Call the original solar installer first if the company is operating and your workmanship warranty may still apply. If the installer is unavailable, contact an independent solar operations and maintenance company or a solar-trained electrician, while calling the utility for outage, meter, or interconnection problems. Do not open equipment or climb onto the roof.
Key facts
A red inverter light, repeated breaker trip, burning smell, or damaged cable requires professional service, not repeated resets.
Solar panels can produce dangerous DC voltage in daylight even when household power is off.
A normal-looking inverter does not prove that the array is producing electricity.
Product warranties commonly cover panels for about 25 years, while inverter coverage varies by equipment type and registration.
Typical residential solar diagnostics cost $150-$350 before parts, travel, permits, or roof access.
Standard grid-tied solar normally shuts down during a utility outage unless an approved battery backup system provides islanding protection.
Who should you call first?
The original solar installer is the best first contact when the system is under a workmanship warranty, the roof work is involved, or the installer still manages monitoring and permits. The installer has the original single-line diagram, equipment serial numbers, commissioning records, and utility approval documents.
Call an independent solar maintenance company when the installer closed, refuses service, or no longer supports older equipment. Call a solar-qualified electrician when the symptoms point to breakers, wiring, conduit, grounding, or a failed inverter connection. A utility company is the right contact for a neighborhood outage, meter fault, service disconnect, or interconnection issue.
| Symptom | First contact | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Whole system shows zero production | Installer or solar O&M provider | Requires inverter and array diagnostics |
| Solar breaker trips repeatedly | Solar electrician | Possible short circuit, ground fault, or arc fault |
| Utility meter will not register export | Utility company | Meter or interconnection issue may be outside the array |
| Roof leak near panels | Original installer or qualified roofer | Workmanship and roof flashing may be involved |
| Battery will not charge | Battery-certified solar provider | Requires battery, inverter, and backup-control testing |
What if the installer went out of business?
An independent solar O&M company can diagnose and repair an orphaned system, and the equipment manufacturer may still cover replacement parts. The owner normally pays for diagnosis and labor, because a manufacturer product warranty often excludes travel, roof access, troubleshooting, and installation labor.
Search for a provider that lists your inverter brand, battery brand, and service area. A company that only installs new systems may decline a repair involving unfamiliar equipment. Ask whether the technician can file a manufacturer warranty claim and whether the provider has permission to work on your specific inverter platform.
What should you check before calling?
Check the monitoring portal, inverter display, dedicated solar breakers, and visible ground-level conditions before booking service. Record the exact error code, light color, production date, and breaker position, but reset a breaker or disconnect no more than once when the equipment shows no damage.
- Check the monitoring app. Confirm whether production is zero, intermittently low, or merely delayed. Compare the current graph with the same month last year, allowing for cloud cover, snow, and seasonal sun angles.
- Photograph the inverter display. Capture the brand, model, serial label, warning message, and LED pattern. A green light can mean the inverter is operating while a panel-level communication fault remains.
- Inspect accessible breakers. Look for the solar breaker in the main panel and any nearby AC disconnect. Move a tripped breaker fully off, then on once. Leave it off if it trips again.
- Inspect from the ground. Look for new tree shade, snow, fallen branches, cracked visible conduit, animal damage, or storm debris. Do not wash panels from the roof or touch wiring.
- Check the utility account. Confirm that the home has grid power and that the utility has not disconnected service for maintenance, billing, or a meter replacement.
A failed breaker reset is useful evidence. Repeated resetting can worsen an electrical fault, damage equipment, or create an arc-flash hazard.
Can I reset my solar inverter?
You can follow the manufacturer’s homeowner reset procedure when the manual specifically permits it and no damage, smell, heat, or repeated fault exists. Do not remove covers, test DC terminals, operate unfamiliar roof disconnects, or improvise a shutdown sequence, because photovoltaic circuits may remain energized in sunlight.
Which professional fixes the problem?
