Frequently Asked Questions

It is important to find out what does and does not come with the generator you are purchasing, e.g. transfer switch, composite pad (if not, cement slab may need to be poured, which may require a building permit being pulled), battery, engine oil, antifreeze, and dealer startup to validate warranty, etc.

At Colonial Generators, we include everything with your purchase so that your generator has everything you need to operate on the first day properly. All of our installed systems include cold weather gear and everything you need to run your generator. For a complete list of everything included with your generator purchase, get in touch with the experts at Colonial Generators.

Like anything, a generator does require some minimal preventative maintenance to keep it up and running. It’s a system that has a small engine, generates electricity, and burns fuel – either natural gas or propane. Every engine has moving parts that require a little maintenance to keep it healthy. Your generator, like your car, requires preventative maintenance. Here are some tips:

• Keep the generator free and clear of all snow and debris
• Check the oil regularly; keep extra oil on hand to add if needed (we can do this for you)
• If propane or diesel fueled, ensure adequate fuel supply

You should know how to obtain the error code from the generator in the event of troubleshooting. Our team will train you on this and monitor your system as well. This is something that the technician will review with you at the time of installation.

Please call the Colonial Generators offices with any questions that you may have about service, troubleshooting, and yearly preventative maintenance.

The power solutions that Colonial Generators utilizes are reliable, efficient, and worry-free. Permanent standby generators typically connect into homes through an automatic transfer switch, or ATS. When the power goes out, the ATS will sense the loss of power and automatically disconnect the main utility lines leading into your home. It does this so that when power is restored, you won’t have to worry about electricity from your generator damaging your home or feeding back into the main utility lines. Within 10 seconds, the generator will assume that the power outage is permanent, and it will fully activate and provide power to whatever circuits or appliances it is hooked into. Once the power is restored, the unit will automatically shut off and your utility power will resume its normal operation.

If you’re wondering how a standby generator will power your home, reach out to the experienced team at Colonial Generators.

We have two answers for this – both are yes.

Home Value: In most cases, having a generator installed will not only pay for itself, but it will increase the value of your home by several thousand dollars. Not to mention the money it can save you in basement repair costs – imagine that there’s a heavy rain and your sump pump has stopped working because you’ve lost power! It also can protect your home from frozen pipes if you were to lose your heat. At minimum, a generator provides great security from such an unfortunate occurrence. Generators can be extremely attractive to an informed buyer. In fact, many new home builders are now offering backup power systems as an optional item.

Peace of Mind: For those of us that have lost power before, the mere thought of losing power causes worry about many things – the health and welfare of our families, the lost food, potential broken pipes, water damage, and more. Knowing that you always have standby power provides peace of mind. The investment may be hard to calculate, but most of our clients now report the investment was well worth it.

Don’t fear another power outage – speak to the team at Colonial Generators about a generator installation today! We’ll work quickly to protect your family and restore your peace of mind.