A standby generator spends 99% of its life doing nothing, then has to perform flawlessly the one day the grid fails. The cruel irony of backup power is that the failures almost always show up at the worst possible moment, because the unit sat unmaintained for years. In South Louisiana, where it might run hard for days during a hurricane outage, maintenance isn’t optional, it’s the whole point of the investment.
Let it run its weekly self-test
Every standby generator is set to exercise itself on a schedule, usually a few minutes once a week. Don’t disable it. That self-test keeps the engine lubricated, the battery charged, and surfaces problems while it’s calm out instead of during a storm. If you have Wi-Fi monitoring, you’ll get an alert if a test fails, pay attention to those.
What actually needs servicing
Like any small engine, a standby generator needs periodic:
- Oil and filter changes, on a schedule based on run hours (a long outage burns through hours fast).
- Air and fuel filters, replaced per the manufacturer’s interval.
- Spark plugs and a general inspection of connections and the enclosure.
- Coolant (on liquid-cooled units).
Most homeowners have a local pro handle this on an annual plan, it’s inexpensive next to the cost of the unit not starting.
The battery, the #1 reason generators don’t start
If a standby generator fails to start in an outage, the cause is usually a dead battery. Like a car battery, it wears out, typically every 2 to 3 years, and our heat is hard on them. Have it tested at every service and replaced on schedule. This one item prevents the most common (and most heartbreaking) failure: a perfectly good generator that just clicks when the lights go out.
Before hurricane season, a quick checklist
- ✅ Confirm it’s completed its recent weekly self-tests
- ✅ Have it professionally serviced if it’s been ~a year
- ✅ Test or replace the battery
- ✅ Clear leaves, nests, and debris from around the unit
- ✅ Propane owners: check the tank level so you have runtime for a multi-day outage
- ✅ Make sure it’s still sitting above your flood elevation and the pad hasn’t shifted
Signs something’s wrong
A warning light, skipped self-tests, hard starting, surging, unusual noise, or visible leaks all mean “get it looked at now,” not after the next storm warning.
Already have a generator?
The same vetted local installers we connect you with also handle repair, annual maintenance, and battery replacement, not just new units. If yours is overdue or throwing a warning, get it checked before the season.
Next steps
- New to this? Do I Need a Standby Generator? · How to Choose the Best Whole-House Generator
- Need service or a quote? Find your city and we’ll connect you with a local pro.