A solar O&M provider is usually the broadest choice for system-level diagnosis, while a NABCEP-certified professional or solar-trained electrician is better for electrical faults. The correct provider depends on the failed component, ownership arrangement, roof access, warranty terms, and local licensing requirements.
| Professional | Best assignment | Relevant capability | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original installer | Warranty and roof-related defects | Original design, permits, labor records | May have closed or stopped servicing |
| Solar O&M company | Orphaned or aging systems | Diagnostics, monitoring, replacement coordination | Usually charges a diagnostic fee |
| NABCEP-certified professional | Complex PV electrical faults | Solar design, commissioning, code-based testing | Certification does not guarantee every brand skill |
| Licensed electrician with PV experience | Breakers, service equipment, wiring | AC electrical repairs and permits | May not diagnose panel-level communications |
| Roofing contractor | Roof membrane or flashing damage | Roofing repair and water intrusion | Should not diagnose energized PV circuits |
NABCEP certification can help identify solar-specific training, but certification alone does not establish licensing in every jurisdiction. Verify the contractor’s electrical license, insurance, manufacturer authorization, and recent experience with your equipment.
Can a regular electrician fix solar panels?
A general electrician can repair household AC wiring or a breaker when legally qualified, but many electricians do not diagnose high-voltage DC strings, rapid-shutdown devices, module-level electronics, or inverter communications. Select a licensed electrician who explicitly lists photovoltaic service, not only residential electrical work.
How do warranties affect the call?
Solar owners should separate four warranties: panel product coverage, inverter or battery product coverage, installer workmanship coverage, and roof penetration coverage. A replacement part may be free while diagnosis, shipping, labor, lift equipment, permits, and travel remain chargeable.
| Coverage type | Typical duration | Usually covers | Common exclusion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar panel product | 12-25 years | Manufacturing defects and material failure | Storm, impact, altered equipment |
| Panel performance | 25-30 years | Minimum output percentage | Installation labor and lost savings |
| String inverter | 5-12 years | Inverter hardware defect | Labor unless extended coverage applies |
| Microinverter | 10-25 years | Individual inverter hardware | Roof labor and communications diagnosis |
| Installer workmanship | 1-10 years | Installation defects and wiring errors | Third-party modifications |
| Battery product | 10-15 years | Battery equipment under stated conditions | Capacity degradation outside warranty limits |
Warranty periods vary by model, registration, installer agreement, and country. The written warranty controls. Do not authorize a replacement before asking who owns the failed part, who files the claim, and whether removing it affects another warranty.
What documents should you send?
Send the installer contract, final inspection or permit record, monitoring screenshots, inverter model, system commissioning date, utility account details, and recent electricity bills. These records let the technician distinguish equipment failure from a utility-export problem and may reduce a second visit.
For leased or power-purchase-agreement systems, call the owner or finance company before hiring an independent repairer. The customer may own the electricity service but not the panels, inverter, or battery, and unauthorized work can violate the agreement.
Why does solar stop during a power outage?
A standard grid-tied solar system shuts down during an outage to prevent unintentional energizing of utility lines. This anti-islanding requirement protects lineworkers and stabilizes the grid, so sunlight alone does not keep ordinary grid-connected panels operating.
Battery systems change the result only when the installation includes an approved backup inverter, automatic transfer equipment, configured critical-load circuits, and sufficient stored energy. A battery that is physically present may still leave the home without solar power if backup mode was never installed or the battery has entered a fault state.
| System configuration | During grid outage | Typical homeowner result |
|---|---|---|
| Grid-tied panels only | PV inverter shuts down | No solar power at outlets |
| Panels plus battery, backup disabled | Grid connection remains unavailable | Battery may also remain offline |
| Panels plus configured backup gateway | Isolated home circuits can operate | Selected loads receive power |
| Whole-home backup system | Transfer equipment isolates premises | Loads operate within battery and inverter limits |
Never connect a portable generator to a solar circuit or backfeed a panel. Generator interconnection requires approved transfer equipment and local code compliance.
How can you tell what failed?
A monitoring platform can narrow the fault, but only electrical testing can confirm the failed component. Zero output from every panel often points to the AC disconnect, inverter, grid connection, or communications gateway; output from some panels suggests a string, optimizer, microinverter, or shading problem.
| Observed condition | Likely area | Technician’s next test |
|---|---|---|
| Inverter dead, no display | AC supply, disconnect, or inverter | AC voltage and disconnect inspection |
| Inverter red fault light | Ground, insulation, grid, or hardware fault | Fault log and electrical measurements |
| App offline, inverter producing | Internet gateway or communications | Local display and network test |
| One panel reports low output | Module, microinverter, optimizer, or shade | Module-level comparison |
| Production low only in winter | Sun angle, snow, shade, or weather | Irradiance and historical comparison |
Panel failure is less common than a system communication, inverter, disconnect, or shading issue, so replacing panels before obtaining diagnostic measurements is poor practice. A technician should test both the DC array and AC output rather than rely on an app screenshot.
