The whole reason to own a standby generator on the First Coast is the stretch from June to November, when the Atlantic can send something our way with a few days of warning. A standby unit is designed to handle that automatically, but “automatic” only works if the machine is ready before the storm forms. The worst time to discover a dead battery or an empty propane tank is when the outer bands are already moving in. This guide walks through getting ready ahead of the season, then what to do before, during, and after a storm.
Start with a pre-season check in June
Do not wait for a named storm in the cone to think about your generator. Early June, at the start of hurricane season, is the time to run through the basics while there is no pressure and technicians are not slammed with emergency calls.
- Confirm the self-test is running. Your unit should exercise itself on a schedule, usually weekly. Make sure it still does, and that it starts cleanly without cranking too long.
- Check the battery. A weak starting battery is the number-one reason standby units fail to start. If yours is three or more years old, replace it before the season, not during it.
- Service the engine if it is due. Oil, filters, and spark plugs should be current. Our full standby generator maintenance guide covers what a service visit includes.
- Look for corrosion. Coastal homes near Jacksonville Beach and the water take a beating from salt air, so inspect terminals and hardware for rust.
Get your fuel readiness sorted
Fuel is where the two common setups diverge, and it matters a lot during a long outage.
If your generator runs on natural gas, you are in good shape on supply. The gas line feeds the unit continuously, so there is no tank to fill and, in most cases, nothing to do but confirm the supply valve is open and the line is intact. Utility gas generally keeps flowing through an outage.
If your unit runs on propane, the tank is your fuel supply, and a partly full tank is a real risk. Before the season, and again when a storm is forecast, get the tank topped off. A generator running the whole house can draw down propane faster than owners expect, and you want the maximum head start before demand spikes and roads get difficult. Note your tank gauge reading so you can track burn rate during an outage.
Clear the area before the wind arrives
A generator needs airflow to run and to stay cool, and a storm is going to throw debris at it. Before the weather turns, walk the unit and clear a zone around all sides. Remove anything that could blow into or against the enclosure, trim back branches and shrubs that have crept in, and clear mulch and yard debris away from the base. Do not stack storm supplies, coolers, or furniture around it when you are battening down the yard.
Check the transfer switch and surge protection
The transfer switch is the piece that safely hands your home from the grid to the generator and back, and it should switch cleanly during the self-test. If it hesitates or throws a fault, get it looked at before the season. It is also worth confirming your home has whole-house surge protection. Storms bring voltage spikes when the grid goes down and again when it comes back up, and that protection helps shield your electronics and the generator’s own controls through those transitions.
When a storm is forecast: the before-storm steps
Once something is in the cone and Jacksonville is watching the track, run the short list:
- Top off a propane tank now, while deliveries are still running.
- Do a manual test start if you are comfortable, so you know it fires.
- Clear the area around the unit one more time.
- Charge phones and note where your transfer switch and generator shutoff are, in case you need them in the dark or the rain.
During the storm: let it do its job
When the grid drops, the generator should start on its own within seconds and pick up the house. From there, mostly leave it alone. Keep people and pets away from the running unit and its exhaust, and never move it or run any portable generator in a garage or near windows, since carbon monoxide is the real danger in these events. If your unit has load management, it will juggle circuits automatically. Watch your propane gauge so a multi-day outage does not sneak up on your fuel.
Refueling propane during a long outage
Our storms are not always quick. Look at the First Coast power outage history and you will see multi-day events like Matthew in 2016 and Irma in 2017, when power stayed out across the region for days. On propane, that means you may need a refill mid-outage. Keep your supplier’s number handy, call early rather than waiting until the tank is low, and understand that deliveries can be delayed when roads are blocked or demand is high. A tank filled before the storm buys you the runway to get on the schedule.
After the storm: inspect before you relax
When power is restored, the transfer switch should hand the house back to the grid and the generator should shut down on its own. Once things are calm, give the unit a look. Clear any debris that piled up during the storm, check for water intrusion or damage, and note any warning lights on the control panel. If the unit ran for days straight, an oil change or service may be due sooner than the calendar suggests.
When to call for service
Some things are not DIY. Call a professional if the generator failed to start when the grid dropped, if it started and then shut down or threw a fault, if you see a persistent warning light, or if the unit took storm damage. We connect homeowners across Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and the rest of the First Coast with one vetted, licensed local installer for pre-season checks and storm-season service. Start from your city page and we will take it from there.