Frequently Asked
Questions

Allan Dearth & Sons Generators specializes in generator sales, installation, service, maintenance, warranty support, and repairs. Since 2007, our team has helped homeowners and businesses across Western North Carolina and Northeast Georgia keep reliable backup power ready when outages happen.

Generators are not just something we do. Generators are all we do.

Have Generator Questions?

Call Allan Dearth & Sons Generators.

Whether you need a new standby generator, routine maintenance, emergency repairs, warranty support, or a service agreement, Allan Dearth & Sons Generators is ready to help.

Since 2007, our family-owned team has focused exclusively on generators. We sell, install, service, maintain, and repair home standby and commercial generators across Western North Carolina and Northeast Georgia.

Call Allan Dearth & Sons Generators today to schedule your free home survey or generator service.

General Generator Questions

  • Allan Dearth & Sons provides generator sales, installation, routine maintenance, emergency repairs, warranty support, and service agreements for home standby and commercial generators, including Generac, Kohler, and Cummins systems.

  • A standby generator automatically provides backup power when your utility power goes out. It can power selected circuits or a whole home, depending on the system size and installation design.

  • A standby generator helps protect comfort, safety, food, medical equipment, home offices, security systems, heating, cooling, and essential appliances during power outages.

  • Yes. A standby generator is permanently installed and starts automatically during an outage. A portable generator is manually operated, usually requires refueling, and typically powers fewer items.

  • Most home standby generators are designed to turn on automatically when they detect a power outage. Once utility power returns, the system transfers power back and shuts down.

  • Run time depends on fuel supply, generator condition, load demand, and manufacturer specifications. Proper maintenance is important before any extended outage.

  • Generator size depends on what you want to power. Essential circuits require less capacity than whole-home backup. A professional assessment helps determine the right size.

  • Yes, many standby generators can be designed to power an entire home. The right system depends on home size, electrical load, fuel type, and customer priorities.

  • A standby generator may power HVAC systems, refrigerators, lights, outlets, well pumps, medical equipment, security systems, internet equipment, and other essentials, depending on system size.

  • Yes. Mountain weather, storms, ice, wind, trees, and rural utility lines can all contribute to outages. A standby generator helps keep homes and businesses running when power is interrupted.

Generator sales & installation

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons provides generator sales and installation for homeowners and businesses needing reliable backup power.

  • Allan Dearth & Sons is an authorized dealer for Generac, Kohler, and Cummins generators and provides service support for those brands.

  • A generator estimate typically reviews your home or business, power needs, fuel source, installation location, electrical setup, and backup power priorities.

  • Yes. A home survey helps determine the right generator size, placement, fuel requirements, electrical needs, and installation plan.

  • Yes. Some customers choose essential circuits, while others prefer whole-home backup. The best option depends on your budget, needs, and electrical load.

  • Installation timing depends on generator availability, permitting, site conditions, electrical work, fuel connections, and scheduling. Allan Dearth & Sons can explain the process during your estimate.

  • Standby generators are typically installed outside the home or business on a stable surface in a location that meets manufacturer, code, clearance, and service access requirements.

  • No. Standby generator installation requires professional electrical work, fuel connections, transfer switch installation, code compliance, and proper system testing.

  • A transfer switch safely transfers power from the utility to the generator during an outage. It is a key part of a standby generator system.

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons provides generator solutions for both residential and commercial customers.

home standby generators

  • A home standby generator is a permanently installed backup power system that automatically starts when utility power fails.

  • Homeowners who want protection for food, comfort, HVAC, medical equipment, home offices, security systems, wells, or daily routines should consider a standby generator.

  • Yes. Automatic standby generators can turn on during an outage even if you are not home, helping protect key systems and appliances.

  • Yes. A properly sized generator can help keep internet equipment, computers, lighting, outlets, and other home office essentials running during an outage.

  • Yes, if the generator is sized and configured properly. Well pumps are often a major reason homeowners choose standby backup power.

  • Yes, but HVAC systems require proper sizing consideration. A professional assessment is important before assuming a generator can support heating or cooling equipment.

commercial generators

  • Many businesses benefit from standby generators because outages can disrupt operations, security systems, refrigeration, customer service, technology, and revenue.

  • Commercial generators may support offices, retail stores, restaurants, medical offices, farms, rental properties, hospitality businesses, and other operations that need reliable power.

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons works on home standby and commercial generators.

  • Service frequency depends on usage, manufacturer recommendations, environment, and business needs. Commercial systems may require more frequent inspection than residential systems.

  • Preventive maintenance helps reduce the risk of failure during an outage, protects equipment, and supports business continuity.

generator maintenance

  • Many standby generators should be serviced at least once a year. Allan Dearth & Sons also offers bi-annual maintenance agreements for customers who want more frequent care.

  • Maintenance helps ensure the generator starts, transfers power, runs properly, and performs when an outage happens.

  • Maintenance may include checking battery health, electrical connections, spark plugs, coolant, belts, hoses, filters, oil, exhaust, output, transfer operation, and overall system condition.

  • Yes. Like other engine-powered equipment, many generators require oil and filter changes based on manufacturer recommendations and run time.

  • Yes. Battery condition is critical because a weak battery can prevent the generator from starting during an outage.

  • Skipping maintenance can lead to starting problems, reduced performance, avoidable repairs, warranty issues, or generator failure during an outage.

  • Yes. Routine service can identify worn parts, weak batteries, leaks, connection issues, and other problems before they become urgent.

