My inverter isn’t working! What happens next?

Step 1: Diagnosis

This can happen for a variety of reasons, so the first step is diagnosing the issue and its cause. In most cases, this will require a visit by a TFS service technician.

  • Remote troubleshooting: We start by collecting as much information as possible from you regarding the issue over the phone. It is best for you to be home during this call so that we can direct you to certain items to check. *In some cases, this information will make it possible for us to continue with next steps without requiring a service visit, shortening the timeline to have that portion of the system functioning again.

  • Service Visit: If we cannot resolve the issue remotely, we will need to schedule a service visit to your home. 

  • If it is possible for the technician to resolve the issue during this initial visit, they will do so. 

  • If they are not able to resolve the issue during that visit, we will determine the next steps to get the system fully functional again.

  • Some issues are with the inverter itself, and some are with other components of the system which cause the inverter to stop working. If it is an issue with a component other than the inverter, see this page for more information. If the issue is with the inverter itself, most are not considered “serviceable”, and often require a replacement.

  • Important billing considerations:

    • If your system is within our labor warranty period (10 years), there is no cost to have one of our technicians out to diagnose the issue. 

    • If your system is outside of our labor warranty period, this visit will be billable at our currently hourly rate. This type of visit typically requires 1-2 hours to complete.

Step 2: Determine options

  • If the inverter does need to be replaced, we will need to determine the warranty status of the inverter.

  • If the system is within our labor warranty period and the inverter is within the manufacturer’s equipment warranty period (typically 10 years), we will submit the required documentation to the manufacturer to have them send us replacement equipment, at no cost to the customer.

  • If the system is outside of our labor warranty period and/or the manufacturer’s equipment warranty period, we can create a proposal for you to have the equipment replaced. We are happy to work with you to determine the solution that best fits your needs. Once we have a signed contract, we can proceed with the next steps.

  • Some important considerations:

    • When sending replacement equipment, most manufacturers aim to get it to us within 1-3 weeks. This can be subject to supply availability, and we are not able to guarantee or control the manufacturer’s timeframes.

    • Warranty replacement inverters do not “reset” the warranty period, warranty period is still determined by the original installation date.

    • When purchasing a new inverter to be installed as a replacement, it would have the 10-12 year equipment warranty.

    • Some older equipment can be difficult to determine compatible replacement options, which can extend the resolution timeline.



Step 3: Repair

  • Once we have determined the plan for repair and have the necessary equipment, we will need to schedule the service visit to install the replacement equipment.

  • It will depend on our current service volume at the time, but we can typically schedule these appointments within 1-2 weeks.

  • The time necessary to install can vary widely depending on the equipment, generally between 2-6 hours.

  • During the installation the technician will attempt to connect the replacement equipment to the internet for the remote monitoring capabilities (if applicable), but in some instances a follow-up visit is required to complete that portion.

Step 4: Completion

  • After the installation of new equipment, our in-office team will remotely monitor the system (where applicable) for 1-2 weeks to ensure functionality. If anything appears not to be working as expected, we will contact you with next steps. Otherwise, we’ll proceed to close out the case.

  • If the repair was performed under our labor warranty and the manufacturer’s warranty, the case is complete.

  • If the repair was billable, you will then be invoiced for the work as detailed in your service work proposal.