Generator repair · Essex County
Generator repair and maintenance in West Orange and Essex County, NJ
MDL Electric in West Orange repairs and maintains Generac and Kohler home standby generators. A maintenance visit runs $186 to $404 in Fairfield, NJ, in Essex County (Angi); most repairs run $200 to $600 (Modernize).
The short answer
Who fixes Generac and Kohler generators near West Orange?
MDL Electric Cooling & Heating, at 4 Harrison Avenue in West Orange, repairs and maintains Generac and Kohler home standby generators across Essex County. Call 973.809.2339 with the brand, the model and the color of the light. A maintenance visit runs $186 to $404 in Fairfield, NJ, in Essex County, by Angi's published range (price table). Most repairs run $200 to $600 (Modernize).
This page covers three situations. The generator shows a red light and will not start. It runs, but the house stays dark. Or a yellow light says service is due. The fault table below shows what each one usually means.
MDL holds a New Jersey electrical contractor license (34EI01606200). It also installs new Generac and Kohler units; for a new generator, see generator installation.
The brand and modelIt is on the label inside the lid or on the side of the enclosure.
The light and the messageGreen, yellow or red, and the words on the screen, such as Overcrank or Low Oil Pressure.
When it was last servicedAnd whether it is still under its factory warranty.
Your townWest Orange, Montclair, Livingston or anywhere in Essex County.
Symptoms
What the light on your generator means, and what fixes it.
From the quick reference guide in Generac's owner's manual for its 10 to 26 kW air-cooled home generators (Part No. A0001846499, Rev. C), read October 27, 2026. Kohler units show their own codes; the manual for your model lists them.
Scroll sideways to see the whole table.
| What you see | Light / alarm | What to check first | When to call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator runs, house has no power | Flashing green | The generator's main circuit breaker (the generator disconnect). | If the breaker is on and the house is still dark. |
| Will not start when the power goes out | Red, Overcrank | That the fuel shutoff valve is on. Clear the alarm and start it in MANUAL. | If it does not start, or starts and runs rough. |
| Will not start when the power goes out | Red, RPM Sense Loss | The battery, from the controller's battery menu. Replace it if the screen says Check Battery. | If the battery menu says Good. |
| Ran, shut down, tries to restart | Red, RPM Sense Loss | Turn off some household loads, clear the alarm, set AUTO and restart. | If it does not start. |
| Will not start | Red, Low Oil Pressure | The oil level. Add oil if it is low. | If the oil level is correct. |
| Shut down while running | Red, High Temperature | The intake and exhaust vents around and behind the generator. Clear anything blocking them. | If nothing is blocking them. |
| Shut down under load | Red, Overload Remove Load | Too many things running in the house. Clear the alarm, turn some off, set AUTO and restart. | If it repeats. |
| Will not start, alarm on screen | Red, Overspeed, Underspeed, Undervoltage, Over Voltage or Wiring Error | Nothing for the owner to fix. | Call for service. |
| Yellow light, unit still ready | Yellow, Low Battery or Inspect Battery | The battery, from the battery menu. Replace it if the screen says Check Battery. | If the battery menu says Good, or the screen shows Battery Problem. |
| Yellow light, charger message | Yellow, Charger Warning or Charger Missing AC | Nothing for the owner to fix. | Call for service. |
| Yellow light, service reminder | Yellow, Service A or Service B | Maintenance is due (schedule below). | Book the service visit. |
- Green means ready. Generac's manual says the green light shows the utility is on and the controller is in AUTO. It flashes while the transfer switch has the house on generator power.Generac manual
- Red means off or a fault. The red light comes on when the generator is OFF or a fault is detected. An alarm shuts the generator down to protect it.Generac manual
- Yellow means attention. The yellow light is a non-critical alert: maintenance due, or a battery or charger warning. It can show together with the green or the red light.Generac manual
- Do not keep clearing it. Generac says never to clear an alarm without fixing the cause. If the alarm comes straight back, or the unit will not start after clearing, stop and call for service.Generac Help Center
- Safety first. If you smell gas or see smoke or fire, leave the house and call 911 or PSE&G before anyone touches the generator.
Cost
What generator service and repair cost: one Essex County figure and national ranges.
Published cost-guide prices, read October 27, 2026. The first row is Angi's range for Fairfield, NJ, in Essex County; the other rows are national ranges. None of these is an MDL price. Call MDL for its price on your generator.
