Generator Service, Repair, and Maintenance in San Jose and Chico

From failed startups and ATS faults to annual service and emergency repairs, Jackson Electric keeps residential and commercial generators running across the Bay Area and Butte County. Call our San Jose office at (408) 266-5351, our Chico office at (530) 907-7961, or request a free estimate below. Same-day emergency generator service is often available.

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Residential

We perform a free in-home evaluation and load calculation to size the right generator for your essential circuits, full panel, or whole-home backup. Sizing factors in HVAC, well pumps, EV charging, and any 240V loads so the unit matches the way you actually use power.

We install, service, and repair home standby generators that detect a utility outage and switch your home to backup power automatically. See our full line-up of home standby generator installation for turnkey protection, or call us to schedule annual service or a repair visit on a unit you already own.

We install generator inlet boxes and interlock kits so a portable generator can safely back-feed your panel during an outage without dangerous extension-cord setups. We also service portable units, including pull-start, recoil, oil, and spark-plug maintenance.

Most home standby generators need a full service once per year or every 200 hours of runtime. Our annual visit covers oil and oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, battery load test, coolant check, exercise schedule review, and a run-under-load test, with a written service report.

We install, service, and repair Generac, Briggs and Stratton, and Kohler residential generators. We service units we did not install, so a switch in generator brand during a home purchase or upgrade does not leave you without a service provider.

We coordinate the generator with your existing panel and transfer switch, including electrical panel upgrades when the existing service is undersized. See our panel upgrade cost in California guide for typical pricing.

Commercial & Industrial

We design commercial backup power systems sized to the building load, the critical circuits that must stay on (life safety, refrigeration, data, elevators), and the local utility’s supply. We coordinate the install with your engineer of record and pull all required permits.

We install automatic transfer switches sized to your generator, from 100A service-entrance-rated units for small commercial loads up to larger switchgear-integrated ATS for multi-tenant and industrial facilities. Every install is wired to meet NEC Article 700, 701, or 702 as required by the application (emergency, legally required standby, or optional standby).

We install, service, and repair emergency backup generators on diesel, natural gas, and dual-fuel platforms. For larger facilities, see our commercial generator installation services that meet NEC and NFPA standards. Same-day emergency service calls are often available, call your nearest office to confirm scheduling.

For critical-facility generators that fall under NFPA 110, we perform annual load-bank tests, ATS tests, and exercise-cycle verification. We document the results in a service report you can hand directly to your fire marshal or insurance carrier.

We install, service, and repair Generac, Cummins, CAT, and Kohler commercial generators. We service units we did not install, so a change in generator brand during a facility transition or acquisition does not leave you without a service provider.

We integrate the generator with your building’s existing electrical service, coordinating with switchgear, building management systems, and any tenant-load shedding requirements. Final commissioning includes ATS testing and an exercise schedule tuned to your runtime hours.

When to Call Jackson Electric for Generator Service

If your generator is doing any of the following, schedule a service visit before the next outage hits.

  • Generator will not start when you press the test button
  • Runs but stops after a few minutes
  • Automatic transfer switch is not switching over during a utility outage
  • Exercise cycle is skipped or failing
  • Low-oil, low-coolant, or battery alarms on the controller
  • Black smoke, fouled spark plugs, or carbon deposits at startup
  • Generator was not serviced in the last 12 months

Any of these issues points to a generator that needs service now rather than during the next outage. Call our San Jose office at (408) 266-5351 or our Chico office at (530) 907-7961 to schedule a same-day or next-day diagnostic visit.

Generator Brands We Install, Service, and Repair

Residential

  • Generac home standby generators
  • Briggs and Stratton standby and portable generators
  • Kohler residential standby generators

Commercial and Industrial

  • Generac Industrial
  • Cummins commercial generators
  • CAT commercial generators
  • Kohler Power Systems

We service generators we did not install. A first-visit diagnostic confirms the model, serial, controller version, and warranty status before we scope the work.

Our Generator Service Process

Every generator service call follows the same five-step workflow so you know exactly what to expect.

