During a storm or power outage, home generators provide electricity on demand. If your home is equipped with a whole house generator, you will want to make sure that it is ready to kick into gear during an emergency. With services from a team of electrical contractors serving Columbus, you can perform regularly scheduled maintenance on your generator. By taking the time to repair your generator issues, you will be able to keep it up and running for many years. Let’s take a look at how to troubleshoot some of the most common issues that occur with generator systems.
Battery Issues
Battery issues are among the most common reasons why home generators fail to operate. In order to provide power to your home, your generator needs to be equipped with a charged and fully functional battery. To troubleshoot your battery problem, your electrician may need to open up your generator and physically inspect the battery. Oftentimes, battery failure is due to corrosion, loose connections, or other minor problems that can be easily remedied.
Coolant Flow Problems
Like the engine in a car, a generator requires coolant in order to operate correctly and avoid overheating. When your generator stops functioning, the problem could lie in its coolant flow system. During a generator repair appointment, your electrician may perform a coolant load test to diagnose the issue. If the load test reveals a low level of coolant in your generator’s internal systems, its thermostat or switches may be in need of repair.
Low Oil Levels
Low oil levels can quickly ruin the performance and reliability of a home generator system. Unlike oil leaks in cars, however, generator oil problems are often caused by a phenomenon that is known as wet stacking. If a generator operates well below its capacity for a prolonged period, its unburned fuel will wet stack and cause less oil to be pumped through its engine. Your electrician may suggest that you connect your generator to a device called a load bank, which is designed to stabilize its oil levels.