Scroll sideways to see the whole table.
| What | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance visit, Fairfield, NJ (Essex County) | $186 to $404; average $285 | Angi |
| Maintenance visit, national | $171 to $396; average $274, from 1,488 projects | Angi |
| Annual generator maintenance | $150 to $300 | Angi |
| Service call to diagnose | $45 to $100 | Modernize |
| Typical repair | $200 to $600 (wider range $80 to $800) | Modernize |
| Battery replacement | $60 to $150 | Modernize |
| Spark plug replacement | $55 to $95 | Modernize |
| Fuel pump replacement | $125 to $300 | Modernize |
| Transfer switch repair | $50 to $150 | Angi |
| Transfer switch replacement | $500 to $1,000 (Modernize); $200 to $400 for the part plus labor (Angi) | Modernize; Angi |
| Stator and rotor, replace or rewind | $250 to $1,500 | Angi |
- Bigger units cost more to service. Angi says larger standby units need more service; its table puts average maintenance at $600 for a 30 to 45 kW engine generator against $50 for a 7 to 10 kW portable.Angi
- Standby repairs take longer than portable ones. Modernize says a standby generator is tied into fuel supply and transfer equipment, so troubleshooting can take longer and parts can cost more.Modernize
- Repair or replace. Modernize's rule of thumb: if the repair estimate comes close to half the cost of a new generator, think hard about replacing it. For new-unit prices in New Jersey, see the whole-house generator cost guide.Modernize
- Storm nights cost more. A weekday visit is usually cheaper than a storm-night emergency call, and the service call and labor can drive the bill even when the part is cheap.Modernize
Maintenance
How often a home standby generator needs service.
Generac's schedule for its 10 to 26 kW air-cooled home generators, from the owner's manual, with Kohler's own guidance below it. Your model's manual wins where it differs.
Scroll sideways to see the whole table.
| When | What gets done |
|---|---|
| After the first 25 hours | Change the oil and oil filter; check the valve clearance where it applies. |
| Daily in a long outage, or before each use | Check the oil level, look for fuel or oil leaks, and clear dirt from the enclosure louvers. |
| Every year | Check for water getting in and run a fuel system leak test. |
| Schedule A: every 2 years or 200 hours | Oil and oil filter, and a battery check. |
| Schedule B: every 4 years or 400 hours | Oil and oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, and the valve clearance where it applies. |
| Cold weather, below 40°F | Change the oil and filter every year or 100 hours instead. |
- New Jersey winters shorten the oil interval. Generac's manual moves the oil change to every year or 100 hours when it is below 40°F, or when the unit runs continuously above 85°F.Generac manual
- The weekly run is a test, not a repair. The exercise timer can be set weekly, every two weeks or monthly. The unit runs for about five minutes and does not take over the house unless the power is out.Generac manual
- Keep the yard clear. Generac says to remove shrubs and tall grass within 3 feet of the intake and discharge louvers, and to point sprinklers, downspouts and sump discharges away from the enclosure.Generac manual
- Kohler: at least once a year. Kohler says most standby generators should get professional service at least once a year, even if they did not run in an outage. Units that run often may need extra service every 100 to 200 hours of runtime.Kohler
- Kohler: check the oil during an outage. Kohler recommends checking the oil level after every 8 to 24 hours of running, depending on the size and model.Kohler owner support
What a maintenance visit covers
01
Inspect
A full look at the generator, the fuel lines and the enclosure (Kohler; Generac).
02
Change
Oil and filter, and the air filter and plugs when due (Generac Schedule A or B).
03
Test
Battery testing and the automatic transfer switch (Kohler).
04
Run
A diagnostic review and a performance check (Kohler).
Sources: Kohler service and maintenance, Generac owner's manual. A portable generator wired to the house through an inlet: see the portable generator hookup guide.
Warranty
Warranty repair or independent service: who should fix it?
It depends on the generator's age and what failed. Check the warranty start date first; covered repairs go to the brand's dealer. Here is what Generac, Kohler and the FTC each say.
