My installer went out of business and I can’t find anyone to repair my system. Now what?

Solar is typically a low-maintenance investment, and that’s great. But maybe your inverter went out. Maybe you just want someone to check your system out and make sure it’s working properly. You call your installer and learn they are no longer in business. What then?

You could try calling some other area installers to see if they can help. The problem is that it is still quite expensive for an average solar installer to send a technician out to a home they didn’t originally service.

That’s exactly what happened to one Solar Rights Alliance member, who contacted us in frustration. We always want to help our members, so we searched the internet. Here are the results of our search. This is by no means exhaustive, and should also not be taken to be an endorsement of any kind.

Indaspec serves both the San Jose area and Southern California.

SunSystem Technology serves many parts of California, call them to see if they serve your area.

HelioPower serves in Southern California.

SemperSolaris offers a solar repair service in San Diego, Inland Empire and lower Central Valley.

Sustainable Electric Solutions serves the Pomona area.

HomeAdvisor lists these solar repair services in Los Angeles.

Apex Solar serves the San Jose area.

Solar Maintenance Pros works in the Central Valley.

Capital City Solar offers repair and maintenance in the Sacramento area.

Halvorsen Solar Service serves the North Bay Area.

We would love to hear your recommendations as well — please write to [email protected].

1. By law, all California contractors have to guarantee 10 years of workmanship. This is useful if your solar installer is still in business, and less useful if they aren’t.
2. Most manufacturers of solar modules, racking and inverters offer their own warranties. The typical warranty is for 25 years, but it is a good idea to double check with your installer to make sure the coverage is solid. Also make sure the warranty is backed by a reputable third party in the event the manufacturer goes out of business.
3. There is a hot debate about whether or not an extended warranty is a good idea or a waste of money. Get advice from your installer on this point. If you are still torn, it may make sense to buy an extended warranty for just your inverter, which is the most common piece of equipment to malfunction.