Solar Panel Removal, Reinstallation, and Relocation
February 23, 2024
Is Solar Worth It? Key Questions to Ask Before Going Solar
March 15, 2024My Solar Company Disappeared! What To Do When Your Solar Company Goes Out of Business
As climate change becomes more and more of a reality, the world continues to move towards adapting clean, sustainable energy. The solar industry remains a crucial part of this movement, and as the industry grows, new companies continue to appear as more and more people attempt to get in on the action. It’s no surprise that there has been a boom in solar companies in recent years.
Basic economics teaches us that most of these companies won’t last very long. Many other factors – such as evolving technologies and everchanging legislation – affect the solar industry, as well as a company’s staying power. So it’s no surprise that there continues to be a revolving door of solar companies coming and going every couple years.
An unfortunate byproduct of this revolving door is the loss of a customer’s partner on their solar journey. As going solar is a long-term investment – panels are designed to last over 25 years and require occasional maintenance – having a company there for all your various maintenance and servicing needs along the way is just as important as having a company to install your panels at the outset. Many customers will experience the nightmare scenario of discovering their solar panels aren’t working, only to then learn that the company that installed them has completely disappeared. What do you do at that point?
Why Do Solar Installers Go Out of Business?
If you’re reading this, there’s a decent chance the solar company that you hired has recently gone out of business. This may have come as a surprise to you, but it’s unfortunately very common. So why does this keep happening? Some of the many reasons why your solar company fold include:
- Competition. Just like in any other field, even the most well-meaning companies may struggle to survive in a competitive industry, due to a lack of experience, money, or anything else that may put them a step behind the competition.
- Fly-By-Night Companies. On the other hand, some companies aren’t so well-meaning. Fly-by-night companies will do poor work to take advantage of customers, as well as government subsidies and tax credits, to make a quick profit. In the long run, companies that don’t do a good job won’t stick around for long.
- Poor Customer Service. This is often overlooked in the solar industry, as many will assume the job is done after installation. However, going solar is a long-term investment, and solar companies don’t always recognize that their job doesn’t end at installation. Down the line, customers will start needing maintenance and repair, and if companies aren’t prepared for this, their customer service will slip, and customers will become dissatisfied. Their reputation will gradually decline, and they likely won’t last in the competitive solar industry.
- Cheap Equipment. There’s no way around it: going solar is expensive. Companies will try to cut costs by using cheap equipment, and while this may help close more deals in the short term, it isn’t a great long-term strategy. Lower quality equipment means more frequent issues, more dissatisfied customers, and more time and money put into repairs. That’s not a formula that will last long.
- Legal Action. As a result of some of the shady business that some of these companies do, many will face legal action, which can lead to their closure.
What Happens if the Company That Did My Solar Installation Goes Out of Business?
You decide to go solar and, after getting quotes from a few companies, settle on one to do your installation. They come to your home, get your system set up, and just like that your home is running on solar power. You’re saving a bunch of money on your electric bills. Things are looking great. Until they’re not. One day, you get your electric bill and it’s much higher than usual. You realize your solar panels haven’t been working for a while, and you don’t know why. You call your solar company, and there’s no answer. You try sending them an email and get no response. After looking around on the internet, you come to the realization that they no longer exist. Now what?
Unfortunately, this is an all-too-common experience. The revolving door of solar companies has unfortunately left countless customers to fend for themselves. So what steps can you take to find a solution?
- Check Your Warranties. While some companies vanish completely, others are still reachable and may even honor your warranties. Check your warranties and see if you can reach your installer to see if they can still find a way to help you out.
- Find Out if Your Account Transferred. It’s possible that when the company closed, your account was transferred to another company. It’s also possible that your warranty was transferred too.
- Contact the Manufacturer. If there are issues with the equipment itself, the manufacturer’s warranty may cover it and they be able to help you find an installer to do the repairs.
- Consider Legal Action. If you are unable to get assistance and you think you’ve been scammed, it may be worth it to seek legal action against the company.
- Find Another Company. If you’re unable to reach your old company at all or get anything from your warranties, it’s time to find a new company. Find an installer that can repair your current issues as soon as possible. While many companies will not service a system they didn’t install, some are more than happy to help. Solar Discovery specializes in maintenance and repairs and will gladly provide services to those who have lost their solar companies.
The Importance of Choosing a Reliable Solar Company
This is not the first time mentioning it in this post, but the importance of finding a reliable, long-term partner to be there for your solar needs cannot be overstated. The best way to deal with the headaches of a disappearing solar company is to avoid the situation altogether. Do your due diligence and find a reputable company at the outset, and you’ll lower the odds of ever having to deal with the problems that come with your solar company going out of business.
How can you identify a reliable solar company? Here are a couple things to look for to help you find a company you can trust:
- Reviews. The best way to learn about a company is to hear what other customers have to say about them. Look around online and browse review sites like Yelp! to see what real customers have to say about them. In addition to what they write, take note of the dates of their reviews. Not only is it important that they have some recent ones to show they’re still providing quality services, but look at how long they’ve been around.
- The Five Year Rule. Generally, you want to find a company that has been around for at least five years. This shows that they are generally stable and trustworthy.
- Certifications. Check company websites to learn about their various industry certifications and insurance policies.
- Quality Equipment. Find out what equipment companies are installing. If they only install cheap brands, that may be a red flag.
Solar Discovery prides itself on being one of the most trusted names in the industry. Founded in 2016, we have been around for longer than most, and we owe it all to the quality of our work and to providing our customers with the best possible service – don’t ask us, just hear what they have to say. We are industry certified, and partner with quality brands like Panasonic, CertainTeed, and Tesla.
We know how difficult it can be to be caught in a pickle once your solar company disappears, so we happily offer a range of services and maintenance regardless of whether or not we did your original installation. SunPower, once a major player in the solar industry, filed for bankruptcy in 2024. We provide services and support for SunPower customers.
Some of our services include solar panel repairs, solar panel removal and reinstallation, inverter troubleshooting, and more. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with all of your solar needs.
