Yes — Done’s electricians work on whole-home standby generators, including diagnosis, repair, and maintenance. A standby generator that fails to start or run properly during a power outage defeats its entire purpose, so Done treats generator calls with the same urgency as other electrical service calls. Whether your generator won’t crank, runs rough, or throws a fault code, Done can diagnose the problem and get it corrected.

Why Whole-Home Generators Need Professional Service

Standby generators are complex systems that combine a natural gas or propane engine with a generator head, an automatic transfer switch (ATS), a battery, control electronics, and a fuel supply connection. Problems can originate in any of those subsystems. The ATS is the component that senses a grid outage and signals the generator to start — if the ATS fails, your generator may never receive the start command. Engine issues (low oil, stale fuel, a weak battery, or a failed starter) can prevent the unit from cranking. Control board faults, governor problems, or output voltage irregularities affect the power quality the generator delivers.

Because generators involve both high-voltage electrical output and a running combustion engine fueled by natural gas or propane, repairs are not DIY territory. Done’s electricians are licensed for the electrical side of the work; generator repairs that involve the engine or fuel system may also involve a generator-certified technician depending on the scope.

Common Generator Problems Done Diagnoses

  • Generator won’t start automatically during an outage (often an ATS or battery issue)
  • Generator starts but shuts down after a few seconds (low oil shutoff, governor, or overload)
  • Fault codes on the control panel indicating engine or electrical faults
  • Generator runs but output voltage or frequency is outside spec (can damage appliances)
  • Transfer switch won’t switch back to utility power after the outage
  • Generator runs during weekly self-test but won’t start on demand

Generator Maintenance on the Front Range

Colorado’s climate affects generator performance and maintenance intervals. Cold Front Range winters are hard on generator batteries — the same cold that drains a car battery overnight can leave a standby generator with a battery too weak to crank on a -5°F January morning when the grid goes down during a winter storm. Battery testing and replacement on a regular schedule is one of the most important generator maintenance tasks. Done recommends testing your generator battery annually and replacing it every three to four years proactively, rather than waiting for a failure during an outage.

Wildfire smoke season also creates conditions that clog air filters faster than normal. A generator running on a dirty air filter runs rich, produces more carbon monoxide, and is more likely to fault. If you’re in a smoke-prone area on the Front Range — foothills communities, neighborhoods west of I-25 — more frequent filter checks during fire season make sense.

New Generator Installation and Transfer Switch Upgrades

If your existing generator is beyond repair or you’re adding whole-home backup power for the first time, Done handles new generator installations and transfer switch upgrades. Sizing a standby generator correctly for your home involves calculating your load requirements — particularly if you have an electric vehicle charger, a well pump, central air conditioning, or electric heat — and matching that load to a generator with the right kilowatt output. Done can assess your home, recommend the appropriate generator size, and coordinate the gas utility connection and permit process.

Schedule Generator Service with Done

Generator repairs and tune-ups are best handled before you need the generator — not during an outage when the service queue fills fast. Done recommends a generator tune-up once a year, ideally in late summer before Colorado’s fall and winter storm season begins. Visit our backup power and generator services page to schedule service or learn more about installation options. For electrical emergencies — including a generator that’s failed during an active outage — Done’s emergency electrical team is available around the clock.