Celco Heating and Air Conditioning Blog : Archive for the ‘Generators’ Category

Why You Need a Generator

Monday, February 14th, 2022

One of the most important aspects of a home is its power system. When disaster strikes, you want to know that your family and pets will be safe and warm, thanks to a properly installed generator.

This article will focus on why you need whole-house standby generators over portable ones.

But first things first, what’s the difference between portable and whole-house generators?

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Reasons to Consider a Whole Home Generator

Monday, October 26th, 2015

There have been a number of storms heading up the coast since August, and we have been lucky that they’ve missed us. But we won’t be lucky every time, and as we have seen, a lot of our weather has been extreme enough to shut down the power for several days at a time. One of the best ways to protect your family and your home during prolonged power outages is by installing a whole home generator. The electrical pros at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning have years of experience with whole home generators, but first, let’s take a look at some reasons why they are important.

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Is It Time for Generator Maintenance?

Monday, September 7th, 2015

Having a whole home generator can mean the difference between being safe and secure during a power outage and not. However, if your generator hasn’t been properly maintained, it may not work as needed when you need it most. This is why annual maintenance is highly recommended. As we officially enter hurricane season, it’s advisable that you schedule your generator in Westport, CT, for maintenance so that it is ready in case a storm blows our way.

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Can a Whole House Generator Keep My Air Conditioner Going?

Monday, June 1st, 2015

As we head into thunderstorm and hurricane season, it’s important to know that you have the backup power you may need in case of a power outage. The best way to ensure this is to install a whole house generator for your home in Westport, CT. While your air conditioner may not be at the top of the list for the systems you need to keep on, it may be for those in your home, especially those who are elderly and/or have medical conditions that can be exacerbated by hot, humid air. The experts at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning can help you size a generator for your home and install it so that it you have the power you need during an outage. How does a whole home generator provide this power? Let’s take a look.

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How to Keep a Whole-House Generator Working Properly

Friday, March 20th, 2015

You can protect your comfort and convenience in a number of ways, as there are so many different types of HVAC systems and various appliances out there today. However, most of these devices are of little use if there is no electricity available with which to power their electrical components. That is why investing in a whole-house generator is such a great idea. When you need quality generator services in Greenwich, you need only contact the professional whole-house generator technicians on the Celco Heating and Air Conditioning staff. Not only will we help you to find the perfect whole-house generator for your home and unique needs, but we will also ensure that your system is in fine working condition.

Of course, even the best whole-house generator is going to run into trouble if it is not properly maintained. Whole-house generators require regular, professional maintenance if they are to provide you with the quality performance that you need in order to live in uninterrupted comfort. You don’t use your generator all that often, hopefully, and in order to know that it will be there for you when you need it most, maintenance is an absolute must.

There are a few tasks which the homeowner can handle his or herself in an effort to keep their whole-house generator working at peak performance levels. For instance, you may choose to change the oil in your backup generator on your own. Just like with a car, keeping clean oil in your generator is key in maintaining the quality of its performance.

If you do change the oil in your generator, make sure that you replace the oil filter as well. It does not pay to cut corners even when completing the most basic maintenance tasks. You can also change the air filter in your generator if you so choose. This is probably the simplest step to take in order to keep your generator running properly.

Even if you are comfortable with completing these steps – and you must never do anything with generator which you are not comfortable with – it is still necessary to schedule routine maintenance services. There is just no better alternative if you hope to get the very best performance thhat your whole-house generator has to offer.

If you are ready to schedule professional generator services in Greenwich with technicians you can count on, give Celco Heating and Air Conditioning a call today.

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What Is an Automatic Standby Generator?

Thursday, January 8th, 2015

Years ago, it was unfathomable for a homeowner to have a generator available for backup power, a unit that was one only really found in hospitals and other emergency service locations. But these days, we rely on our home heating and air conditioning equipment and other electric appliances and fixtures to make it through the night. It’s not uncommon for a homeowner to have a portable generator, but these are most common for camping trips or plugging in one or two small applications. An automatic standby generator is a must-have in many homes since it can power all of the important appliances throughout the house.

An automatic standby generator is a large unit that sits outside of your house and is wired into the home, much like a standard two-part air conditioning system. When the automatic standby generator senses that there is no current running through the home, it activates within seconds, using natural gas or propane to run many or all of the most vital electrical components of a home.

