What Homeowners Complain About After Going Solar
Solar is common in many California neighborhoods. Support after install is where the experience often breaks down.
Spend a little time reading homeowner forums and one thing becomes clear fast.
People aren’t mad about solar technology.
They’re frustrated with what happens after the panels are installed.
We recently reviewed a long Reddit discussion where solar owners were asked a simple question:
What do homeowners complain about after installation?
The answers were consistent — and revealing.
The most common post-install complaints
1. The installer goes quiet after install
Sales was responsive. Install day went smoothly. Then communication drops off. Many homeowners say they aren’t sure who to contact once the crew leaves.
2. Monitoring is never explained
The system turns on, but expectations aren’t set. Homeowners don’t know what normal production looks like or how to interpret alerts. A walkthrough never happens.
3. Service takes too long when issues come up
Even small problems can linger for weeks if service departments are overloaded or disconnected from the install team.
4. Roof and reinstall costs come as a surprise
Many homeowners say no one explained what happens if panels need to be removed later for roof work — or what that would cost.
What rarely shows up in complaints
This part is important. You don’t see many homeowners saying:
The panels don’t work
Solar failed to deliver power
The technology was the problem
Those things can happen, but they’re not the dominant concern. Most frustration comes from communication gaps and unclear expectations.
Why these problems keep repeating
A lot of solar companies are built for speed:
Sales hands off to install
Install hands off to service
The homeowner gets stuck in the middle
When post-install support isn’t treated as part of the product, problems show up fast.
This is also why post-install support has become such a big focus for us.
“Solar doesn’t stop on install day,” says Kerri Lawler, Customer Relations at Viva Energy. “Our job is to make sure homeowners know what to expect after PTO — how monitoring works, when to reach out, and that there’s a real person on the other end when they do.”
What to look for before signing
If you’re comparing solar quotes, don’t stop at price. Ask practical questions:
Who do I contact after PTO if I have questions?
Will someone explain monitoring and performance expectations?
How are service requests handled?
What happens if panels need to be removed later?
Clear answers now prevent frustration later.
The bottom line
Solar systems generally do what they’re designed to do. Most regret comes from poor follow-through, not poor technology.
The best solar experience doesn’t end on install day. It includes support, clarity, and accountability long after the system is turned on.
References
Reddit discussion: What people complain about after install
https://www.reddit.com/r/solar/comments/1r07rds/what_people_actually_complain_about_after_install/