Generator Repair in Myrtle Beach, SC
A dead or corroded battery is the single most common reason a standby generator fails to start, followed by a fuel supply problem, a tripped safety switch, or a failed control board. Most of these are diagnosed in one visit.
Standard scheduling runs during regular business hours. Ahead-of-storm-season demand books out early — see the hurricane prep guide for timing.
Why won't my generator start when the power goes out?
A generator that hasn't run in a while is especially prone to this. The weekly self-test cycle most standby units run is designed to catch a battery going weak before you actually need the machine, but it doesn't catch everything.
Common failures
What Actually Fails Most Often on a Standby Unit?
Batteries fail first, more often than anything else. Most standby generators use a small starting battery similar in concept to a car battery, and it degrades over 2 to 4 years even if the unit itself is fine, faster in outdoor heat and humidity.
Transfer switch relays and control boards are next. A relay that's stuck or a control board that's lost its programming can mean the generator runs fine on its own but never actually switches your house over, which looks like total failure but is really a switching problem, not an engine problem.
Fuel supply issues show up more on propane systems, where a nearly empty tank, a closed valve, or a regulator problem stops fuel delivery without an obvious external sign. Natural gas systems are less prone to this since the fuel supply is continuous as long as utility gas service is intact.
Less common but real: a stale fuel or clogged carburetor issue on units that sit unused for long stretches, and a blown fuse or tripped breaker on the generator's own control circuit, which is sometimes the entire fix.
What you get
What's Included in a Repair Call?
- Full diagnosticBattery, control board, transfer switch, and fuel supply checked in sequence, not a guess at the first thing that looks wrong.
- Common parts on the truckBatteries, fuses and common relay components are typically stocked, so a simple fix often happens same visit.
- Control board and software checksMany modern standby units have diagnostic codes readable from the control panel, which speeds up an accurate diagnosis.
- A written explanationWhat actually failed and why, in plain terms, before any repair beyond the initial diagnostic is authorized.
- Repair-vs-replace guidance when it's closeAn honest read on whether a specific repair is worth it on an older unit, not an automatic push toward replacement.
Step by step
How Does a Repair Visit Go?
Describe the symptom when you call
Time on site · 5 minutesWon't start, starts but doesn't transfer, runs rough: the more specific you can be, the faster the visit goes.
On-site diagnostic
Time on site · 30-60 minutesBattery voltage, control board status, transfer switch operation and fuel supply checked in order.
Written repair quote
Time on site · same visitA price for the actual fix, confirmed before any parts beyond the diagnostic itself are replaced.
Repair completed and tested
Time on site · varies by repairFix made, then the unit is run through a test cycle to confirm the actual failure is resolved, not just masked.
A generator that's confirmed working through an actual test run, with a plain explanation of what failed, not just a part swapped and hoped for.
What it runs
What Does Generator Repair Cost?
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic visit / per visitOften credited toward the repair if you move forward the same visit. | $100-$250 |
| Battery replacement / part + laborThe most common single repair on a standby unit. | $50-$200 |
| Transfer switch fault or control board repair / repairWider range because control boards vary significantly by brand and model. | $400-$1,500 |
| Fuel system repair / repairRegulator, valve or line issues, more common on propane systems than natural gas. | $150-$500 |
| Most common repairs overall / repairThe high end covers a major failure like a bad alternator or engine issue, which is less common than a simple part fix. | around $200 typical, $50-$2,500 full range |
These are typical ranges for Grand Strand; your exact price is confirmed after the diagnostic identifies the actual failure.
If a repair estimate is approaching a large share of what a new unit costs, ask directly about the replacement option instead.
Straight answers
Why won't my generator start when the power goes out?
A dead or corroded battery is the most common cause, followed by a fuel supply issue, a tripped safety switch, or a failed control board. Most of these are found and fixed in a single diagnostic visit.
My generator runs but the house doesn't switch over: what's wrong?
That points to the transfer switch, not the generator engine, usually a stuck relay or a control board that's lost its programming. It's a common, usually fixable issue that's often confused for total generator failure.
How much does generator repair typically cost?
Most common repairs run around $200, with a full range from about $50 for a simple part to $2,500 for a major failure. Battery replacement is the most frequent single repair at $50 to $200.
Is a generator battery something I can replace myself?
It's mechanically simple, but confirming the battery is actually the failure (versus a charging-circuit or control-board issue that's draining a good battery) is where a proper diagnostic earns its cost. A battery that keeps dying after replacement usually means the real problem wasn't the battery.
How fast can you get to a generator repair call?
Most repair calls are scheduled within a few days under normal conditions. During or right after a regional storm event, when every generator technician in Grand Strand is stacked with calls, that window can stretch. We'll tell you honestly if that's happening rather than guess at an arrival time.
At what point is it cheaper to replace than repair?
When a single repair estimate approaches a meaningful share of what a comparable new unit costs, or the generator is well past its typical 12-20 year service life. See the generator replacement page for a fuller repair-vs-replace comparison.
Locked in.
Book it before the forecast turns.
A quick diagnostic tells you exactly what's wrong and what it costs to fix, before you decide whether repair or replacement makes more sense.
Call it in or send the details — a real quote comes back either way.