Solar PV Repair & Servicing for Systems With No Original Installer

Your Solar System Stopped Working, And Your Installer Has Disappeared. Now What?

It's a situation more and more homeowners and businesses across Gloucestershire are finding themselves in. Your solar panels were installed a few years ago, something isn't right maybe the generation has dropped off, your inverter is showing a fault code, or the system has stopped working altogether and when you try to contact the original installer, you hit a wall. A disconnected number. A company that no longer exists. A web of automated emails going nowhere.

You're not alone. The solar industry saw a huge surge in installations through the 2010s, and not every company that rode that wave is still around. If you've been left high and dry by a solar installer who has gone bust, moved on, or simply stopped responding, the good news is simple: Fit Solar can help and we don't need to have installed your system to service it.

We Service Solar PV Systems We Didn't Install

At Fit Solar, we believe every solar system deserves expert care, regardless of who put it up. We carry out full solar PV repair, diagnostic, and servicing work on systems installed by any company — and we do it with the same level of care, honesty, and technical expertise we bring to every one of our own installations.

No jargon. No runaround. Just straight-talking solar professionals who'll tell you exactly what's going on with your system and what it'll take to get it performing properly again.

Why Do Solar Systems Lose Their Installer?

Understanding the problem is the first step to solving it. Here are the most common reasons homeowners end up with what's sometimes called an "orphaned" solar system:

• The installer went out of business. Small and medium-sized solar companies came and went rapidly during the Feed-in Tariff boom. If your system was installed between 2010 and 2019, there's a real chance the company no longer exists.
• They've stopped offering servicing. Some installers focus purely on new installations and quietly drop their after-sales commitments.
• You've moved into a property with an existing system. Buying a home with solar panels already installed is increasingly common but the new owner inherits no relationship with whoever fitted them.
• The original company won't travel to your area. If your installer was a national firm or has since changed its service territory, you could be left without local support.

Whatever the reason, your solar panels represent a significant investment, and they should be working for you, not sitting idle on your roof.

What Can Go Wrong With a Solar PV System?

Solar panels are robust pieces of kit, but they're not indestructible, and the rest of the system around them , the inverter, cabling, isolators, monitoring equipment, and battery storage can develop problems over time. Here's what we commonly find when we visit a system for the first time:

• Inverter faults and failures. The inverter is the engine room of your solar system, converting DC electricity from your panels into usable AC power for your home. Inverters have a typical lifespan of 10–15 years, and when they fail, generation stops completely. We diagnose inverter faults and carry out inverter replacements to get systems back online.
• Reduced generation output. If your system is producing noticeably less power than it used to, the cause could be anything from soiling and shading to a failed string, a faulty optimiser, or a degrading panel. We carry out full performance assessments to identify exactly where generation is being lost.
• DC isolator failures. DC isolators are one of the most common components to fail in older solar installations. Early models had well-documented reliability problems, and a failed isolator can shut your system down entirely, or in some cases create a safety hazard.
• Loose or degraded cabling and connectors. Years of thermal cycling, UV exposure, and weather can cause MC4 connectors and cable runs to deteriorate. We inspect all accessible cabling as part of our diagnostic process.
• Monitoring system failures. Many older systems have monitoring equipment that is no longer supported, meaning homeowners have no visibility of how their system is performing. We can upgrade monitoring to modern, app-based solutions so you're always in the picture.
• Battery storage issues. If your system includes a battery, it may need reconfiguring, recalibrating, or in some cases replacing. We work with all the major battery brands and can advise on upgrades where appropriate.

What Does Our Solar PV Repair & Servicing Process Look Like?

We keep things simple and transparent from the very first conversation.

1. Get in touch. Call us on 01453 705915 or drop us an email at startsaving@fitsolar.energy. Tell us as much as you know about your system the brand of panels, what inverter you have, when it was installed, and what the issue is. Don't worry if you don't have all the details; we're used to working with limited information.
2. Site visit and diagnostic assessment. We'll come out and carry out a thorough assessment of your system. This covers the panels themselves, the inverter, isolators, cabling, earthing, and any battery storage. We'll check the system against current electrical safety requirements and identify any faults or underperformance.
3. Clear report and recommendations. No jargon, no upselling. We'll explain exactly what we've found, what needs fixing, and what it will cost. You'll get a clear written recommendation before any work begins.
4. Repair and recommissioning. Our MCS-certified engineers carry out all repairs to the highest standard, using quality components. Once work is complete, we'll test the system fully and make sure you understand how to monitor and get the best from it going forward.

What About My Feed-in Tariff or Smart Export Guarantee?

If your system was registered for the Feed-in Tariff (FiT), the government scheme that paid you for generating and exporting electricity,  your FiT payments should continue regardless of what happens to the original installer. Your FiT contract is held with your licensed electricity supplier or FiT licensee, not the installer.

However, if you're having issues with your FiT readings, meter readings, or reporting, we can help you understand the situation and make sure your system is generating correctly so you're receiving what you're entitled to.

For newer systems registered under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), similar principles apply. We can ensure your system is properly set up to export and that your metering is in good order.

Why Choose Fit Solar to Service Your System?

We're an independent, expert solar company based in the heart of the Cotswolds. We don't employ salespeople, we don't use technical jargon, and we don't believe in making a simple job complicated. Here's what sets us apart:

• We're MCS certified. Our MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) accreditation means you're in safe hands. All our work meets the industry's highest standards.
• We service what we didn't install. This is a big one. Many solar companies will only service their own installations. At Fit Solar, we believe that's simply not good enough for the thousands of homeowners across Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds who've been left without support. If you have solar panels, we can help.
• We're local and we stay local. We're based in Stroud and we serve homes and businesses across Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds. When you call us, you're talking to people who know your area, understand local property types from modern builds to historic Cotswold stone houses, and can get to you quickly.
• We're transparent on price. We provide clear, upfront quotes with no hidden costs. And if you're getting a new system installed, we'll beat any like-for-like quote, guaranteed.

Fit Care, Ongoing Peace of Mind for Any Solar System

If you've had your orphaned system repaired and want to make sure you're properly looked after going forward, our Fit Care package gives you ongoing servicing again, regardless of who originally installed your panels.

Fit Care includes an annual service and inspection visit, proactive remote monitoring, and the assurance that any issues will be picked up and dealt with quickly. Think of it as the solar equivalent of a boiler service plan, a small annual investment that protects a much larger one.