Solar problems

Start every troubleshooting effort with your monitoring data. A total production stop usually points to an inverter fault, a tripped breaker or an AC disconnect. A gradual decline across the whole array points to soiling or shading from grown trees. A drop on one or two panels points to a single panel or microinverter — which is exactly why per-panel monitoring is useful.

Monitoring showing nothing does not always mean the system is off. It often means the gateway lost your Wi-Fi. Check the utility meter or the inverter's own display before you panic.

Roof leaks are the expensive failure. They come from the flashing and penetrations, they show up months or years later, and they sit at the boundary between your roofer and your solar installer — which is why both parties tend to blame the other. Keep the workmanship warranty document somewhere you can find it, and photograph the array and attic before and after installation.

Being orphaned is increasingly common as installers consolidate or close. Your manufacturer warranties still exist, but you will need an independent solar service company to do the labor. Locate one in your metro before you need it.

How to choose

Check the simple things first

AC disconnect, breaker, and inverter display. A surprising share of "dead system" calls are a tripped breaker after a storm.

Compare production year over year, not month to month

Seasonal variation is huge. Compare this June to last June before concluding something is wrong.

Log every contact in writing

If a warranty dispute develops, an email trail is worth more than a series of phone calls.

Do not let a roofer work around your array unsupervised

Panels need proper removal and reinstall. Ad hoc removal can void warranties and cause leaks.

Find an independent service company early

If your installer is unresponsive or gone, independent solar repair firms operate in most metros and will diagnose systems they did not install.