5. Load test. The generator runs under electrical load to confirm it starts, transfers and carries your backed-up circuits.
6. Review. You get an explanation of what was done and anything the generator will need next.

Keeping your generator ready between visits

Most of what keeps a standby generator ready between maintenance visits is simple: leave it in automatic mode, keep the enclosure clear, and pay attention to its alerts and exercise runs.

• Keep it clear. Trim plants and keep leaves, snow, stored items and yard debris away from the enclosure and its vents so air can move and the lid can open.
• Listen for the exercise run. Most standby generators run a short self-test on a regular schedule. If yours stops doing that, schedule service.
• Watch the controller. A warning light or message is the generator asking for attention before the next outage.
• Plan for fuel. On propane, keep the tank topped up heading into storm season, since a long outage can use a lot of fuel.
• Book maintenance on time. A yearly visit before the stormy months is the easiest way to avoid surprises.

Repair or replace an aging generator?

Repair usually makes sense when the generator is in good overall shape and the problem is a part or a connection. Replacement is worth considering when repairs keep coming back, parts are hard to find, or your home now needs more backup capacity than the generator provides.

If replacement is the better option, our standby generator installation team sizes a new system from your home’s current loads, handles the permits and removes the guesswork from fuel and placement.

Why homeowners call Home Comfort Alliance for generator service

A standby generator depends on your electrical system and your fuel supply, so it helps to call one company that works on both. Home Comfort Alliance’s licensed electricians work alongside heating, cooling and plumbing technicians, and our member companies have served Western Washington homes since 1977.

• Maintenance, diagnostics and repair from one team
• Electrical and fuel-side know-how in the same company
• Licensed, bonded and insured in Washington, WA Contractor Reg. #HOMECCA785BD

Where we service standby generators

Home Comfort Alliance services home standby generators across the Seattle-Tacoma area and the wider Puget Sound. See all residential electrical services or browse our service areas.