Repair
Generator repair
A light on the unit, a failed weekly exercise, or a generator that will not start. We repair most home standby brands, with a flat diagnostic fee you know before we drive.
At a glance
Diagnose first
- Diagnostic
- $189 flat
- Brands
- Most standby
- Price before parts
- Always
- Labor warranty
- 90 days
How it works
Most standby problems show up quietly first: a yellow or red light, a message on the controller, or a weekly exercise that did not happen. The most common causes are simple: a tired battery, a dirty or worn spark plug, low oil, a tripped breaker on the unit, or a fuel valve someone closed.
Our diagnostic visit is a flat fee. The tech reads the controller history, tests the battery and charger, checks fuel pressure, runs the unit, and tests a transfer. You get a written fix with a price before any part is ordered, and the diagnostic fee is credited if we do the repair on that visit.
Before you call, it is worth checking two things yourself: that the unit's own breaker is on, and that the controller is in Auto, not Off. If you smell gas, do not touch the unit: leave the area and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
Safety, plainly Generators make carbon monoxide, which has no smell. Never run a portable generator indoors, in a garage, basement, shed or porch. Keep it at least 20 ft from the house with the exhaust pointed away, and put a CO alarm on every level. If you smell gas, leave the area and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
Price book
Planning ranges for typical homes in our area, before tax. The firm price is written after we have seen the site, and it includes the permit as its own line.
| Job | Range (USD) |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic visit Credited toward the repair if done on the same visit | $189 |
| Battery replacement Includes battery, terminals cleaned, charger tested | $180 to $280 |
| Spark plugs and ignition service Plugs, gap, wires checked, test run | $160 to $320 |
| Starter motor Part and labor, most air-cooled models | $450 to $850 |
| Fuel regulator or solenoid Including a fuel pressure test after | $350 to $700 |
| Transfer switch contactor When the unit runs but the house stays dark | $600 to $1,400 |
| Controller board Replaced and programmed to your exercise schedule | $900 to $1,800 |
Where quotes go above the range. Parts for older or less common brands can take one to three weeks. If a repair costs more than about half the price of a new unit, we will tell you plainly and show both numbers side by side.
How it goes
- 1 Call or send a photo A photo of the controller screen or light often tells us a lot.
- 2 Diagnostic visit Flat fee, quoted before we book. Usually within two to five business days.
- 3 Written fix Part, labor and price in writing before anything is ordered.
- 4 Repair and test We run it, test a transfer, and set the exercise schedule.
Questions about repair
Do you fix generators you did not install?
Yes. Most of our repair calls are on units someone else installed. We service most air-cooled and liquid-cooled home standby brands.
Can you come during an outage?
We run extra service hours during big outages. Plan members go first, then everyone else in the order they called. We give you an honest time window, not a promise we cannot keep.
Other services
Site visits are free
Ready to talk about repair?
Send the details in five short steps and we will call to book a visit, or start with the sizing calculator for an estimate.