Frequently Asked Questions

Compare this month's production with the same month last year in your monitoring app, or look for a jump in your electric bill. Also check the inverter for a red or amber light or an error code. A sudden drop to zero usually points to the inverter or a breaker. A slow decline is more often dust, shading or one failed microinverter.

Yes. Panels and inverters have their own manufacturer warranties that usually survive the installer. We identify the equipment, check what is still covered, and repair or replace what is not.

Fixr's cost guide puts a typical repair between $400 and $1,000, with an average around $750. Fixr lists inverter replacement at $1,000 to $3,000, and HomeGuide puts loose or chewed wiring repair at $100 to $400. Your written estimate is the actual price.

Check the top of your electric bill. Most of Mesa is SRP. The City of Mesa's electric utility serves a smaller area anchored downtown, and the city has a service area map on its website. It matters because each utility has its own process when solar equipment changes.

Heat lowers output while it is hot, but it does not usually break the panel itself. The bigger risk is to inverters and other electronics, which age faster in sustained heat. Shading an inverter and keeping its vents clear helps.

Leased systems and power purchase agreements are owned by the leasing company, which normally handles repairs and must approve outside work. Call them first. If they will not respond or the company no longer exists, we can talk through your options.

The city requires a construction permit for installing or modifying electrical systems. Simple fixes like cleaning or reseating a connector do not change the system, but swapping an inverter or taking the array off and putting it back often does. We confirm with the right building office for your address.

Many inverters reduce output or shut down to protect themselves when they get too hot. A clogged fan, blocked vents or a wall in full western sun can push them over the limit. Shading the unit or cleaning its cooling path often helps. If it keeps happening on mild days, the inverter may be failing.

HomeGuide puts typical string inverter life at 10 to 15 years, and microinverters at 15 to 25. Panels usually outlast the first string inverter, so most owners replace it at least once.

Many manuals give a shutdown and restart sequence, usually turning off the AC side, then the DC disconnect, then restarting in reverse. Follow your manual exactly. If the fault comes back, call for service rather than resetting it over and over.

Usually, as long as it is sized and configured for your array's voltage and current. We match the replacement to the panels and, for City of Mesa electric customers, to the program's inverter capacity limit.

No. Get the roof quote first, then the removal and reinstall quote, so both trades can agree on dates. Tell the roofer there is solar on the roof so their price includes working around the mounts.

Manufacturer warranties generally cover defects, not handling. Careful removal and reinstall should not affect them, but any damage during handling would not be covered. We photograph and test the system before removal so its condition is on record.

Sometimes, if the reroof itself is part of a covered claim. Ask your adjuster whether solar detach and reset is included, and send them our itemized estimate.

Yes. With the panels coming off and going back on, adding mesh around the edges takes much less time than doing it later.

They will try, and they may hang around the roof for a while. With every edge closed, they cannot get under the panels, and they eventually move on to easier spots.

The clips grip the panel frame without drilling, so nothing penetrates the panels or the roof. Warranty terms vary by manufacturer, so check yours; we can show you the clip type before installing.

DIY kits exist, but the work is on a hot roof, often on tile, and the cleanout under the panels is the dirty part. If you do it yourself, turn the system off first and do not pull on wiring.

Droppings on the glass block light, and chewed wiring can take a string offline. The nests themselves mostly cause roof and noise problems, but the wiring risk is the reason to act early.

There is no fixed rule. Many owners check once a year, or after a big storm. If your monitoring shows steady production close to past years, you can stretch it out.

Yes. A general home inspector may only note that solar exists. A solar inspection tells you whether it works, whether it is owned or leased, and what may need attention soon.

We can tell you the age and condition of the parts. Inverters are the main item with a known service life, roughly 10 to 15 years for string inverters per HomeGuide, so we note how close yours is.

We can usually read the inverter directly. Many manufacturers also allow a new owner to transfer or create a monitoring account with the serial number.

Not usually. One failed unit takes only one panel offline, so the rest of the system keeps working. It is still worth fixing, because that panel produces nothing until it is replaced.

That is usually a communication issue, not a mass failure. The gateway may have lost Wi-Fi or power, or a breaker may have tripped. Check that the gateway has power and internet before assuming the worst.

Usually not. Microinverter warranties are issued by the manufacturer, and the installer closing does not cancel them. Labor is the part that typically is not covered.

Sometimes, depending on the brand and gateway. Some newer models cannot share a circuit or gateway with older ones. We check before ordering.

On a ground-mounted array, a gentle rinse is fine. On a roof, the risk is the ladder and the tile, not the panels. Avoid pressure washers, abrasive pads and harsh soap, and do not spray cold water on panels that are hot from the sun.

A real soaking rain helps, but Mesa does not get many. Light monsoon showers that follow a dust storm can leave the panels dirtier than before.

About twice a year is a common starting point in dry, dusty areas. Watch your production data, and clean when output drifts down without any fault codes.

Gentle cleaning with soft brushes and plain or purified water is what manufacturers expect. Abrasive tools or harsh chemicals that scratch or etch the glass are the real risk.