Solar problems
The most common rooftop solar problems are inverter faults, unexplained production drops, monitoring going offline, roof leaks at the mounting penetrations, and being "orphaned" when the installing company goes out of business. Panels themselves rarely fail; the electronics and the installation workmanship are where issues concentrate.
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.
Choosing solar a fix
The judgement calls that decide the bill, before anyone quotes you.
- 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.
All solar problems
High Electric Bills
Unsuitable Roof for Solar
HOA Solar Restrictions
Shading Issues
Old Electrical Panel for Solar
Battery Backup Needs
Where these figures come from
Sources last checked
- US Department of Energy - Homeowner's Guide to Going Solar · retrieved 2026-07-25
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