If you have a whole house generator and you are having trouble starting it, there are several things you should try to make it work. Some of them include checking for a clogged fuel valve, checking the oil, and making sure the battery is connected. Also, you may want to check the wires or hoses to see if they have been chewed up by rodents.
Check if the battery is connected
It’s a good idea to check if your battery is connected before starting up your whole house generator. This is especially true if you have a generator that is directly tied into your home’s main circuit breaker panel. If you’re not sure if your battery is still connected, disconnecting it from the panel for the night may be the way to go.
The best part of this process is that you will also know if your battery is healthy or not. A bad battery can cause major problems with your home’s electrical system. Fortunately, there are several ways to test the health of your ailing power source.
Firstly, you need to use a battery meter. While you’re at it, don’t forget to use a voltmeter as well. The voltage meter will tell you if your batteries are at their optimum level or if they need some extra oomph.
Check if the fuel valve is clogged
When you have an appliance with a fuel pump, check the fuel valve before starting the engine. If the valve is clogged, the engine will not be able to start. Besides preventing the appliance from working, a clogged fuel valve can also cause the engine to run improperly.
Fortunately, you can solve this problem by cleaning the carburetor. The air filter can also be cleaned. However, a clogged air filter can prevent the carburetor from getting the air it needs to burn the fuel.
To clean the carburetor, remove the bowl and nozzles. You will need a brush and a few towels. Be sure to use a carburetor cleaner to get rid of sludge and hard carbon.
Once you have cleaned the carburetor, close the fuel valve. This will allow the fuel to flow to the engine.
Check if the oil needs to be changed
If you have a whole house standby generator, you need to know when to change the oil. This is important because running a generator without the proper amount of oil can cause it to malfunction. It can also cause serious damage to certain parts of the engine.
Checking the oil level before you start the generator is one way to ensure that the oil is fresh. Most engines have a dipstick that will tell you how much oil is needed. You should also check the spark plug and filter.
If you notice that your engine is not starting or running properly, you might have a problem with the spark plug. This could be caused by a low oil level, which can lead to automatic shutoff.
Check if a rodent chewed on the wires or hoses
If your whole house generator is not starting, you may want to check if a rodent chewed on the wires or hoses. Rodent infestation can cause serious damage to electrical systems and appliances. These animals can also transmit diseases to humans. Whether you are experiencing a small rodent problem or a major one, you need to take action as soon as possible.
The most common signs of an infestation are gnawing on the electrical wires and droppings. However, there are other signs you should look for.
You can keep rodents out of your home by using standard rodent exclusion techniques such as hardware cloth. Stuf-Fit copper mesh is another product that can help you get rid of rodents.
Rodents need to chew on things to keep their teeth from growing. This is why they are constantly gnawing on wires and other materials. They have sharp teeth that can cut through hard cabling and cause a fire.
Check if the oil shutoff sensor is faulty
If your whole house generator is not starting, you may want to check the oil shutoff sensor. This is a safety feature of modern generators. It prevents damage to your engine by warning you if the oil level is too low.
First, you’ll need to remove the oil filter. You should do this before adding any new oil. Without oil in your engine, it will quickly wear out and burn up some parts.
The other thing you should do is turn on your generator. If you’ve been running it for a while, this is a necessary step. Make sure that you’re wearing protective gloves and a fire extinguisher.
Next, you should take a look at the oil pressure switch. It’s usually located under the engine and connects to a sensor that monitors the oil pressure. When the oil pressure drops below safe levels, the sensor will activate and shut off the engine.