Solar systems are reliable, but like anything they can occasionally develop a fault or suffer damage — and when generation drops, so do your savings. The good news is that most issues are straightforward to diagnose and fix, and storm or accidental damage is often covered by your home insurance. Here’s what to know if your system isn’t performing as it should.
Signs your solar system needs attention
- A drop in generation — the clearest warning sign, usually visible in your monitoring app.
- Inverter warning lights or error codes — the inverter is the most common point of failure over a system’s life.
- The system showing offline — a monitoring or connection fault, or something more significant.
- Physical damage — cracked panels, storm damage, or displaced mounting after high winds.
- Birds nesting under panels — which can cause mess and damage cabling (see our note on proofing below).
Common solar panel faults
Most problems fall into a few categories: inverter faults (by far the most common), loose or corroded connections, isolator or wiring issues, monitoring drop-outs, or occasionally a failed panel. Many are quick fixes once diagnosed. The key is not to ignore a drop in output — a system quietly underperforming for months can cost you a surprising amount in lost generation. Regular maintenance catches many issues early.
Claiming on insurance for solar damage
Solar panels are generally treated as part of your home under buildings insurance, so damage from storms, falling branches, fire or accidents is often covered — though it’s always worth checking your specific policy. If you need to claim, we can inspect the system, provide a professional report on the damage and the repair required, and carry out the work to a certified standard. Handling the technical side properly makes claims far smoother.
We repair systems we didn’t install
If your original installer has disappeared — sadly common in the solar industry — you’re not stuck. Our engineers are trained across all the major panel, inverter and battery brands, so we can diagnose and repair systems fitted by anyone. You don’t need to have been our customer originally to get expert help now.
Frequently asked questions
Does home insurance cover solar panels?
They’re usually covered under buildings insurance as part of your home, so storm and accidental damage is often included — but check your policy wording to be sure of your cover.
Can you fix a system another company installed?
Yes. We repair and service systems regardless of who installed them, across all the major brands.
My panels stopped generating — what should I do?
First check your inverter for warning lights and your monitoring app. If output has dropped or the system is offline, get in touch and we’ll diagnose the cause — the sooner it’s fixed, the less generation you lose.
Get your solar system back to full health
Whether it’s a fault, storm damage or an insurance claim, we’ll get your system generating properly again. Covering Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, our certified engineers repair all makes of solar, battery and inverter. See our repair service or get in touch.
This guide is part of our complete guide to solar panels.