Can one solar panel be down while the rest work?
Yes, one panel or its module-level inverter can fail while other panels continue producing. Microinverter systems make this pattern easier to identify, while a string inverter can lose an entire series-connected group when one circuit develops a fault.
When is the utility the right contact?
Call the utility when the home has no grid power, the meter display is blank, export credits suddenly stop after a meter change, or the utility has issued a disconnect notice. The utility generally does not repair privately owned panels, inverters, roof wiring, or batteries.
Ask the utility to confirm the service status, meter serial number, interconnection status, and whether a planned outage or account hold affects the solar connection. If utility service is normal, request a solar technician rather than waiting for a utility crew that cannot access private equipment.
How much does solar repair cost?
Typical residential solar diagnosis costs $150-$350, while out-of-warranty repairs often total $200-$3,500 depending on the failed part, roof access, labor, permits, and equipment availability. Manufacturer-covered hardware can reduce the parts bill substantially, but warranty coverage does not automatically make the service visit free.
| Repair or service | Typical out-of-warranty cost | Typical duration | Main cost variable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic visit | $150-$350 | 1-3 days to schedule | Travel and testing scope |
| Wiring or conduit repair | $200-$600 | 2-5 days | Roof access and permit |
| Microinverter replacement | $400-$800 | 3-7 days | Part availability and roof labor |
| Single panel replacement | $300-$750 | 1-2 weeks | Matching module and lift access |
| String inverter replacement | $1,500-$3,500 | 1-2 weeks | Inverter size, rewiring, permit |
| Critter guard installation | $500-$1,200 | 1-3 days | Array perimeter and roof design |
These are typical planning ranges, not guaranteed quotes. Urban travel, steep roofs, tile removal, crane or lift rental, electrical upgrades, expedited shipping, and local permit fees can raise the total.
Hourly labor commonly falls around $100-$200, but many providers use a flat diagnostic price. Ask whether the diagnostic fee is credited toward approved work and whether the quote includes commissioning, monitoring restoration, disposal, and permit closeout.
What happens after you call?
A normal repair follows six stages: intake, documentation review, on-site diagnosis, warranty decision, repair approval, and commissioning. A simple breaker or communications fault may resolve in one visit, while a failed inverter can take one to three weeks because the replacement part and utility approval may control the schedule.
- Intake: Give the provider the address, system age, inverter brand, symptom, error code, and monitoring status.
- Record review: The technician checks the design, serial numbers, warranties, permits, and prior service history.
- Diagnosis: Testing may include AC voltage, DC string voltage, insulation resistance, grounding, communications, and inverter logs.
- Warranty claim: The provider or installer submits a manufacturer claim or return-material authorization when coverage applies.
- Quote approval: Confirm parts, labor, roof access, permits, taxes, travel, monitoring, and workmanship warranty.
- Commissioning: The technician restores operation, verifies grid synchronization, checks production, and confirms app reporting.
Request a written diagnosis before approving a large replacement. A credible report identifies the measured fault, affected component, safety condition, replacement model, and reason repair is preferable to replacement.
When should you replace instead of repair?
Replace an inverter when repair cost approaches replacement cost, compatible parts are unavailable, the unit has repeated failures, or its remaining warranty and expected service life are poor. A 12-year-old string inverter with a $2,000 repair estimate deserves a replacement comparison, especially if a modern unit adds rapid shutdown or battery compatibility.
| Decision factor | Repair is favored | Replacement is favored |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment age | Under 8 years | Around 10-15 years |
| Estimated cost | Under 40% of new installed cost | Above 60% of new installed cost |
| Warranty | Part and labor coverage remain | Coverage has ended |
| Failure history | First isolated fault | Repeated faults within 24 months |
| Future plans | Existing system meets needs | Battery, expansion, or backup is planned |
A replacement is not automatically better. New equipment may require redesign, updated rapid-shutdown components, utility paperwork, and compatibility checks with existing panels.