- Generac: five years, shrinking each year. Generac's limited warranty on air-cooled standby generators covers parts, labor and mileage in years one and two, parts in year three, and only the engine and alternator parts in years four and five.Generac five-year limited warranty
- Generac warranty repairs go through its dealers. The same warranty says all warranty repairs must be done by an Authorized/Certified Generac Service Dealer. Repairs by anyone else, without Generac's written approval, are not covered.Generac warranty
- Generac asks for dealer maintenance too. Generac's warranty requires the scheduled maintenance in the owner's manual, with proof of purchase and maintenance available. It says: "This Scheduled Maintenance should be performed by an Authorized/Certified Generac Service Dealer." Its manual says Generac "recommends that all maintenance work be performed by an Independent Authorized Service Dealer (IASD)."Generac warranty; Generac manual
- Emissions parts are the exception Generac names. The same manual says regular maintenance, replacement or repair of the emissions control devices and systems may be done by any repair shop or person the owner chooses. To get emissions warranty service free of charge, the work must be done by a dealer.Generac manual
- Kohler's extended warranty leans on its dealers too. Kohler's ten-year comprehensive residential warranty (TP-7104, 2019 edition) needs a Kohler distributor, dealer or authorized service representative to start up and register the generator. It covers units that are properly installed, maintained and operated by Kohler's manuals. It excludes damage from faulty repairs not done by an authorized Kohler service representative, repair labor by a shop Kohler has not authorized without prior approval, skipped scheduled maintenance, and starting batteries.Kohler TP-7104
- The federal rule on independent service. The FTC says companies can't void a warranty or deny coverage just because you had service done by someone not tied to the company, unless that service is provided free under the warranty. They may refuse coverage for damage the outside work caused.FTC consumer alert; FTC warranty guide
- What this means for you. While the generator is under warranty, Generac asks for dealer maintenance, Kohler requires maintenance by its manuals, and covered repairs must go to the brand's dealer. An independent shop is not by itself a reason to void the warranty under the FTC rule, but damage it causes is not covered. Once the warranty has run out, or the problem is not a covered defect, any qualified technician can do the work. Keep every service record either way.
Why it matters here
Most outages are short. The ones that are not are why you own a generator.
A generator that fails its weekly test in October is a cheap fix. The same failure during a multi-day outage in January is not.
- On average, outages end in about an hour. PSE&G says its customers are restored within 62 minutes on average, against a national median of about 2 hours.PSE&G reliability overview
- Superstorm Sandy, 2012: 14 days. 2.8 million New Jersey electric customers lost power, and full restoration took fourteen days.NJ Board of Public Utilities
- Tropical Storm Isaias, 2020: 1.3 million at the peak. Over 1.3 million New Jersey customers were out at the peak. PSE&G alone peaked at 472,878 customers out.NJ BPU staff report on Isaias
- Long outages mean long run times. Kohler says generators that run often, such as during long outages, may need extra service by runtime hours.Kohler
More on outages, permits and sizing for a new unit: generator installation. A dead circuit or tripping breaker that is not the generator: electrical repair. No power and no idea why: emergency electrician.
Where MDL works
Generator repair across Essex County, from a West Orange base.
MDL works from 4 Harrison Avenue in West Orange. These Essex County towns have their own MDL service-area page. MDL also lists Morris and Union County towns.
Generator service
Red light, no start, or service due? Call MDL.
Call or send the form with your town, the brand and model, the light and any message on the screen, and when the generator was last serviced.
Generator questions
Straight answers on lights, oil, warranties and cost.
Service rules come from Generac's and Kohler's own manuals and pages, warranty rules from the warranties and the FTC, prices from other companies' published prices, not an MDL quote.
Who repairs Generac and Kohler generators near West Orange, NJ?
MDL Electric Cooling & Heating, at 4 Harrison Avenue in West Orange (973.809.2339), repairs and maintains Generac and Kohler home standby generators. MDL serves West Orange, Montclair, Livingston, Maplewood, South Orange and the rest of Essex County. Call with the brand, the model and the light or message on the screen.
How much does it cost to service a generator in New Jersey?
Angi's published range for a whole-house generator maintenance visit in Fairfield, NJ, in Essex County, is $186 to $404, with an average of $285 (updated September 18, 2026, read October 27, 2026). Nationally Angi puts it at $171 to $396, with an average of $274, from 1,488 projects. These are market figures, not an MDL quote.
How much does it cost to repair a generator?
Modernize puts most generator repairs at $200 to $600, plus a $45 to $100 service call to find the problem (updated August 12, 2026). On the same guide a battery runs $60 to $150 and a transfer switch replacement $500 to $1,000. These are national ranges, not an MDL quote.
What is wrong with my generator?
Start with the light. On Generac's air-cooled home units, green means ready, yellow means maintenance is due or a non-critical alert, and red means the generator is off or found a fault. The screen names the alarm. The table on this page lists what Generac's owner's manual says to check for each alarm, and when to call.
My generator ran during the outage but the house had no power. Why?
