Storm-season generator guide.
Ice storms do not schedule appointments. Standby power, transfer switches, and the maintenance checklist that keeps yours ready — plus what to do with the old unit.
Storm season is generator season.
Every winter, ice storms and high winds knock out power across the Midwest — and every winter, homes and businesses learn the same lesson about being unprepared. A standby generator with an automatic transfer switch is the difference between riding out an outage in comfort and watching the pipes freeze. This guide covers what standby power actually involves, how to keep a unit ready, and — if you are upgrading — what to do with the old one. (Short version: I buy used commercial generators. Keep reading.)
Generator plus transfer switch.
A standby generator is only half the system. The transfer switch is the brain: it watches the utility feed, and the moment power fails, it disconnects you from the grid and starts the generator — automatically, in seconds. When utility power returns, it switches you back and shuts the unit down. Without a transfer switch, a generator is just an engine making electricity with nowhere safe to send it. Sizing matters too: a home typically needs 14–24 kW; a small business, restaurant, or farm shop usually lands in the 20–60 kW range; larger facilities go far beyond. Undersize it and the unit stalls under load; oversize it and you paid for capacity you will never use.
The pre-storm maintenance checklist.
Generators fail most often from neglect, not age. Before storm season: 1. Run it under load for 20–30 minutes monthly — engines that sit die. 2. Check oil and coolant levels, and change oil per the manual's hours. 3. Test the battery; a dead starting battery is the number one no-start cause. 4. Exercise the transfer switch through a full utility-failure simulation. 5. Check fuel — diesel grows algae and goes stale, natural gas needs the line verified. 6. Clear intake and exhaust of nests, leaves, and snow. 7. Confirm the block heater works if the unit lives outside in winter. A maintained 15-year-old diesel will outlast a neglected 5-year-old one every time.
We buy your old commercial generator.
Here is the part for facility managers and business owners: if you are upgrading standby power — bigger unit, newer emissions tier, switching fuels — your old generator still has real value. Ironcrest buys used commercial diesel generators, typically 20 kW and up. Working or not, with a verifiable service history preferred: send the nameplate photo (make, model, kW, hours), get today's offer, and I will arrange rigging and pickup. One call clears the pad for the new unit and puts money back in the project budget. Based in Chicago, buying nationwide.
Questions, answered.
What size standby generator does a small business need?
Most small businesses, restaurants, and farm shops land in the 20–60 kW range. The right size depends on your actual loads — HVAC, refrigeration, and motors draw heavy starting current. An undersized unit stalls; an oversized one wastes money.
What does a transfer switch do?
It watches the utility feed and, when power fails, disconnects you from the grid and starts the generator automatically — then switches you back when utility power returns. It is the piece that makes standby power safe and automatic.
Why do generators fail to start in storms?
Neglect, most often: dead starting batteries, stale fuel, and units that have not run under load in months. Monthly loaded test runs and battery checks prevent the majority of no-starts.
Do you buy used commercial generators?
Yes — Ironcrest buys used commercial diesel generators, typically 20 kW and up, working or not. Send a nameplate photo with make, model, kW, and hours for today's offer.
Send photos, estimated weight, material type, and location for today’s price. Email [email protected] or call 312-880-8174.
Send photos for today's price.
Clear photos and an honest description are all it takes. Based in Chicago, buying nationwide — send photos, get today's offer, and we will arrange pickup or shipping.