My Solar Installer Went Out of Business — Now What?

If your solar installer went out of business, you're not alone. Over 100 solar companies filed for bankruptcy or closed in 2024 alone, leaving thousands of homeowners — sometimes called "solar orphans" — without anyone to call when something goes wrong.

Your System Still Works — Probably

The good news: your solar panels and inverter don't need your installer to keep running. They'll continue producing electricity as long as the hardware is functioning. The bad news: if something breaks, you need to find help on your own.

Step 1: Check Your Equipment Warranties

Your installer may be gone, but your equipment warranties likely aren't. Most solar panels have 25-year manufacturer warranties, and inverters typically have 12-25 year warranties. These are with the equipment manufacturer (like SunPower, LG, SolarEdge, Enphase), not your installer.

Step 2: Set Up Independent Monitoring

Many homeowners relied on their installer to monitor their system. Without them, you need to set up your own monitoring. If you have a SolarEdge or Enphase system, you can use SolarDoctor to get a free health score that tells you if your system is performing as expected.

Step 3: Find a Local Solar Maintenance Company

You don't need your original installer to service your system. Any licensed solar contractor can perform maintenance, diagnose issues, and make repairs. Look for companies that specifically advertise maintenance services — they're used to working on systems they didn't install.

Step 4: Know the Warning Signs

The biggest risk for solar orphans isn't that something will break — it's that something will break and you won't notice for months. A failing inverter or cracked panel can silently cost you hundreds of dollars per month in lost production. This is exactly why monitoring matters.

SolarDoctor was built specifically to solve this problem. We give you a simple health score so you always know how your system is doing — no installer required.