Frequently Asked Questions

Compare this month's production in your monitoring app with the same month last year. A drop of more than a few percent in similar weather, an inverter warning light, a panel reading well below its neighbors or a monitoring app that stopped updating are all reasons to have it checked.

You can call us. We service systems regardless of who installed them. The equipment manufacturer's product warranty usually still applies even if the installer is gone, but some manufacturers want warranty work done by companies they approve, so check with the manufacturer first and have the make and model of your panels and inverter ready.

Fixr's national cost guide puts a typical repair at $400 to $1,000, with inverter work ranging from $500 to $3,000. The real number depends on what failed, whether parts are under warranty and how hard the roof is to work on. We give a written estimate before any work starts.

Some summer loss is normal in Tucson. Panels lose efficiency as they get hotter, and monsoon clouds and dust also cut output. A large or sudden drop, or one that does not recover in the fall, points to a fault worth checking.

A like-for-like repair usually does not change your interconnection. TEP says a new application is required if you add panels or another inverter. If a repair changes system size or adds storage, we handle the application along with any permit.

Check your lease first. Most leases and power purchase agreements make the leasing company responsible for maintenance and repairs, and outside work may break that agreement. If the lease does not cover it, or you own the system, we can help.

Ground-mounted panels can often be rinsed with a soft brush and clean water. Climbing onto a roof, opening a combiner box or working inside an inverter is not safe for a homeowner, and manufacturers warn that unauthorized work can void a warranty.

String inverters commonly carry 5 to 10 year warranties, and many need replacement somewhere in their second decade. Microinverters usually come with 15 to 25 year warranties. Heat shortens the life of the capacitors inside, which matters in Tucson.

Write down or photograph any error code, check that the AC breaker and DC disconnect have not tripped, and do not open the unit. If a reset does not clear it, call us with the code and the brand.

Sometimes. Microinverters help when some panels are shaded or face different directions, and one failure only affects one panel. They cost more and put more electronics on the roof. We compare both for your roof before you decide.

If it is within the manufacturer's warranty period, the part usually is. Labor is often not covered; EnergySage notes, for example, that Enphase's warranty does not cover labor while Tesla's covers inverter labor. We check your coverage before quoting.

It depends on the change. A different size or type of inverter can trigger both a permit and a new TEP application. We confirm with the city or county and the utility before the work and include those steps in the quote.

If your roof is close to the end of its life, it is cheaper to replace it before panels go up. If you already have solar, plan the reroof with removal and reinstall built into the budget and the schedule.

As long as the roof work takes, plus a day or two on each end for removal and reinstall. A flat-roof recoat can be quick, while a full tile reroof takes longer. We give you dates that match your roofer's schedule.

Manufacturers set their own rules, and some require that their equipment be handled by particular installers. We check your panel and inverter warranty terms before we start and tell you what we find.

Yes, but adding panels or an inverter means a new TEP application and Permission to Operate before restart, and often a permit. We plan the timeline around those steps.

Flat roofs usually use tilted racks, either attached through the roof and sealed or held with ballast blocks. Which one works depends on the roof structure and coating. We match what is there or explain why a change is needed.

The space under an array is shaded, dry and protected from wind and predators. For a pigeon, it is a ready-made shelter, especially in a hot climate like Tucson's.

A proper guard clips to the panel frames without drilling into the panels or the roof. If you are unsure about your specific warranty terms, we can look them over with you before the install.

Removing nests means working on a roof, around live wiring and in bird droppings, which carry health risks. And without mesh, the birds usually come back quickly. It is a job worth leaving to someone with the right equipment.

Open mesh lets air flow under the panels. What hurts cooling is the nesting material that piles up when there is no guard.

Yes. The clips come off when the panels need to come down for a reroof or repair, and the mesh can be put back or replaced afterward.

Common causes include a failing inverter or microinverter, dust build-up, a tripped breaker, damaged wiring, shading from new growth and nesting under the array. Weather differences between years matter too, so we compare against similar conditions before naming a cause.

It depends on system size, panel direction and tilt, shading and the time of year. Your installer's original production estimate is a good baseline. We can compare actual output with that estimate during a diagnostic.

Not necessarily. Often the monitoring gateway lost its Wi-Fi connection. Check whether the inverter shows normal lights and your meter is recording exports. If you are not sure, we can check both.

Most visits take a few hours, depending on system size, roof access and how hard the fault is to find. Intermittent problems can take longer to pin down.

Yes. We work on string inverter, microinverter and optimizer systems regardless of installer, including systems whose installer is no longer in business.

Common reasons are a battery set to a low reserve, a backup gateway fault, or a system that only backs up certain circuits. We test the backup function and the settings to find which it is.

Lithium batteries limit charging when they get too warm to protect the cells. A battery in direct sun on a Tucson wall can hit those limits. Shade or better airflow may help.

Often, yes, but it is a system change. It usually requires a new TEP application and a permit, and the right battery depends on your inverter. We can look at what fits.

Many home batteries carry long manufacturer warranties, often tied to years or energy throughput. We check your model and serial number before quoting any replacement.

About twice a year works for many homes, often before summer and after the monsoon. Homes near dirt roads, construction or heavy bird activity may need it more often. Your production data will tell you.

Tucson does not get much rain, and short monsoon storms often leave muddy streaks rather than a clean rinse. Low-tilt panels on flat roofs especially tend to hold onto dirt.

On reachable panels, a gentle rinse is fine, but minerals in tap water can leave spots as it dries. Avoid pressure washers, abrasive pads and harsh cleaners, which can damage the glass.

HomeGuide says most residential cleanings take 1 to 3 hours. Larger systems, steep or tile roofs and heavy grime take longer.

It depends on how dirty the panels are. A cleaning company quoted by EnergySage reports typical gains of 10% to 25% for its customers. If your production rebounds noticeably afterward, the cleaning paid for itself in output.