What should you never do?
Never climb onto a solar roof, disconnect energized DC wiring, open an inverter cover, bypass a rapid-shutdown device, or repeatedly reset a tripping breaker. Photovoltaic modules generate DC electricity whenever illuminated, and battery systems can retain hazardous energy after grid power is disconnected.
Leave the area and call emergency services if you see smoke, flames, arcing, melted insulation, a strong burning smell, or a battery that is swelling, venting, hissing, or unusually hot. Tell responders that the property has solar panels and identify the battery location if known.
What mistakes increase repair costs?
- Ignoring a failed monitoring alert for months can increase utility charges and hide a second fault.
- Hiring a roofer to diagnose energized PV wiring can leave the electrical cause unresolved.
- Ordering an inverter before checking the system voltage, communications protocol, and utility requirements can create an incompatible installation.
- Allowing an unlicensed contractor to modify a grid-connected system can create inspection, insurance, and warranty problems.
- Washing panels from the roof can cause falls and does little when the actual fault is an inverter or disconnect.
A useful practitioner rule is to photograph every label before scheduling service. Model and serial information often determine warranty eligibility and replacement compatibility before a truck visit.
What should different solar owners do?
Owners with newer systems should protect warranty rights before hiring third parties. Owners of orphaned systems should prioritize a provider that handles manufacturer claims, while owners of old systems should compare total repair cost with replacement and future battery plans.
| Owner situation | First action | Financial priority | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| System under 10 years old | Contact installer | Preserve workmanship coverage | Unauthorized modifications |
| Installer closed | Contact solar O&M provider | Recover manufacturer-covered parts | Assuming the hardware warranty includes labor |
| Leased system | Contact lessor or PPA provider | Follow contract service process | Hiring an unapproved repairer |
| System older than 12 years | Obtain repair and replacement quotes | Compare lifecycle cost | Replacing one obsolete part repeatedly |
| Storm-damaged system | Photograph damage and call insurer | Coordinate insurance and warranty | Touching damaged conductors |
Storm, hail, lightning, rodents, and roof work can involve insurance, workmanship, and product coverage at the same time. Photograph damage from the ground, preserve invoices, and avoid moving components until the responsible parties document the condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I call the solar company or the electric company?
Call the solar company for panel, inverter, battery, monitoring, or solar wiring problems. Call the utility for an outage, meter issue, service disconnect, or interconnection record. Call a licensed electrician with photovoltaic experience for a repeated breaker trip or electrical safety problem inside the property.
How long can solar panels be broken before damage occurs?
A nonproducing panel can remain physically intact while offline, but delay can increase lost savings and allow an unresolved ground fault, water intrusion, or rodent-damaged cable to worsen. Report zero production promptly, especially after lightning, hail, roof work, or a red inverter fault.
Will my homeowners insurance pay for solar repair?
Homeowners insurance may cover sudden damage from hail, wind, fire, lightning, or falling objects, subject to the policy deductible and exclusions. Insurance usually does not cover gradual degradation, poor installation, or ordinary inverter failure. Photograph the condition and ask the insurer whether a solar-specific endorsement applies.
Can solar panels work at night?
Solar panels do not generate electricity at night because photovoltaic cells require light. A battery can supply stored energy after sunset, but the battery inverter, backup controls, and state of charge determine whether household circuits receive power.
Is a solar repair company required to be certified?
Certification requirements depend on local law and the work performed. Choose a properly licensed contractor with photovoltaic experience, appropriate insurance, and documented training for the inverter or battery brand. NABCEP certification is a useful credential, but it does not replace a legally required electrical license.
What information should I have ready when calling?
Have the system installation year, inverter and battery brands, monitoring-app status, error code, last known production date, utility account information, and photographs of accessible labels. Also state whether the installer is still operating, because warranty routing changes the most cost-effective next step.
The Bottom Line
For a solar system not working who do I call, start with the original installer, then move to an independent solar O&M provider or solar-qualified electrician if the installer is unavailable. Call the utility only for grid, meter, or interconnection problems. Record the fault, protect warranty coverage, avoid energized equipment, and obtain a written diagnosis before approving an expensive repair.