Top Reasons Home Generators in Horry County, SC Fail to Start
With every passing moment, our dependence on an obstructed power supply continues to exceed. This is obviously because most of the household and other chores rely on electricity. From cooking to cleaning and mowing the yard, nothing can be done without a source of electricity in your home.
With that said, suppose that the electricity in your home goes out for an undefined period of time. You have kids and seniors at home and have a really tough routine managing all your work and home responsibilities. How do you feel in a situation when there is no electricity at home and the kids are crying because they can’t sleep without listening to their favorite rhymes on the laptop and the laptop is not charged? What do you do when you have to cook to feed yourself and the family and go to bed to get enough sleep to recharge yourself for the next day? How about having seniors at home who depend on electrical medical devices? It will be really chaotic, of course!
To save all the hassle and panic that power outages bring, a lot of homeowners are heading to buy generators in Horry County, SC, for home use and elsewhere. And as much as it is important to know about what should be considered when buying a generator, it is also important to learn about the common problems that keep your generator from starting. This way, you will not have to wait long before you can turn on the house generator in Horry County, SC.
Here are the top reasons the generator in your home will not start. Read on to find out what you should do.
1. Battery Failure
This is amongst the most common problems that the professionals for generator service in Horry County, SC, mostly get called for. As a matter of fact, 80% of battery failure problems arise when sulfate accumulates on the plates of the generator batteries.
Although there are several other causes of battery failure, like open cells and other human errors, the major cause still remains to be sulfate buildup. The only way you can prevent buildups in your generator is by strict maintenance of the machine. Most people only reach out to the professionals when the problem is already there, while the right way to do it is by scheduling appointments even before there are any obvious signs of the problem.
2. Low Coolant Levels
Low coolant level is mostly linked with another internal or external leak in the generator. You will need to deeply check what is actually causing the problem, and you will need professional help to do so. A professional for generator service in Horry County, SC, will check for things like the color and texture of the coolant and inspect it for any signs of oil. Although many generators are equipped with alarms that signal low coolant levels, some use a dedicated alarm indicator for low coolant. Nevertheless, an indication is one thing, identifying the actual cause of the problem and introducing fixes is another.
3. Oil, Fuel, or Coolant Leaks
More commonly, the oil, fuel, or coolant leaks in your generator are not actually leaks but a consequence of ‘wet stacking’ or ‘engine slobber’. This is caused by extra no-load runtime. When a backup generator in Horry County, SC, or anywhere else operates below the standard output level, its engine will start to over-fuel. This is what wet-stacking is, and it can damage the engine of the generator, resulting in a failure to start.
4. Not-in-Auto Controls
The messages that come due to direct human errors are called “Not in auto” messages. These errors occur because the main control switch is often left in a position that is reset or off. Thus, it is important to check the generator system always after it is shut off after using or every time after you get any generator service in Horry County, SC.
5. Air in the System
New generators often face air buildup if they are not used for a long time or are used on a regular basis. This is a very common problem in generators in Horry County, SC, for home use and is not something you should be genuinely worried about. The fuel systems have closer tolerances to fulfill the emission requirements today. Because of this, the system builds up air and has problems starting up. The problem is not as common in the old generators as it is in the newer ones, but this doesn’t completely spare the older generators. Even they can get it because of a leak in a line or valves that are failing to hold the fuel in the engine.
6. Lack of Fuel
While most people dread the issues that cause their standby generator in Horry County, SC, to not start, the problem is often minor—just a lack of fuel. The automatic gauges that you have are not always right. Moreover, your generator does not have a tank that has movements like those that are installed in vehicles. This can cause the fuel inside to become stagnant.
7. Tripping Breakers
When the standby generator in Horry County, SC, home of yours doesn’t start, look for the emergency power off switch and see if it has not been pushed mistakenly.
If the breaker is tripping on its own, just after you press the automatic transfer switch (ATS), your generator will not start. Ensure to only check the position of the automatic transfer switch amid a power outage so that there are no risks or hire a professional dealing in repairs for home generators in Horry County, SC, so that they obstruct the electric supply completely.
Do you have a generator at home? Is it hard to turn it on? Do you want to schedule a regular maintenance visit to ensure your home is covered against power outages in the upcoming stormy season? Mister Sparky Generators has you covered. Dial 843.213.6610 to schedule a visit or in case of an emergency!