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Reviewed by Credible Law · Updated September 2026

A solar system is supposed to be the quiet part of your house. When it isn’t, the problems tend to arrive in a familiar order: a leak or a low production number, a service ticket, a promise that someone will come out, and then silence. Solar installer problems are among the most common consumer complaints tied to rooftop solar, and they are rarely just a technical issue. Behind most of them is a contract, a warranty, or a financing agreement that says who has to fix it.

This guide is the starting point for homeowners whose solar company won’t fix problems with their system. It sorts the five most common problems, explains who is usually responsible for each, and walks through the steps that move a stalled claim. Each problem has its own detailed guide, linked below. CredibleLaw is a national legal resource and attorney referral network, not a law firm. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Short answer: If your solar installer won’t fix a problem, start with the documents. Your installation contract and written warranties say who must repair what, and for how long. Put every request in writing, keep proof of delivery, and document the problem before anything is repaired. If the installer still refuses or disappears, escalate to the equipment manufacturer, your state contractor licensing board, your state attorney general, and, if the system was financed, your lender. Federal warranty law and many state consumer laws let a homeowner who wins recover attorney’s fees.

The Five Most Common Solar Installer Problems

Most installer disputes fall into one of five situations. Find the row that matches yours, then follow the link to the guide that covers it in depth.

Problem	Warning signs	Usually responsible	Detailed guide
System not producing enough	Output 20% or more below the estimate for several months; inverter errors; zero output on sunny days	Installer (workmanship, production guarantee) or manufacturer (equipment)	Not producing
Savings not as promised	System produces normally but bills stay high; savings sheet assumed rates or credits that never applied	Seller, if the estimate was misleading	Promised savings
Roof damage or leaks	Ceiling stains, drips after rain, cracked tiles, water near mounting points	Installer (workmanship warranty, liability insurance, bond)	Roof damage
Warranty claim denied	Claim rejected, ignored, or blamed on another party; “not covered” with no explanation	Installer or manufacturer, depending on the warranty	Warranty denied
Permission to operate (PTO) delay	Panels installed but not turned on; no utility approval; paying a loan on a system that produces nothing	Installer, which typically manages permits and interconnection	PTO delay

Who Is Responsible? Installer, Seller, Manufacturer, Lender, or Leasing Company

The hardest part of many solar disputes is that several companies touched the project, and each one points at another. Knowing who promised what is the first step to making the right company fix it.

The company that signed your contract

As a general rule, the company named on your installation contract is responsible for the work, even if it sent a subcontracted crew to your roof. Many residential solar deals are sold by one company and installed by another. That does not usually let the seller off the hook: it made the promises and took on the obligation to deliver a working system.

The equipment manufacturer

Panels, inverters, and batteries usually carry their own manufacturer warranties, separate from the installer’s workmanship warranty. If the problem is a defective product rather than the installation, the manufacturer’s warranty is the one to invoke. Manufacturer warranties generally survive even when the installer goes out of business.

The lender, if your system was financed

If a finance company paid the installer, the FTC Holder Rule may let you raise the installer’s failures against the lender. It applies to many consumer credit contracts arranged by the seller. See our guide to the FTC Holder Rule and solar loans and the broader solar loan problems hub.

The leasing company or PPA provider

If you lease the system or buy its power under a power purchase agreement, you usually do not own the equipment. The leasing company typically owns it and is often responsible for maintenance and repairs under the agreement. Check the maintenance and performance sections of your contract, and see our guide on how to get out of a solar lease or PPA.

Not sure which company should fix your system? An attorney can read your contract, warranties, and financing papers and tell you who is responsible. CredibleLaw can connect you with an independent attorney who handles solar disputes, at no cost to be matched. Request a Free Case Review → or call 888-201-0441 CredibleLaw is an attorney referral network, not a law firm. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.

The Installer Problems This Guide Covers

Each of the problems below has its own page. This section gives you the short version so you can tell which one fits.

Your solar system is not producing enough

A system producing well below its estimate usually has a cause: a failing inverter, wiring faults, heavy shading the design ignored, or a system sized too small. Compare a full year of monitoring data against the production number in your contract. A single weak winter month proves little.

