Solar Power System Repair: When It Isn’t Working Properly

We’re often contacted by homeowners and business owners who know their solar power systems aren’t working properly, but who don’t know what to do next. Oftentimes, they aren’t sure as to who originally installed their panels, whether they’re still covered by warranty, or who can service them.

Here’s a rundown of the common scenarios we see, and who can help you in each situation.

Solar System Installed Under a PPA or Solar Lease

Many people have solar power systems that they don’t own, but which were instead acquired through a power purchase agreement (PPA) or other solar lease option. If you are unsure as to whether this is the case, did you receive the Investment Tax Credit when you acquired your system? If not, then you are likely leasing your system.

If your panels are under a PPA or solar lease, no solar company, including Capital City Solar, should perform repairs on these leased systems. This is because you are renting the system, and thus cannot give us the permission necessary to perform repairs. Only the company through which you are leasing the system can make needed repairs.

However, if your company or finance company is no longer able to service your system, call our office, as we will be able to assist you with your needs.

Solar System Purchased from & Installed by a Company No Longer in Business

Are you having problems with a solar power system that was installed five to ten years ago? If so, the odds are quite high that when you called the phone number on your system’s warranty paperwork, nobody answered the phone.

It’s an unfortunate truth that many solar installation companies only stay in business for a few years. In 2018, we researched 30 of the companies listed by Solar Power World in 2013 as their Top Residential Solar Contractors. Five years later, half of them were out of business, no longer offering residential services, or had been acquired by another company.

Consequently, there is a very good chance that you’ve found yourself in a situation where either your system is no longer under warranty, or it’s under warranty but you can’t reach the original installer. In this scenario, your warranty likely will not cover labor costs. However, Capital City Solar is one of the few local installation companies that will service solar systems we did not originally install. This means that you’ll at least be able to take advantage of your warranty’s coverage of panels, inverters, modules, monitoring equipment, and other costly parts.

Solar System No Longer Under Warranty

There is no one-size-fits-all warranty for solar power systems. Depending on the manufacturer of the solar power equipment, and the company that installed it, labor and the various aspects of your system may be under warranty for anywhere from a few years to over 20 years.

Given that solar power has been widely popular in California for years, we are now seeing systems that are partially or fully no longer under warranty.

But we can still service these systems! In addition, we can help you review your warranty and work with the manufacturer to determine whether some parts are still under warranty, and thus help you reduce the out-of-pocket cost for repairing your system to get it up and running again.

If you would like to learn more about our solar power repair services, or need assistance identifying the warranty details of your system, contact Capital City Solar today!