A generator that hasn’t been touched since last season is the most common reason homeowners end up without power in the middle of a storm. The unit sat, the fuel degraded, the battery weakened, and the weekly self-test never caught any of it. That brief automatic run every seven days confirms the engine turns over. It doesn’t tell you whether the system can carry your full electrical load for 48 hours straight.
Tallahassee area homes fall under one of two electric providers: City of Tallahassee Utilities within the city limits, and Talquin Electric Cooperative across portions of Leon, Gadsden, Liberty, and Wakulla counties. Knowing which one serves your address matters the moment a named storm makes landfall, because outage reporting and restoration updates run through entirely different channels. A working generator buys you independence from that timeline. Our team at Weston Trawick is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you’ll always reach a live voice when you call (850) 299-0431.
The checklist below is organized the way a technician works through a unit before hurricane season: engine first, then the starting system, then fuel, then the electrical connection points that require a licensed hand.
Why Hurricane Season Puts Extra Strain on Generators
The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with historical activity typically peaking in September. That’s a six-month window, and it follows the hottest part of the year in North Florida, which is exactly when generator batteries are already under the most stress. Heat accelerates internal discharge and plate corrosion, so a unit that tested fine in March may have significantly less cold-cranking capacity by the time a storm warning goes up in August.
Extended outages mean the generator isn’t just running for a few hours; it’s often running continuously. USDA guidance puts refrigerated food at roughly four hours before it enters unsafe temperature ranges, while a full freezer can hold safe temperatures for about 48 hours. That difference matters when you’re deciding whether to run the generator on critical circuits only or carry a full load. Either way, the unit needs to be ready for sustained operation, not just a seven-minute self-test.
The Core Pre-Season Maintenance Checklist
A thorough pre-season review moves in a logical order: engine service, battery and starting system, fuel supply, and a real load test. After those four categories, the electrical connection points (specifically the transfer switch and wiring) get their own step because that work belongs to a licensed electrician.
Oil, Filters & Engine Care
For home standby generators, Generac recommends annual service or service every 100 hours of runtime, whichever comes first. Annual service typically covers an oil and filter change, air filter inspection and replacement, spark plug check, and a full operational review. A portable generator used infrequently still needs its oil changed at least once a year regardless of runtime, because oil oxidizes and loses its protective properties sitting in the crankcase.
Walk around the unit and check the exterior for debris, corrosion, and any signs of pest activity. Spiders and wasps build nests in generator housings during dormant months, and a blocked exhaust port is a carbon monoxide risk before it’s an engine problem. Clear the area around a standby unit so there’s at least three feet of clearance on all sides for airflow.
Battery, Starting System & Remote Monitoring
A weak battery is the most common reason a standby generator fails to start during an actual outage. When the automatic transfer switch detects grid power loss and signals the generator to start, the engine has to answer immediately. A battery that shows adequate voltage at rest may not deliver enough cold-cranking amps under load to fire the engine in under ten seconds.
Most generator batteries need replacement every two to three years. Given Florida heat, plan toward the shorter end of that range. If your battery is approaching two years old and you don’t have a service record showing a recent load test, replace it before June.
Remote monitoring platforms like Generac’s Mobile Link are worth setting up before hurricane season if you haven’t already. The system sends notifications when a self-test fails or a fault code appears, so you can catch a starting problem on a calm Tuesday in April rather than when the grid goes down during a storm. It also logs runtime hours, which helps track when the next service interval is due.
Fuel & Load Testing
The weekly exercise cycle that standby generators run automatically isn’t a load test. It starts the engine and lets it idle. It doesn’t simulate what happens when the unit is powering your HVAC, refrigerator, and lights simultaneously. Running the generator under a realistic electrical load for 15 to 20 minutes can reveal voltage drop issues, overheating patterns, and fuel delivery problems that a brief idle never surfaces.
For portable generators, gasoline stored longer than about 90 days should be replaced or treated with a fuel stabilizer. Ethanol-blended fuel, which is standard at most Florida gas stations, absorbs moisture and breaks down faster than ethanol-free alternatives. Gummed-up carburetors from degraded fuel are one of the most common portable generator repair calls we see after storm season. Filling up with fresh fuel immediately before a storm is fine; storing old fuel in the tank for months and expecting it to perform isn’t.
Propane and natural gas standby units don’t carry the same degradation risk, but they still need their fuel supply lines and connections inspected annually for corrosion or leaks before the high-demand season begins.
Transfer Switch & Wiring: What a Licensed Electrician Needs to See
The automatic transfer switch is the most safety-critical component in any standby generator system, and it’s the one part of this checklist that isn’t a do-it-yourself inspection. Backfeed occurs when a generator pushes electricity back onto the utility line and can electrocute line workers who believe they’re working on a de-energized circuit. A code-compliant transfer switch prevents that by isolating your home’s electrical system from the grid before the generator comes online. Florida’s electrical code requires licensed installation and inspection of this connection.
A pre-season electrical inspection covers the transfer switch for signs of corrosion, burning, or loose connections, the wiring between the generator and the transfer switch, and any load-balancing adjustments needed if you’ve added circuits or changed major appliances since the system was installed. Our licensed electricians handle this work for systems we originally installed and for existing systems where a homeowner needs a reliable service provider going forward.
Two Items Most Homeowners Overlook
Before you consider the list complete, add these.
Carbon Monoxide Detection
Generators produce CO at levels that can be fatal within minutes in an enclosed or semi-enclosed space. Every CO detector in the home should have fresh batteries before hurricane season starts, and portable generators should operate no closer than 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents. No exceptions during a storm, even in heavy rain.
Florida’s Year-Round Sales Tax Exemption
If you’ve been putting off purchasing a portable generator rated 10 kW or less, replacement batteries, or CO alarms, Florida’s sales tax exemption on those items became permanent on August 1, 2025, under Section 46, Chapter 2025-208, Laws of Florida. That exemption used to apply only during a two-week disaster preparedness holiday each spring; now it applies year-round. It’s a meaningful discount on the exact items this checklist covers.
Get It Done Before September
Most of what causes a generator to fail during a storm comes down to items that take an hour to check before the season starts: oil and filters that were never changed, a battery that’s two years past due, fuel that’s been sitting since October. The transfer switch needs a licensed eye on it. Not as extra caution, but because it’s the difference between a backup power system that protects your home and one that creates a hazard for the crews restoring your neighborhood’s power.
If you’d rather not work through that list alone, Weston Trawick provides pre-season generator service in Tallahassee and the surrounding North Florida area. Call (850) 299-0431 to schedule an inspection before the season hits its peak.