If your contract includes a production guarantee, a shortfall below that number may entitle you to compensation. Read the full guide: solar system not producing enough.

Your solar panels are not saving you money

Sometimes the panels produce what they should, but the bills never dropped the way the salesperson said they would. Common reasons include savings estimates that assumed a tax credit you could not use, utility rate or net metering changes, or a loan or lease payment that costs more than the power the system replaces.

Whether that is a legal claim depends on what you were told and what was in writing. The federal residential solar credit under Section 25D ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025, so a 2026 pitch built on that credit deserves a close look. Read the full guide: solar panels not saving money.

Solar panels damaged your roof or caused a leak

Every rooftop array is anchored through dozens of roof penetrations. When they are not properly sealed and flashed, water gets in. Leaks at mounting points, cracked tiles, and water intrusion usually point back to the installer’s workmanship.

Photograph everything before any repair and get an independent inspection. Read the full guide: solar panel roof damage claims.

Your solar warranty claim was denied

A denial is not always the final word. Warranties often get denied because the claim went to the wrong company, because the installer blames the manufacturer (or the reverse), or because of a notice or maintenance condition buried in the fine print.

Get the denial in writing, read which warranty you actually claimed under, and resubmit to the right warrantor with documentation. Read the full guide: solar warranty claim denied.

Your system is installed but has no permission to operate

Permission to operate (PTO) is the utility’s approval to connect your system to the grid. Until you have it, you generally should not turn the system on, and you may be paying a loan on equipment that produces nothing. The installer usually handles the permit, inspection, and interconnection paperwork, which is why a long delay is often an installer problem, not a utility problem.

Delays can also cost money beyond the wait. In California, for example, the utility tariff a system lands on was set by when its interconnection application was submitted. A complete application by April 14, 2023 kept the older NEM 2.0 terms, while later applications fell under the Net Billing Tariff, which pays much less for exported power. Read the full guide: solar permission to operate delay.

The Legal Tools That Can Make an Installer Act

You don’t need to know every law to protect yourself, but it helps to know which levers exist. An attorney can tell you which ones fit your facts and your state.

Your contract and written warranties

Most installer disputes are, at bottom, breach of contract or breach of warranty claims. Read the workmanship warranty, the equipment warranties, any production guarantee, and the notice requirements. Many warranties require written notice within a set time, and some require you to use the company’s own dispute process first.

The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. § 2301 and following) governs written warranties on consumer products and lets a consumer sue for breach of a written or implied warranty. A consumer who wins may be awarded costs and reasonable attorney’s fees (15 U.S.C. § 2310(d)(2)). The warrantor must generally be given a reasonable opportunity to fix the problem first. Whether the Act reaches installation work on a home, as opposed to the equipment itself, can depend on the facts, so ask an attorney.

State consumer protection laws

Every state has a law against unfair or deceptive business practices. Many of them allow a consumer to recover damages and, in some states, attorney’s fees or enhanced damages. These laws are often the right fit when the problem started with a misleading sales pitch rather than a broken part.

Contractor licensing boards, bonds, and recovery funds

State contractor licensing boards take complaints and can discipline a license, which gets many installers’ attention. Licensed contractors in many states also carry a bond that can pay homeowner claims. Some states go further. Arizona’s Residential Contractors’ Recovery Fund, for example, can pay a homeowner up to $30,000 in actual damages caused by a licensed residential contractor, capped at $200,000 per license (A.R.S. § 32-1132.01).

Claims against the lender

If your system was financed through the installer, the Holder Rule may let you assert the installer’s failures against the lender, up to what you have paid under the loan. Stopping payment is not the same thing, and doing it without a plan can hurt your credit and your case. See what happens if you stop paying a solar loan.

What to Do First When Your Solar Company Won’t Fix Problems

These steps apply to nearly every installer problem. Doing them in order protects your claim and often resolves the dispute before it needs a lawyer.

