SOLAR / HOMEOWNER GUIDE
Solar panels not working? Start with the right question.
You paid for solar. Now something looks wrong. Before someone sells you a fix, make sure they can explain the problem.
By ProjectSide · October 21, 2026
Is the system not producing, or not reporting?
Check the last update time in your monitoring app. A stale chart cannot establish what the equipment is doing now. SolarEdge distinguishes its production indicators from its communication indicators. Use the owner guidance for your specific equipment rather than assuming every brand works the same way.
A higher bill is a clue, not a diagnosis.
Look at billed electricity use, the billing dates and any rate changes alongside your solar production history. A new electric vehicle, heating demand or a different billing period can change the comparison. Ask the provider to explain the production evidence behind a repair recommendation instead of treating the bill alone as proof of failure.
Compare a useful period.
One cloudy afternoon cannot tell you whether a system has a lasting problem. Save recent daily and monthly production records and, if available, the corresponding period from last year. Note changes in shade, roof work or equipment. A technician can interpret those records with the system design and conditions at the property.
Capture the message before it disappears.
Write down the exact error wording, when it started and whether the whole system or only part appears affected. Take screenshots of the app and photographs of labels only where safely accessible. Keep the installer’s contact details and any previous support case number together. Do not climb onto the roof or open electrical equipment to collect evidence.
Ask for findings before a shopping list.
If a provider recommends a new inverter, ask what testing supports that recommendation and whether other faults were ruled out. If the proposal is for a whole new system, ask why the existing components cannot be repaired or retained. The goal is a repair tied to evidence, not simply the largest available package.
Know when to stop troubleshooting.
Smoke, a burning smell, exposed wiring or damaged equipment is not an app problem. Keep away from the equipment and get appropriate urgent help; call emergency services for fire or immediate danger. For routine connection problems, follow only the manufacturer’s owner instructions. Electrical diagnosis belongs with a qualified technician.
Get a next step you can understand.
Ask whether support can review the records remotely, whether a site visit is needed and what that visit costs. Request written findings, proposed work and a plan for verifying the result. If your installer is unavailable, the manufacturer may be able to explain your support options or help you find a qualified service company.
Questions before you take the next step.
Does an offline app mean my solar has stopped?
Not necessarily. Missing communication is not enough to prove lost production. Confirm equipment status using the correct manufacturer guidance or a qualified technician.
Should I buy more panels because my bill is high?
First understand current production and household electricity use. Adding panels is a separate design decision and should not substitute for checking an unexplained fault.