Going solar is a long-term investment. Most solar panels are designed to produce electricity for 25 years or longer, and homeowners generally expect their systems to remain in place for decades. But what happens when the company that installed your solar system doesn’t last as long as the equipment?
This has become an increasingly common situation for California homeowners. Often, everything works properly for years before a problem develops. An inverter stops producing, a microinverter goes offline, monitoring stops working, or the electric bill suddenly increases. When the homeowner tries to contact the original installer, they discover the company is no longer in business.
Fortunately, losing your original installer doesn’t mean losing your solar investment. Your equipment warranties may still be valid, replacement parts may be available, and another qualified solar contractor may be able to take over servicing your system.
Your Installer and Equipment Manufacturer Are Different Companies
One of the most important things to understand is that your solar installer and equipment manufacturer are usually separate companies.
Your installer may have used equipment manufactured by companies such as Enphase or SolarEdge. These manufacturers have their own equipment warranties, which means your warranty does not necessarily disappear when your original solar contractor goes out of business.
The workmanship warranty provided by the installer may be difficult or impossible to enforce once that company closes. However, eligible panels, inverters, microinverters, optimizers, and other components may still have manufacturer coverage.
Before assuming you need to purchase new equipment, determine exactly what is installed and whether the affected component is still under warranty.
Find a Local Contractor That Services Existing Solar Systems
If your original installer is gone, your next step should be finding a reputable local solar contractor willing to service systems installed by other companies.
Not every solar company provides this service. Some contractors focus primarily on selling and installing new systems rather than diagnosing existing or “orphaned” solar systems.
When researching a new contractor, look at their experience and reputation, and ask whether they work on systems they did not install. It is also helpful to find out which manufacturers they service, whether they can assist with warranty claims, and if they can restore or transfer solar monitoring access.
Ideally, you’re not simply finding someone to complete a single repair. You’re establishing a relationship with a solar contractor who can provide ongoing service when you need it.
Start With a Solar System Diagnostic
Before replacing anything, have the system properly diagnosed.
A technician can identify your equipment, inspect the system, check production and error codes, and determine whether the problem involves the inverter, panels, optimizers, microinverters, electrical components, wiring, monitoring equipment, or another part of the system.
If you still have your original solar paperwork, keep it available. Contracts, plans, equipment specifications, permit documents, interconnection paperwork, and warranty information can help a new contractor understand how your system was originally designed.
The age of the system can also provide important clues. Systems installed within roughly the last seven or eight years commonly include equipment from manufacturers such as Enphase and SolarEdge. Older systems may use string inverters or equipment from manufacturers and product lines that are no longer widely supported.
In those cases, repairing an outdated inverter may not be practical. Replacing it with a newer compatible inverter may provide a better long-term solution.
Check Your Manufacturer Warranty Before Replacing Equipment
If an inverter or another component has failed, don’t immediately assume you need to purchase a replacement.
Many residential solar inverters were sold with warranties of around 10 years, although coverage varies by manufacturer, model, installation date, and whether an extended warranty was purchased.
A qualified solar contractor can diagnose the failure and, when applicable, work with the manufacturer to determine whether the equipment qualifies for warranty replacement. If approved, the manufacturer may provide replacement equipment according to the terms of the warranty.
Homeowners may still be responsible for diagnostic, labor, shipping, or other service costs. A manufacturer’s equipment warranty and a contractor’s service charges are separate. Even so, having the equipment itself covered can substantially reduce the total cost of the repair.
Enphase and SolarEdge Systems in Palm Desert
Two common systems contractors encounter are Enphase and SolarEdge, and each operates somewhat differently.
Enphase systems use microinverters installed beneath individual solar panels. If one microinverter fails, production may only be lost from the panel connected to it rather than from the entire array. Enphase systems can also experience communication problems where the solar panels continue producing electricity, but the monitoring equipment stops reporting correctly.
SolarEdge systems typically use power optimizers at the panels that communicate with a central inverter. An optimizer problem may affect an individual panel, while a failed central inverter can interrupt production from a much larger portion—or potentially all—of the system connected to it.
In either situation, proper diagnostics should come first. A contractor familiar with the equipment can identify the failed component and determine whether manufacturer warranty coverage may still apply.
What About Solar Systems More Than 10 Years Old?
Older systems can present different challenges because some inverter manufacturers or equipment lines may no longer be available.
If an older string inverter fails and replacement parts are unavailable, installing a newer compatible inverter may make more sense than attempting to repair outdated equipment.
For a straightforward older string inverter replacement, homeowners might see costs of approximately $2,500 to $3,500. However, this is only a general range. System size, inverter requirements, electrical configuration, labor, and necessary modifications can all affect the final price.
This is another reason a professional inspection is essential before making decisions about replacement equipment.
Keep an Eye on Your Solar Production
Monitoring is one of the most useful tools for identifying solar problems early. If your system supports monitoring, ask your new contractor about restoring or transferring access from the previous installer.
Monitoring can help you track solar production, view equipment status, identify communication issues, and catch failures before they lead to months of lost energy production.
If you have an older system without modern monitoring, become familiar with the inverter display or indicator lights and regularly review your utility statements. A sudden increase in your electricity bill or True-Up without a significant change in household energy use may indicate that your solar system is not producing as expected.
Don’t automatically assume the panels themselves have failed. Solar panels tend to be reliable, and service technicians frequently find problems involving inverters, optimizers, microinverters, breakers, disconnects, communication equipment, wiring, or connectors instead.
A proper diagnosis can prevent you from replacing equipment that is still functioning correctly.
What Should You Do If Your Palm Desert Solar Installer Goes Out of Business?
If you discover your original solar company is no longer operating, there is no need to assume the entire system needs to be replaced.
Start by gathering your original installation and warranty documents and finding a reputable local solar and electrical contractor that services existing systems. Determine what equipment you have, how old it is, and whether monitoring access is available.
If something has failed, have the system diagnosed before authorizing replacement equipment. Your new contractor can then determine whether the affected component is still covered by its manufacturer warranty or whether repair or replacement makes more financial sense.
Even if your system is currently working properly, finding a service provider now can save time later. You’ll know who to call if a problem develops and have a contractor who is already familiar with your system.
Keep Your Solar Investment Working in Palm Desert
If your original solar installer goes out of business, it doesn’t mean you’re stuck with an unsupported solar system. While the installer’s workmanship warranty may no longer be available, manufacturer warranties may still apply, and many systems can continue operating for years with proper service and maintenance.
At Supreme Solar and Electric, our Palm Desert solar experts work with homeowners whose original solar companies are no longer in business. We can inspect existing systems, diagnose production issues, work with multiple equipment manufacturers, assist with eligible warranty claims, restore monitoring when the equipment allows it, and provide ongoing solar service.
Your original installer may be gone, but your solar investment doesn’t have to go with them. Let Supreme Solar keep your solar going and help you continue to save with residential solar in Palm Desert.