Document the problem before anything is repaired. Take dated photos and video, save monitoring screenshots, and keep utility bills from before and after installation. Repairs can erase the evidence your claim depends on.
Gather your paperwork. Find the installation contract, every warranty, the production or savings estimate, any financing or lease agreement, permit records, and all messages with the company.
Make your request in writing. Send a clear, dated written request describing the problem and what you want done. Reference the warranty section that applies and keep proof of delivery.
Check the license and bond. Look up the installer on your state contractor licensing board website. Note the license number, status, and any bond on file.
Go to the right warrantor. If the installer blames the equipment, file directly with the manufacturer. If the manufacturer blames the installation, put that in writing and send it back to the installer.
Escalate to regulators and your lender. File complaints with the licensing board and your state attorney general. If the system is financed, notify the lender in writing about the installer’s failure.
Get an attorney review before a deadline passes. Warranty notice periods and statutes of limitation keep running while you wait. A review can tell you which claims you have and how long you have to bring them.

Written requests going nowhere? A letter from an attorney often moves a claim that a homeowner’s own emails could not. Request a free case review to find out what your contract and warranties entitle you to. Request a Free Case Review → or call 888-201-0441 CredibleLaw is an attorney referral network, not a law firm. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Mistakes That Make Installer Problems Worse

Hiring someone else to fix it first. Work by another contractor can void the installer’s warranty and erase the evidence of what went wrong. Get the problem documented and give the warrantor its chance first, unless you face an emergency like an active leak.
Removing the panels yourself. This can breach the contract, void warranties, and create new roof damage that becomes your responsibility.
Signing a release for a small credit. Some companies offer a bill credit or small payment in exchange for a release of all claims. Read anything you are asked to sign before you accept.
Relying on phone promises. If it isn’t in writing, it is hard to prove later. Follow every call with an email that confirms what was said.
Stopping loan payments without a strategy. It can turn a strong claim against the installer into a collection case against you.
Waiting too long. Warranty notice windows and filing deadlines are easy to miss while waiting on a service ticket.

Where to File a Complaint Against a Solar Installer

Complaints create a record, and records create pressure. Here is where each type of complaint goes.

Where	What it handles	Best for
State contractor licensing board	Workmanship, abandoned jobs, unlicensed work, license discipline; in some states, bonds and recovery funds	Leaks, defective installs, unfinished work
State attorney general (consumer protection)	Deceptive sales practices and patterns of complaints against one company	Misleading savings or tax-credit claims
Your utility	Interconnection status, inspections, and permission to operate	Finding out where a PTO delay actually sits
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau	Complaints about lenders and loan servicers	Financed systems where the lender won’t respond
Federal Trade Commission (ReportFraud.ftc.gov)	Reports of fraud and deceptive practices	Adding to the national record on a company
Local building department	Permit and inspection records	Confirming permits were pulled and passed

State Rules Make a Difference

Solar contracts are governed largely by state law, and the protections vary a great deal. California is a useful example. A solar contractor there must hold an active Contractors State License Board license in the C-46 (Solar), C-10 (Electrical), or B (General Building) classification. Sellers must also give homeowners a Solar Energy System Disclosure Document under Business and Professions Code § 7169, which shows the total cost and estimated savings. Those records are often the starting point for a savings or misrepresentation dispute.

Other states differ on licensing, cancellation rights, recovery funds, and consumer remedies. An attorney licensed in your state can tell you which rules apply to your contract.

When to Talk to an Attorney About Solar Installer Problems

You can resolve some problems yourself, such as a straightforward equipment warranty claim or a missed service appointment. It is worth talking to an attorney when:

The installer has stopped responding or refuses a clear warranty claim.
Roof or water damage has spread inside your home.
The system has been installed for months without permission to operate.
You believe the savings, production, or tax-credit numbers were misrepresented.
The installer has gone out of business and you are still paying a loan.
You have been asked to sign a release, or you have received a demand letter or lawsuit.

Cost is a common concern. Because the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and many state consumer laws allow a successful homeowner to recover attorney’s fees, some consumer attorneys take these matters on a contingency or fee-shifting basis. Any attorney you are referred to will explain their own fees and terms. If your problem is really about the contract itself, see how to cancel a solar contract and solar contract dispute lawsuits.

Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Installer Problems

What can I do if my solar company won’t fix problems with my system?