A professional will need to help you choose the right automatic standby generator because the size of the unit your technician installs will depend on how many amps you need to energize. If you need to run an air conditioner in the event of an outage due to a family member’s medical needs or because an outage would make life unbearable, you’ll need a strong generator capable of powering a heavy-duty motor. If you only need to power the lights and a few basic necessities, you can spend less money on a smaller unit.

People choose to install generators for various comfort, health, or occupational reasons. But few homeowners think about the potential savings that goes along with a whole-home generator. During a power outage, a homeowner can lose hundreds of dollars in food due to spoiling, thousands repairing burst pipes, and hundreds on hotel costs or alternative living arrangements.

Contact us today to learn about your options for generators in New Haven, CT.

When you choose to speak with the experts at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning, you’ll get an honest assessment of your needs and professional installation and service.

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Why Schedule Maintenance for Your Automatic Standby Generator

Monday, October 20th, 2014

An automatic standby generator can keep your home and family members safe and comfortable in the event of a power outage. Power outages are a very real possibility here in Hamden, but your automatic standby generator switches on as soon as the electricity cuts out. This type of unit is wired to your home’s existing wiring system so that it can sense when there is no longer a current flowing through the home.

Homeowners choose automatic standby generator installation for a variety of reasons. For one, it’s never pleasant when the lights switch off and could even pose a safety issue in some cases. For people who work from home, a working computer and internet connection is a necessity, while other households may need electricity for medical equipment or other important components of the home. A shut-down heater or air conditioner can be another major problem for some homeowners, and a warm refrigerator can ruin hundreds of dollars of groceries quickly.

Maintaining Your Unit

If you own an automatic standby generator, it’s important to do all you can in order to ensure it kicks on as soon as you need it. You can test out the automatic standby generator by running it and checking for any error codes that indicate it is low on fuel or coolant. However, there may be other problems with your system that a maintenance technician can detect even sooner, to prevent problems from occurring later on.

There are a couple of reasons to schedule maintenance regularly with a trained electrician. For one, an electrician can catch any minor problems early on, to prevent them from developing into costly repairs. Second, electricians can replace spark plugs and any filters to ensure it’s in optimal condition and begins running immediately when it senses an outage. And a final reason to schedule maintenance is that your automatic standby generator may simply need a few adjustments from time to time to ward off repairs and keep it working at its best.

Your automatic standby generator should be in top shape year round because a power outage can occur when you least expect it.

Call the experts at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning for regular maintenance or if you’ve decided on automatic standby generator installation in Hamden.

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Repairs Your Generator May Need

Monday, September 8th, 2014

With the colder weather season approaching, you will probably start thinking more about your whole-house generator and if it is ready for the possibilities of power outages during stormy weather or other emergencies. A generator that needs repairs and is in danger of failing the moment it’s first needed is no better than no generator at all, so make sure that you have all necessary repairs for the system done before winter arrives.

The best way to discover if your generator needs repair work is to arrange for regular maintenance. You should always have an inspection and tune-up for the system during the fall so a technician can find out if there are any repairs the generator needs done.

To schedule maintenance for your generator, call Celco Heating and Air Conditioning. We specialize in maintenance, repair, and generator installation for Norwalk, CT.

What sort of repairs might a generator require before the winter? Here are few of the more common ones:

Sealing leaks

If your generator uses stored heating fuel (propane, oil, gasoline), it might develop leaks if left without attention for too long or if it sustains damage due to the weather. Technicians will locate any places where leaking is occurring during a maintenance check and handle the repairs to seal them up.

Repairing natural gas fuel line

If a connection to a municipal natural gas line is available, most homes rely on gas-powered generators because of their convenience and dependability. However, it’s possible for low-flow in the gas line to impair performance, or for the line to become blocked. Technicians can safely resolve this problem. (It is very important that you do not try to tamper with a natural gas line on your own.)

Replacing corroded spark plugs

Spark plugs can suffer from corrosion, causing them to fail. Usually, repair technician will simply replace the corroded plugs for new ones.

Lubricating motors

The motors inside the generator need to have occasional lubrication to keep them from suffering from mechanical stress and possibly burning out.

