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If your standby generator won’t start, throws an error code, or failed its own self-test, Neighbors Electric repairs and services standby generators for homeowners in Fort Worth and DFW. This page covers repair and maintenance of a generator you already own. If you’re shopping for a new standby unit instead, see our whole-home generator installation page. Our promise on repair calls is simple: we’ll tell you what’s actually wrong, what it costs to fix, and whether the fix is worth it compared to the age and condition of the unit.

Common Reasons a Standby Generator Won’t Start

Most standby generators fail for a small handful of reasons, and most of them show up as a code on the controller before the unit fully quits.

• Battery. The starting battery is the single most common point of failure. Standby generators run a weekly self-test, and a weak battery can pass the self-test but fail during an actual outage when the load is higher.
• Fuel supply issues. A closed valve, a fuel line problem, or (for propane units) a tank running lower than the gauge suggests. Natural gas units can also lose pressure if a regulator is failing.
• Transfer switch faults. The automatic transfer switch (ATS) is what actually moves your home’s load from utility power to the generator. If the ATS has a stuck contact, a failed relay, or a control board issue, the generator itself can run fine and the power still won’t transfer.
• Error codes on the controller. Codes for low oil pressure, overspeed, overcrank, or a sensor fault will shut the unit down as a safety measure. The code tells us where to start, not always the final answer.
• Dead or corroded connections. Outdoor equipment in Texas heat and humidity is exposed to corrosion at battery terminals and wiring connections over time.

Why Standby Generators Need Regular Service

A standby generator is different from a portable one: it sits outside your house year-round, running a brief self-test on its own schedule, and it’s expected to start instantly and carry your home’s full load during an outage, often in bad weather. That expectation only holds up if the unit gets serviced.

The self-test is useful, but it’s a light load for a short window. It can pass for months while a battery weakens, an air filter clogs, or oil breaks down, and none of that shows up until the generator is actually asked to carry a real load during a storm. Annual maintenance, done before storm season, is what catches these issues while they’re still cheap and simple to fix rather than during an outage when you need the unit most.

What Our Standby Generator Maintenance Includes

• Battery test and terminal cleaning
• Oil and filter check, or full service depending on hours run
• Transfer switch inspection and contact check
• Fuel system check, including line connections and pressure where applicable
• Controller diagnostics and error code review
• A test run under load, not just the self-test

What Our Repair Service Includes

When you call about a generator that won’t start or is throwing a fault code, we start by pulling the code history off the controller, which usually narrows the problem before we ever open a panel. From there:

• Diagnosis of the actual fault (battery, fuel, transfer switch, controller, or sensor)
• A clear explanation of what’s wrong before any repair work starts
• Repair or replacement of the failed component
• A full test run to confirm the fix holds under load, not just at idle

If the unit is old enough that repair costs are approaching what a new installation would run, we’ll say so. Our generator cost guide breaks down what installation typically runs, and our standby vs. portable generator guide is worth reading if you’re deciding whether standby is even the right fit for your situation.

When to Schedule Service

The best time to service a standby generator is before you need it, not during an outage when every technician in DFW is booked out. Spring, ahead of Texas storm season, is the usual window for annual maintenance. If your generator hasn’t run a load test in the last twelve months, or if you inherited a unit with an older home and have no service history on it, that’s also a reasonable time to have it checked rather than wait for a storm to test it for you.

If your unit is still under a manufacturer warranty, keep in mind that most warranties require documented annual maintenance to stay valid. Skipping service doesn’t just risk a failure, it can also void coverage on a repair that would otherwise have been paid for.

Why Hire a Licensed Electrician for Generator Repair

A standby generator connects to your home’s electrical panel through a transfer switch, and it’s fed by a fuel line. Diagnosing and repairing it means working safely around both a live electrical connection and, for many units, a gas or propane supply. Neighbors Electric holds an active Texas electrical license, TECL #41555, and we’re direct about the limits of that: on gas-side fuel issues, we’ll coordinate with a licensed gas technician when the problem is on that side of the system rather than guess at it ourselves.

Honest, Flat-Rate Pricing on Diagnosis

We quote generator repair as a flat diagnostic fee to identify the problem, then a flat rate for the repair itself once we know what’s actually wrong, typically based on the part and labor involved. We won’t start replacing components on a guess, and we’ll walk you through the cost before doing the work, not after.

Schedule Generator Repair or Maintenance in Fort Worth

If your generator won’t start, is throwing an error code, or just hasn’t been serviced in the last year, call Neighbors Electric at (817) 533-0943 or contact us online. We serve Fort Worth, Crowley, and the surrounding DFW area, and we can also look at your whole-house surge protection while we’re there, since a generator and a surge protector solve two different problems and a lot of homeowners end up wanting both.

Helpful guides

Learn more before you call:

• Why Won’t My Generator Start?
• How Often Should a Standby Generator Be Serviced?
• Does a Generator Need a Transfer Switch?