Generac's owner's manual lists this case first: a flashing green light, the generator running, and no power in the house. Check the generator's main circuit breaker. If it is on and the house is still dark, the manual says to call a service dealer. MDL can check the generator, the transfer switch and the wiring.
How often should I change generator oil?
Generac's manual for its 10 to 26 kW air-cooled units says to change the oil and filter after the first 25 hours, then every two years or 200 hours. Below 40°F, it says every year or 100 hours. Kohler recommends professional service at least once a year.
How often should I change the spark plugs in my generator?
On Generac's 10 to 26 kW air-cooled home units, spark plugs are part of Schedule B: every four years or 400 hours, with the air filter and the valve clearance check. Portable generators and other brands differ, so follow the manual for your model.
How do I tell if my generator needs oil?
Generac's manual says to check the oil level daily while the generator runs through a long outage. Kohler says to check it after every 8 to 24 hours of running, depending on the model. A Low Oil Pressure alarm on a Generac means check the level and add oil. If the level is right, call for service.
What is Schedule A and Schedule B maintenance on a Generac?
Generac's controller asks for them by name. Schedule A is the oil, the oil filter and a battery check, every two years or 200 hours. Schedule B adds the air filter, the spark plugs and the valve clearance where it applies, every four years or 400 hours.
Will an independent electrician void my Generac or Kohler warranty?
Not by itself, under the federal rule, but Generac asks for its dealers. The Federal Trade Commission says companies can't void a warranty just because you used an independent shop, unless the company provides that service free; they can refuse coverage for damage the outside work caused. Generac's warranty says its scheduled maintenance should be performed by an Authorized/Certified Generac Service Dealer, its manual recommends that all maintenance be done by an Independent Authorized Service Dealer, and warranty repairs must be done by a Generac dealer. Kohler's extended warranty excludes repair labor by a shop Kohler has not authorized without prior approval. Keep every service record.
Do electricians repair generators?
Yes. A home standby generator is wired into the house through a transfer switch, so much of the work is electrical: the battery and charger, the controller, the transfer switch and the wiring to the panel. MDL Electric holds a New Jersey electrical contractor license (34EI01606200) and repairs and maintains Generac and Kohler home standby generators.
Should I repair my generator or replace it?
Most problems are worth repairing. Modernize's rule of thumb: if the repair estimate comes close to half the cost of a new generator, think hard about replacing it, especially if the unit is older or keeps failing. MDL also installs new Generac and Kohler generators, so it can price both.
How do I book generator repair or maintenance with MDL?
Call 973.809.2339 or send the form on this page. Give your town, the brand and model, the light color and any message on the screen, and when the generator was last serviced. If you smell gas or see smoke or fire, leave the house and call 911 or PSE&G first.
Sources
Where the rules, numbers and advice on this page come from.
All read October 27, 2026.
- Generac, Owner's Manual for 60 Hz Air-Cooled Generators, 10 kW to 26 kW (Part No. A0001846499 Rev. C, 2023): indicator lights, alarms, exercise timer, service schedule.
- Generac, Five Year Limited Warranty for Air-Cooled Emergency Automatic Standby Generators: coverage by year, dealer repairs, maintenance records.
- Generac Help Center, resetting and clearing generator alarm codes.
- Kohler (Rehlko): How Often Should You Service a Home Generator?, Service and Maintenance, Owner support, and the ten-year comprehensive limited warranty (TP-7104).
- Federal Trade Commission: FTC says companies' warranty restrictions were illegal (July 7, 2022) and the Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law.
- Prices: Angi, How Much Does Whole-House Generator Maintenance Cost? (updated September 18, 2026; the Fairfield, NJ range is the local figure Angi showed for that town) and Modernize, Generator Repair Cost (updated August 12, 2026). Not MDL prices.
- Outages: PSE&G reliability overview; NJ Board of Public Utilities, microgrid report (Superstorm Sandy figures) and Tropical Storm Isaias staff report.
- Photos: Pexels, technicians with a power generator, electrician with a multimeter and old spark plugs (Pexels License). Not MDL jobs.
Next steps
Related services
Generator installation
A new Generac or Kohler standby generator: sizing, transfer switch, gas, permits and PSE&G.
Learn moreWhole-house generator cost
What a new standby generator costs installed in New Jersey, by kW.
Learn morePortable generator hookup
Inlets, interlocks and transfer switches for a portable generator in New Jersey.
Learn moreElectrical repair
Breakers that trip, dead circuits and wiring problems that are not the generator.
Learn moreRequest service
Send MDL the service, town, and best callback number.
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