Compare Local Pros
General Lighting Service vs Therma
Santa Clara Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing an electrical contractor with 41 years of experience to a commercial mechanical contractor with 9 years serving primarily industrial clients.
| General Lighting Service | Therma | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 1.0 | ★ 4.6 |
| Years Licensed | 41 years | 9 years |
| License # | 466869 | 1027316 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Santa Clara, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Website | gls-inc.net | www.therma.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Therma
Customers consistently praise Therma's high-quality custom fabrication work, professional approach, and technical capabilities in commercial mechanical applications.
Key Takeaway: Therma has documented customer feedback highlighting quality and precision manufacturing, while General Lighting Service operates without substantial online review presence despite four decades of continuous licensing.
Customer Reviews
General Lighting Service
No reviews available
Therma
Did Stanford blood donation here today.
Can't say enough about this company this group of guys the work that they do and the high technology that they are getting involved in. There is a manager Paul there, great guy hard worker. The compan...
Top notch mechanical contractor. Very professional.
Consider General Lighting Service if...
- ✓ You need electrical work performed by a contractor with four decades of experience diagnosing electrical issues and navigating complex code requirements
- ✓ Your project involves residential or commercial electrical systems, panels, lighting, or wiring rather than mechanical systems
- ✓ You value the stability and accumulated expertise that comes from 41 years of continuous licensing in one trade
- ✓ You're comfortable with a contractor that has limited online review presence but extensive operational history
Consider Therma if...
- ✓ Your project involves commercial HVAC systems, duct manufacturing, or custom metal fabrication rather than electrical work
- ✓ You need specialty ducting components, custom electrical gutters, or precision industrial fabrication
- ✓ You're working on a commercial or industrial facility requiring mechanical contracting expertise
- ✓ Customer feedback documenting quality and professionalism is important to your decision, and you value documented technical capabilities in manufacturing
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Confirm each company's specific expertise matches your project scope—electrical versus mechanical systems
- → Ask General Lighting Service for recent project references given their limited online review history
- → Ask Therma whether they handle residential projects or focus exclusively on commercial and industrial clients
- → Verify which company's licensing classification actually covers the specific work you need completed
The Bottom Line
This comparison only makes sense if you're unclear whether your project requires electrical or mechanical contracting. If you need electrical work, General Lighting Service's 41 years of specialized experience is your answer despite limited reviews—just request recent references. If you need commercial mechanical systems, HVAC duct work, or custom industrial fabrication, Therma's documented expertise and customer feedback make them the clear choice. For residential HVAC or mechanical work, verify Therma handles residential projects. Do not hire an electrical contractor for mechanical work or vice versa regardless of experience levels.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Not likely. General Lighting Service is licensed for electrical work, while Therma specializes in commercial mechanical systems and custom fabrication. You need to match your project requirements to the appropriate trade license. An electrical contractor cannot legally perform mechanical work and vice versa.
The experience gap matters within each trade but doesn't enable cross-trade comparison. General Lighting Service's 41 years means extensive electrical troubleshooting expertise, while Therma's 9 years represents solid mechanical contracting experience. Choose based on which trade your project requires.
Commercial contractors like Therma often receive reviews from business clients, while some electrical contractors maintain customer bases through referrals without building online review profiles. General Lighting Service's lack of reviews doesn't indicate poor performance, but you should ask for recent references directly.
Therma's description emphasizes commercial and industrial work including HVAC duct manufacturing and process equipment fabrication. If you have a residential project, ask them directly whether they handle residential work or if their focus remains exclusively commercial and industrial applications.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top electrical contractors in Santa Clara.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 11, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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