Put your request in writing, reference the warranty that applies, and keep proof of delivery. Document the problem before any repair. If the installer still refuses, file directly with the equipment manufacturer where the issue is a defective product, file complaints with your state contractor licensing board and attorney general, and notify your lender if the system is financed. An attorney demand letter often moves a stalled claim.

Who is responsible for fixing my solar panels: the installer or the manufacturer?

It depends on the cause. Installation problems such as leaks, loose wiring, and poor mounting usually fall on the installer under its workmanship warranty. Defective equipment such as a failed panel or inverter usually falls on the manufacturer under its product warranty. If each company blames the other, put both positions in writing and an attorney can help determine who is liable.

Is the sales company responsible if a subcontractor installed my solar system?

Usually, yes. As a general rule, the company that signed your installation contract is responsible for the work, even if it hired a subcontracted crew to do it. The contract and your state’s law decide the details, so keep copies of every document naming the companies involved.

Can I sue my solar installer?

Yes, in many situations. Common claims include breach of contract, breach of warranty, and violations of state consumer protection laws. Many warranties require written notice first, and some contracts require arbitration. An attorney can review your contract and tell you where and how a claim can be brought.

What is permission to operate for solar panels?

Permission to operate, or PTO, is the utility’s approval to connect and run your solar system on the grid. It usually follows a local inspection and an interconnection application, which the installer typically prepares. Until you have PTO, you generally should not operate the system, even if the panels are already on your roof.

How long should permission to operate take?

Timelines vary by utility, state, and whether the installer submitted complete paperwork. If your system has sat unconnected for months, ask the utility directly where the interconnection application stands. If it was never submitted or was rejected for missing items, that points to the installer.

Why was my solar warranty claim denied?

Common reasons include sending the claim to the wrong company, missing a notice deadline, a maintenance condition in the warranty, work by another contractor, or one company blaming another. Ask for the denial and the reason in writing, confirm which warranty you claimed under, and resubmit to the right warrantor with documentation.

Does federal law protect me if a solar warranty is not honored?

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act lets consumers sue for breach of written and implied warranties on consumer products and allows a consumer who wins to recover costs and reasonable attorney’s fees. The warrantor generally must get a reasonable chance to fix the problem first. How the Act applies to installation work on a home can depend on the facts.

Should I stop paying my solar loan if the installer won’t fix the system?

Not without advice. Stopping payment can damage your credit and lead to collection action, even when the installer is at fault. If the loan was arranged through the installer, the FTC Holder Rule may let you raise the installer’s failures against the lender instead. An attorney can tell you the safest way to use that leverage.

What if my solar company went out of business?

You may still have options. Manufacturer warranties usually survive the installer, a contractor bond may pay claims, some states have contractor recovery funds, and if the system was financed, the Holder Rule may let you raise the installer’s conduct against the lender.

Where do I file a complaint against a solar installer?

Start with your state contractor licensing board for workmanship and licensing problems and your state attorney general for deceptive sales practices. Contact your utility about interconnection delays, the CFPB about lenders and loan servicers, and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov to add to the national record.

Does CredibleLaw represent homeowners with solar installer problems?

No. CredibleLaw is a national legal resource and attorney referral network, not a law firm. We can connect you with independent, licensed attorneys who handle solar disputes. Contacting CredibleLaw does not create an attorney-client relationship, and any attorney you are referred to will explain their own fees and terms.

Solar Company Won’t Fix It? Find Out Who Should.

If your installer has stopped answering, denied a warranty claim, or left you paying for a system that leaks or never turned on, you may have more options than the company is telling you. Homeowners can request a free case review, and CredibleLaw can connect you with an independent, licensed attorney who handles solar installation disputes. There is no cost to be matched with counsel. Request a free case review or call 888-201-0441.

Sources

CredibleLaw is a national legal resource and attorney referral network, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice or representation. This page is for general educational purposes only. Warranty coverage, liability, and available remedies depend on your contract, your equipment, and your state. Contacting CredibleLaw does not create an attorney-client relationship. Any attorney you are referred to is independent and will explain their own fees and terms. Information is current as of September 2026.