1. Diagnostic and Inspection

We start with a controller, ATS, battery, fuel, coolant, oil, and exhaust check so we can identify the actual fault before any parts are ordered.

2. Written Quote

You get a fixed-price scope before we start work, with parts, labor, and timeline broken out. No surprises after the fact.

3. Parts and Scheduling

We use OEM parts for Generac, Kohler, Cummins, and CAT where available, and quality aftermarket parts when OEM is discontinued. Most parts arrive in 3 to 10 business days.

4. Repair and Test

After the repair we run an exercise cycle and ATS test, plus a load-bank test on critical-facility generators, to confirm the unit performs under real load.

5. Service Report

You get an emailed summary listing the work performed, runtime hours, parts replaced, and a recommended next-service date.

Emergency Generator Repair in the Bay Area and Butte County

When a generator fails during a PG&E outage, every hour matters. Jackson Electric responds to emergency generator calls in San Jose and across the Bay Area at (408) 266-5351, and in Chico, Paradise, Oroville, Durham, and Butte County at (530) 907-7961. Same-day emergency service is often available, call your nearest office to discuss scheduling. We perform load-bank verification after major repairs so you know the unit performs under real load.

Call San Jose Call Chico

Generator Service Areas

San Jose office (408) 266-5351

Generator service in San Jose, Willow Glen, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Milpitas, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Fremont.

Chico office (530) 907-7961

Generator service in Chico, Paradise, Oroville, Durham, Magalia, and Orland.

Related Jackson Electric Services

Home Standby Generator Installation

Whole-home backup with automatic transfer switching, sized to your essential or full-panel loads. View home standby generator installation.

Commercial Generator Installation

Backup power for offices, retail, multifamily, fleet, and industrial sites in San Jose and Chico. View commercial generator installation.

Commercial Emergency Electrician

When more than the generator is down, our commercial emergency electricians respond same-day for critical electrical issues. View commercial emergency electrician service.

Contact Us!

For top-notch electrical solutions, get in touch with us! Our skilled professionals provide expert troubleshooting, installation, and repairs to keep your home or business running smoothly.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Generator Service

Most residential standby generators need a full service once per year or every 200 hours of runtime, whichever comes first. Annual service covers oil and oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, battery load test, coolant check, exercise schedule review, and a run-under-load test.

A load-bank test runs the generator at a simulated full electrical load to confirm it can carry the rated kilowatts without faulting. It is required annually for most commercial and critical-facility generators under NFPA 110 and is strongly recommended after any major repair.

Yes. We service Generac, Briggs and Stratton, Kohler, Cummins, and CAT generators regardless of who installed the unit. A first-visit diagnostic confirms the model, serial, controller version, and warranty status before we scope the work.

A Jackson Electric annual visit covers oil and filter change, air filter, spark plugs, coolant and belts check, battery load test, fuel system inspection, ATS test, exercise cycle verification, and a written service report with runtime hours and a recommended next-service date.

Common causes include a dead or weak starter battery, a failed utility-sensing relay in the ATS, a tripped generator breaker, a programmed time delay that has not yet elapsed, or a service switch left in the Off or Manual position. A technician can diagnose the fault and either repair the ATS or re-program the controller.

Yes. Same-day emergency generator service is often available across the Bay Area and Butte County. Call (408) 266-5351 for San Jose or (530) 907-7961 for Chico to discuss scheduling and dispatch.

We service residential and commercial generators from Generac, Briggs and Stratton, Kohler, Cummins, and CAT. We service units we did not install.

Most diagnostic visits take 60 to 90 minutes. Common repairs like battery replacement, spark plug service, or oil and filter change are finished in the same visit. Control board, ATS, or stator repairs can take a second visit once OEM parts arrive, typically 3 to 10 business days.

Parts we supply carry the manufacturer warranty, typically 1 to 5 years depending on the component. Our labor carries a 1-year workmanship warranty on the repair performed.

Yes. Replacing or upgrading a standby generator requires an electrical permit in Santa Clara County, San Jose, Chico, and most California jurisdictions. Any fuel-line work also requires a mechanical or plumbing permit. Jackson Electric pulls all required permits and schedules inspections as part of the job.