Fixing electrical components

Like spark plugs, the wiring in a generator can start to corrode over time, and this will affect the proper flow of voltage. Wiring can also fray, severing connections. Technicians will replace and tighten wiring where necessary.

Keep in mind that if your generator received poor, amateur installation in the first place, it will either encounter problems with overloading your home’s circuit breaker panel or fail to provide you with adequate power when you need it. There is usually little that can be done to repair a generator that is the wrong size for a home, and often the best route is to have professionals replace it with a new unit. If you think the only way to solve the repair problems is with new generator installation in Norwalk, CT, contact Celco Heating and Air Conditioning. We offer full service for generators and have 24-emergency service so your back-up generator is ready whenever you need it.

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3 Signs Your Generator Needs Repair

Friday, June 20th, 2014

Your generator can be a lifeline in an emergency, providing you with power, light and heat whenever disaster strikes. But in order for it to do its job, it needs to be ready to go on a moment’s notice. That means getting it tested on a regular basis and repaired in the event that something is wrong. If you need a specialist in generator repair, Westport has one, but how can you tell you require those kinds of services in the first place? Here are 3 signs your generator needs repair.

  • Worn electrical components. Any inspection of your generator should include a close look at the wires, buttons and other electrical elements. If they show signs of damage, the unit should probably be repaired. Those signs can include frayed wires, loose connectors, buttons that stay stuck when you press them or overloads that shut the generator down at inappropriate times. In addition, test the voltage on the battery and make sure it’s up to snuff. If it isn’t, you may need to get it replaced.
  • Leaks. The longer a generator lasts, the more likely it is to spring a leak from a hose, line or storage pan. Leaks can include oil or fuel (depending on the kind of generator you own) as well as coolant designed to keep the engine block from overheating. Check around it for puddles and call a technician if you spot any.
  • Trouble starting up or running. When generators sit for a long time, the lack of use can drain the battery, as well as damaging other parts of the engine. If your generator has a hard time starting up, or if it runs only fitfully, it’s time to call in a service technician.

In order to spot the signs that your generator needs repair, give it a thorough inspection at least once every few months, then run it for 15-30 minutes while checking for any trouble. If you notice a problem, then contact the experts at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning for help.

We’ll give your generator a thorough inspection to ensure it’s ready when you need it. In matters of generator repair, Westport residents know who to turn to. Give us a call to set up an appointment today!

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How to Maintain Your Generator

Friday, February 28th, 2014

Homeowners today are more aware than ever of the dangers of extended power outages due to storms, extreme cold weather, and other disasters. A whole-house generator is an important appliance to have connected to your home so that you and your family can remain safe and comfortable during a lengthy blackout. Especially with an automated generator, which turns on the moment that it detects a power outage, you’ll have your worries about power loss lessened.

Generators need regular maintenance to make sure they are ready to go when you need them. You don’t want to find out about a generator failure in the middle of a power outage! It’s easy to take the generator for granted because you only need it occasionally, so make an effort to routinely check on it—especially after it has had to run for any period of time.

Celco Heating and Air Conditioning can help you: we specialize in New Haven, CT generator installation, repair, and maintenance. Call us to sign up for regular maintenance on your generator.

Here Are Some Maintenance Tips

  • Check on the oil: No matter the power source, oil is a crucial element to keep the generator running without too much stress. Make a routine check on the oil level, just as you would with a car. The oil and the oil filter should be changed after 200 hours of operation.
  • Inspect the air cleaner and spark plugs: Have a professional change them if anything looks wrong. Also, you should have both changed every two years.
  • Inspect the battery: Look for similar problems as you would with a car battery: loose cables and corrosion along the connections.
  • Schedule professional maintenance: Although the above checks are all ones you can do yourself, it takes a professional to give your generator a thorough inspection and tune-up to make sure it is working its best and has no impending repair needs. Regular maintenance will include changing the oil and the oil filter, as well as the spark plug and air cleaner replacements as needed.

Look to Celco Heating and Air Conditioning to Take Care of Your Generator

Our staff at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning takes seriously our commitment to protecting you and your family with the installation, repair, and maintenance of your generator in New Haven, CT. If you want to make certain your generator is ready to handle the next major power outage, give us a call today and sign up for regular maintenance visits. Trust us with all of your HVAC service needs in New Haven, CT, and we’ll make sure you are satisfied with our work!

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