5 Signs It's Time to Repair a Commercial Generator

Business Blog

For many different kinds of businesses, a generator is a critical part to keep your operations running. It's important to have a professional tackle any generator repair work before it starts presenting major problems. How are you supposed to tell when it's time to call in a commercial generator repair contractor, though?

Vibrations

Properly functioning generators may have a little hum to them, but they should not vibrate noticeably. Vibrations can cause internal components to fail, and they also may cause a generator to come loose from its moorings. Even if the system seems to be otherwise operating as normal, it's important to have a generator repair technician inspect it after you've noticed vibrations.

Smoke or Smells

Modern generators run very cleanly. While they might emit some white vapor, they shouldn't be producing smoke. Smoke is usually an indicator that you have failing components, slipping belts, burning lubricants, or fuel that hasn't burned completely. Any of those issues have the ability to end in a fire.

An odd smell might seem like a lesser problem. However, smells may track with most of the issues related to smoke.

Declining Fuel Efficiency

If you're using either a gasoline or natural gas generator, you should track how much fuel your generator is consuming, especially if the unit is old. If the fuel efficiency appears to be dropping, there's a good chance the system is compensating by burning harder. Bear in mind, though, that some high-demand applications can affect fuel efficiency, too. If you haven't run the unit in a high-demand setting, you should assume a drop in efficiency is a bad sign.

Reduced Output

The entire point of a generator is for you to get output from it. If you've observed a decline in output, it may be time for repairs. For example, you might see the system continue to run without keeping the lights as bright as necessary. Also, a drop in output may cause the system to strain. This may force it to fire up more often or run longer.

Damaged Electronics

Many electronic systems need to operate within normal voltage levels and frequencies. If they don't, they may fail. For example, you might see a computer power supply or motherboard fail while the generator is running. Backup batteries also tend to be sensitive to poorly-conditioned electricity supplies. If you see several electronics failing after the generator has been running, you may need to perform repairs to get the electricity conditioned properly for normal use.

For more information about commercial generator repair, contact a local business in your area to learn more.

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1 July 2021

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