You invested in solar expecting your system to produce electricity for decades. Then something goes wrong, your monitoring stops working, an inverter fails, you need to replace your roof, or you want to add a battery.
You call your original installer and discover the company is no longer in business.
What happens now?
The good news is that your solar system does not stop being serviceable just because the company that installed it closed. In many cases, another experienced solar contractor can inspect your system, troubleshoot problems, work with equipment manufacturers, replace failed components, restore monitoring, or help you determine the best path forward.
At Infinium Solar, Roofing, and Electric, we regularly hear from Bay Area homeowners who need help with solar systems installed by companies that are no longer around.
Here is what you should do next.
1. Don’t Assume You Need a New Solar System
One of the most important things to understand is that losing your original installer does not automatically mean your solar system needs to be replaced.
Many problems can be isolated to a specific component or communication issue.
For example, your system may have:
- A failed inverter or microinverter
- A monitoring or internet connectivity problem
- A communication device that is no longer working
- A battery issue
- A tripped breaker or electrical problem
- One or more underperforming panels
- An equipment configuration or software issue
Before considering a complete replacement, have the existing system evaluated by a qualified solar service provider.
A properly functioning older solar system can still have years of useful production remaining.
2. Find Your Original Solar Documents
Before contacting another solar company, gather as much information about your system as possible.
Helpful documents include your original contract, solar plans, equipment specifications, permits, warranties, PTO documentation from your utility, monitoring login information, and any previous service records.
You should also try to identify the major equipment installed on your home, including:
- Solar panels
- Inverter or microinverters
- Battery storage
- Monitoring equipment
- Electrical equipment
Even if you cannot find everything, don’t panic. An experienced technician can often identify the equipment during an inspection.
Having the documentation simply makes troubleshooting easier.
3. Check Your Manufacturer Warranties
Your installation company closing does not necessarily mean your equipment warranties disappeared.
Solar panels, inverters, microinverters, batteries, and other equipment are generally manufactured by companies separate from the contractor that installed them.
Depending on the manufacturer, product, age of the system, and warranty terms, some equipment may still have warranty coverage.
That could include equipment from manufacturers such as Enphase, SolarEdge, Tesla, FranklinWH, REC, Maxeon, and others.
However, there is an important distinction between an equipment manufacturer’s warranty and an installer’s workmanship warranty.
A manufacturer may cover a defective component, but that does not necessarily mean labor, troubleshooting, removal, shipping, or installation of the replacement equipment will be covered.
A service contractor can help you determine what equipment is installed and whether pursuing manufacturer support makes sense.
4. Check Your Solar Monitoring
If you still have access to your monitoring application, take a look at your recent production.
Check for:
- Sudden drops in solar production
- Panels or microinverters showing errors
- Battery alerts
- Communication failures
- Extended periods with no production data
- Production that appears significantly lower than normal
Keep in mind that a monitoring problem does not always mean your solar system has stopped producing electricity.
Sometimes the solar equipment is operating normally while the monitoring system has lost its internet or cellular connection.
That is why proper troubleshooting is important before replacing equipment.
5. Contact a Solar Company That Services Existing Systems
Not every solar installer works on systems installed by other contractors.
Some companies focus almost entirely on new installations.
When contacting a replacement service provider, ask whether they work on third-party or orphaned solar systems, meaning systems whose original installer is no longer available.
Be prepared to provide information such as:
- Your address
- Approximate installation year
- System size
- Equipment manufacturer
- Battery manufacturer, if applicable
- Current problem
- Monitoring screenshots or error messages
- Original installer
The more information you can provide upfront, the easier it will be for the service team to determine the appropriate next step.
6. What If My Solar Inverter Fails?
An inverter failure is one of the more significant problems an older solar system can experience.
The inverter converts the DC electricity generated by your solar panels into AC electricity that your home can use.
Depending on the system design, replacing an inverter may be relatively straightforward or it may require additional investigation.
Older systems can sometimes present compatibility challenges because certain equipment has been discontinued or newer replacement products operate differently.
Before replacing the entire solar array, an experienced contractor can evaluate whether a compatible inverter or alternative solution is available.
In some situations, keeping the existing panels and replacing only the necessary equipment may make more sense than starting over.
7. What If I Need a New Roof?
This is another common situation for homeowners with older solar systems.
Your solar panels may still be performing well, but the roof underneath them may be reaching the end of its life.
Replacing the roof typically requires the solar array to be temporarily removed.
The general process is:
Solar removal → Roof replacement → Solar reinstallation
This is where working with a company that handles both roofing and solar can make the project much easier.
Instead of coordinating one company to remove the solar, another company to replace the roof, and then another schedule for reinstalling the system, Infinium can coordinate the work between our in-house solar and roofing teams.
It also gives the contractor an opportunity to evaluate the existing solar equipment before it goes back onto the roof.
8. This May Be a Good Time to Evaluate a Battery
If your system is already being serviced or modified, it may also be worth discussing whether battery storage fits your goals.
Many older solar systems were installed before residential batteries became common.
Homeowners today may want storage for:
- Backup power during outages
- Greater control over when solar energy is used
- Increased self-consumption
- Home electrification
- Future electrical loads
- Energy resilience
Adding a battery does not necessarily require replacing your existing solar panels.
Whether a battery can be added depends on your existing equipment, electrical system, system configuration, and what you want the battery to accomplish.
9. Be Careful With the “Replace Everything” Approach
If your original installer disappeared and your system develops a problem, you may encounter companies that immediately recommend replacing the entire system.
Sometimes replacement is appropriate.
Sometimes it isn’t.
A good evaluation should first determine what is actually wrong, what equipment is still functioning properly, what warranty coverage may remain, and whether compatible replacement components are available.
There is no reason to discard functioning solar equipment simply because one component has failed if there is a practical way to repair the system.
At the same time, extremely old equipment, discontinued components, roof conditions, electrical limitations, or future energy needs can sometimes make upgrading the system the more practical long-term option.
The answer depends on the individual home and system.
Your Solar Company Closed. Your Options Didn’t.
Finding out that your solar installer went out of business can be frustrating, especially when your system needs immediate attention.
But you still have options.
Start by gathering your system information, checking your monitoring, identifying your equipment, and finding an experienced solar contractor that is willing to work on an existing system.
Since 2008, Infinium Solar, Roofing, and Electric has helped Bay Area homeowners with solar, battery storage, roofing, and electrical projects.
Whether you need help troubleshooting an existing system, replacing failed equipment, removing and reinstalling solar for a reroof, adding battery storage, or evaluating whether an older system should be upgraded, our team can help you understand your options.
Need Help With a Solar System Installed by Another Company?
If your original solar installer is no longer in business, contact Infinium Solar, Roofing, and Electric.
Our team can review your existing system, determine the appropriate next steps, and help you understand whether service, repair, an upgrade, solar removal and reinstallation, or a new project makes the most sense for your home.
Serving homeowners throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Contact Infinium today to get started.
