Each brand of standby generator works a little differently, but the same things often go wrong. Here are some checks you can do yourself. Sometimes the fix is very simple.

Before you start

• Only touch the control panel, switches and breakers described below. Don’t take anything apart.
• These checks are for home standby generators, the kind wired into your house. We don’t service portable generators or give advice on those.

Check 1: Is it switched on and set to AUTO?

A standby generator only starts by itself when its control panel is set to AUTO. Generators are sometimes left in OFF after a service visit or a test, so this is the first thing to look at.

For Generac Generators

Open the lid and look at the control panel and the lights on the side of the unit.

(This section covers all Generac home standby generators, including the newer Generac Nouvelle Génération line, which is what we install now. Older Generac units are called Guardian. Next Gen units have lights but no screen.)

What you see	What it means and what to do
Red light on, not flashing	The generator is switched OFF, so it won’t start when the power goes out. Press AUTO on the control panel. The green light should come on. On older Guardian units, a solid red light can also mean the generator shut itself down because of a fault. If the red light stays on after you press AUTO, go to Check 5.
Red light flashing (Next Gen)	The generator has found a fault. This usually needs a technician. If you have the Mobile Link app, check it for the message. Go to Check 5.
Green light on, not flashing	The generator is in AUTO and sees normal power from the utility. That’s the right light when the power is on. If the power is out and the green light is still solid, the generator may think the power is fine, so it hasn’t started. That can mean the problem isn’t the street power. For example, the main breaker in your own electrical panel may have tripped, or the power may be out only at your house. Check your main breaker, then go to Check 4. If everything is on and your house is still dark, call us.
Green light flashing (Next Gen)	A green light that flashes every 2 seconds means the power just went out and the generator is waiting a short time before it starts. Give it a moment. If your lights are still off while the green light is flashing for an extended period of time, go to Check 4.
Yellow light on	A maintenance reminder or a warning, such as a battery inspection. The generator will usually still run, so it isn’t normally the reason a generator won’t start. Tell us about it when you call. The yellow light can appear together with the red or green light.
No lights, or a blank screen (Guardian)	The generator’s controller may not be getting power or may not be responding, so the generator can’t start. Possible causes include a discharged battery, a blown fuse or a loose connection inside the control panel. Fixing these means opening up the generator, which is a job for a technician. Call us at 613-222-0196 and tell us what you see.
No lights (Next Gen)	Next Gen units have no screen, so the side lights are the only status display. If none of them come on, the controller may not be getting power. Fixing that means opening up the generator, which is a job for a technician.

For Champion Generators

Open the lid and look at the screen on the control panel. Champion units also have a warning light on the back of the generator, which you can check without opening anything.

What you see	What it means and what to do
Screen shows OFF	The generator is switched off and won’t start when the power goes out. Press AUTO.
A red icon on the screen, or the warning light on the back is on	The generator has found a fault and has shut itself down. It won’t start again until the fault is cleared. Go to Check 5. A red low battery or maintenance icon is the exception. The generator should still run, but tell us about it when you call.
Screen shows AUTO and no red icon	The generator is ready. If the power is out and it still hasn’t started, go to Check 2.
Screen is blank	The controller may not be getting power or may not be responding. Call us and tell us what you see.

Check 2: Are the shutdown switches on?

For Generac Generators

Guardian units have a switch on the back of the generator. Make sure it is in the I (closed) position. The O position stops the generator from running. If your generator is 13 kW or larger, there’s also a switch on the inside panel, so check that too.

For Champion Generators

There are two engine switches, one inside the enclosure and one on the back. Make sure both are ON.

Check 3: Is there fuel?

This applies to every brand. Low or no fuel is one of the most common reasons a generator cranks but won’t start.

• Propane: check that the tank isn’t empty and that the tank valve is open.
• Natural gas: check that the gas valve to the generator is open, and that gas is working elsewhere in the house, such as the stove or furnace.

If you smell gas

If you smell gas near the generator or in your home, follow the emergency instructions in your generator’s owner’s manual and the guidance from your gas supplier. Once you’re out of danger, call us. A fuel smell or leak means the generator needs to be serviced and checked before it’s used again.

Check 4: Is the generator’s main breaker on?

If the generator is running (or its green light is flashing) but your house has no power, a tripped generator breaker may be the reason. Find the main breaker on the generator and make sure it’s in the ON position. If it keeps tripping, don’t keep resetting it. Contact us.

Check 5: Is there a fault?

If a fault is showing, such as a flashing red light on a Next Gen or an alarm on the screen of a Guardian, you can try clearing it once, but only after you’ve dealt with the likely cause, such as a closed fuel valve. Never clear an alarm without checking the cause first.

Generac

• Next Gen: hold the OFF button for at least three seconds, until the red light is solid. Then press AUTO.
• Guardian: press OFF, then ENTER, then AUTO.

Champion

Press OFF to reset, then AUTO.

If the alarm comes back, stop and call us. Don’t keep resetting it.

Cold weather

Generators have a harder time starting in cold weather. In very low temperatures a battery can lose enough power that the generator won’t start, even though nothing looks wrong. Warming or replacing a battery means opening the unit, so call us. A cold weather kit helps prevent this.

Still not working? Call us

If you’ve been through the checks and the generator still won’t start, call 613-222-0196.

What to tell us when you call

• The brand and the model (usually on a label on the unit).
• Which lights are on, or what the screen says.
• Whether it’s propane or natural gas.
• When it was last serviced.
• What you’ve already checked.