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons services generators regardless of who installed them or where they were purchased.

  • Allan Dearth & Sons is qualified to work on all brands of home standby and commercial generators, including Generac, Kohler, and Cummins.

generator service agreements

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons offers service agreements to help keep generators clean, maintained, inspected, and ready for outages.

  • A service agreement helps keep maintenance on schedule so customers do not have to remember when service is due.

  • A bi-annual service agreement typically includes two service visits per year, giving the generator more frequent inspection and maintenance.

  • An annual service agreement usually includes one scheduled service visit per year for customers who prefer once-a-year generator maintenance.

  • The right plan depends on your generator, usage, location, outage history, manufacturer recommendations, and how much preventive care you prefer.

  • Service visits may include operational testing, voltage and hertz checks, and transfer testing to confirm the generator functions properly.

  • A key benefit of a service agreement is that maintenance can be scheduled proactively, so customers do not have to remember service timing on their own.

Generator Repairs & Emergency Service

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons provides generator repairs and emergency service for home standby and commercial generators.

  • Common issues may include weak batteries, control board problems, fuel issues, starter problems, coolant leaks, dirty filters, worn belts, sensor faults, or transfer switch issues.

  • Call a generator service professional. A technician can diagnose the issue and determine whether the problem involves the battery, fuel, controls, electrical connections, or another component.

  • Yes. A generator can fail during an outage if it has not been maintained, has a weak battery, has a fault code, or has a mechanical or electrical issue.

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons provides repair and emergency service when customers need generator help in difficult outage situations.

  • No. Generator repairs can involve electrical, fuel, mechanical, and safety issues. Professional service is the safest approach.

  • Helpful information includes generator brand, model, age, error codes, last service date, symptoms, fuel type, and whether the generator is running or completely off.

warranty support

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons provides warranty repairs for Kohler, Generac, and Cummins generators, whether they installed the unit or not.

  • Not always. Allan Dearth & Sons provides warranty support for major brands, even when they did not install the generator.

  • Warranty service helps protect the customer’s investment and ensures covered issues are handled according to manufacturer requirements.

  • Yes. Lack of maintenance may affect warranty protection. Keeping service records and following manufacturer recommendations is important.

Generac Generator Questions

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons is an authorized Generac dealer and provides Generac installation, service, repair, and warranty support.

  • Many Generac home standby generators are designed to start automatically during a power outage and transfer power to the home.

  • Yes. Generac generators need regular maintenance to help ensure reliable operation, protect performance, and support warranty requirements.

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons can provide Generac service and repairs even if another company installed the unit.

  • Allan Dearth & Sons Generators is based in Scaly Mountain, North Carolina, and also has a Lakemont, Georgia office serving Rabun County and surrounding areas.

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons serves customers across Western North Carolina, including mountain communities that rely on dependable backup power.

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons serves Northeast Georgia, including Rabun County and nearby communities through its Lakemont office.

  • Based on regional listings, Allan Dearth & Sons serves communities including Highlands, Cashiers, Franklin, Scaly Mountain, Sylva, and surrounding Western North Carolina areas.

  • Local generator service matters because weather, terrain, outage patterns, fuel access, and response times are different in mountain communities.

Local Service Area Questions

  • The best time to buy a generator is before storm season, winter weather, or a major outage. Planning ahead gives more time for proper sizing, installation, and scheduling.

  • Waiting until after an outage can create delays because demand often increases after storms. It is better to plan before you urgently need backup power.

  • Whole-home backup supports more of the house. Essential-circuit backup focuses on priority items. A professional survey helps determine the right setup.

  • Financing may be available depending on brand, program, and eligibility. Customers should contact Allan Dearth & Sons to discuss current options.

  • Generator lifespan depends on brand, installation quality, maintenance, usage, environment, and service history. Routine maintenance helps protect long-term performance.

  • A standby generator can make a home more attractive to buyers who value comfort, safety, convenience, and outage protection, especially in areas with frequent power interruptions.

Buying & Planning Questions

Storm & Seasonal Preparedness

  • Pre-season service helps confirm the generator starts, transfers power, and operates properly before outages become more likely.

  • Cold weather can stress batteries, fluids, belts, hoses, and starting systems. Winter service helps reduce the risk of failure during ice, snow, or freezing temperatures.

  • Make sure your generator has been serviced, clear debris around the unit, review basic operating information, and call for service if there are warning lights or fault codes.

  • Yes, if the generator is sized to power the refrigerator or freezer circuits. This is one of the most common reasons homeowners choose standby backup power.

  • Yes, a properly sized standby generator can help support essential medical equipment during outages. Customers with medical power needs should discuss those priorities during the survey.

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons is an authorized Cummins dealer and provides Cummins generator service, repairs, installation, and warranty support.

  • Yes. Cummins generators are used in residential and commercial backup power applications.

  • Yes. Routine maintenance helps Cummins generators stay ready for outages and reduces the risk of unexpected problems.

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons provides warranty support for Cummins generators.

cummins Generator Questions

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons is an authorized Kohler dealer and provides Kohler generator service, repairs, installation, and warranty support.

  • Kohler generators are commonly used for standby backup power. The right choice depends on the home’s load requirements and customer priorities.

  • Yes. Kohler generators should be maintained according to manufacturer recommendations and operating conditions.

  • Yes. Allan Dearth & Sons provides warranty support for Kohler generators.

Kohler Generator Questions