Specialty inspection
Solar Panel Inspection for Phoenix Home Buyers
A solar panel inspection evaluates the physical condition of a home's existing solar system so you know what you are inheriting before the sale closes. When you buy a home with solar, you are taking on someone else's investment, and our team looks over the panels, mounting, wiring, and inverter so there are no surprises once you own it. It is a visual condition assessment of accessible components, not a production test or a review of your loan or lease paperwork.
Why it matters
The stakes for the buyer
A home's solar system can be one of its most expensive components, and its condition rarely shows up in the asking price or the listing photos. Panels can be cracked or degraded, roof penetrations can leak, wiring can be sun-damaged or chewed by rodents and nesting birds, and an aging inverter can be near the end of its service life, all while the system still appears to be running. In Arizona's relentless heat and sun, exposed solar components age faster than they would in a milder climate, so a system installed years ago deserves a real look before you take ownership of both the equipment and whatever repairs it will eventually need.
What the inspection covers
What our team looks at
Solar panels and modules
Our team examines the accessible panels for cracked or clouded glass, delamination, discoloration, hot-spot staining, heavy soiling, and whether each module is still securely fastened to the array.
Mounting, racking, and roof penetrations
We check how the array attaches to the roof and inspect the penetrations and flashing where mounts pass through the roofing, since these are a common leak point on the tile and foam roofs found across the Phoenix area.
Wiring, conduit, and connectors
We look at accessible wiring, conduit runs, and connectors for sun-brittled or damaged insulation, corrosion, loose connections, and the rodent or bird damage that is common underneath desert rooftop arrays.
Inverter or microinverters
We identify whether the system uses a central string inverter or microinverters, note the visible condition and any fault indicators, and flag when an inverter appears near the end of its typical service life, which is usually shorter than the life of the panels.
Disconnects and rapid-shutdown equipment
We confirm the presence and accessible condition of the system's electrical disconnects and the rooftop rapid-shutdown safety equipment that modern installations are expected to include.
Battery storage, when present
If the home has a solar battery, we note its presence and visible physical condition and leave detailed battery testing and safety certification to the battery manufacturer or a qualified specialist.
Monitoring and available system records
We note whether a production monitoring system is present and reporting and what installation or equipment documentation exists, so you know which records to request from the seller.
How it works
On the day
A solar evaluation is generally offered as an add-on to a home inspection. Your inspector assesses the system visually from safely accessible vantage points, looking over the reachable panels, the roof attachment and penetrations, the wiring and disconnects, and the inverter, then documents the physical condition with written notes and photographs. Because this is a condition assessment of what can be seen and safely reached, it does not involve dismantling modules, energizing or de-energizing the system, or accessing a roof that cannot be safely walked. Whether the evaluation is booked on its own or bundled with a full inspection, and exactly how the findings are delivered, are confirmed when you schedule.
I recently hired Bob for a home inspection on a listing of mine, and I was thoroughly impressed. Not only was he professional and detail-oriented, but also incredibly personable. Bob took the time to connect with the seller as a person, not just a client, which made a huge difference. His thoughtful approach, clear communication, and prompt, thorough report made the entire process seamless. I highly recommend Bob to anyone looking for an inspector who combines expertise with true care and respect.
Straight about scope
What this covers, and what it does not
- This is not a performance or production test. A visual condition inspection confirms the equipment and its physical state at one point in time, not how much power the system produces over days, seasons, or years.
- This is not a review of your solar loan, lease, or power purchase agreement. Whether the panels are owned, financed, or on a transferable lease or PPA is a title and contract question for the seller, your lender, and your title company, not something a physical inspection determines.
- This is not an electrical engineering study or a code-compliance certification. Our team reports on observable condition and does not certify the installation against every current electrical or permitting standard.
- This is not a standalone roof certification. We inspect the roof penetrations and flashing tied to the solar mounts, but a full roof condition report or certification is separate work.
- This is not a warranty transfer or a guarantee of future operation. Confirming active manufacturer or installer warranties, and any coverage that transfers to you, requires the system's paperwork from the seller and the original installer.
Questions
Common questions
Is the solar system included in a standard home inspection?
No, a solar system evaluation is a separate add-on rather than part of a standard home inspection. A general home inspection covers the home's core systems, and a detailed look at the panels, mounting, wiring, and inverter is offered as its own service. If you are buying a home with solar, ask to add the solar evaluation when you book so the system is assessed at the same time.
Will the inspection tell me whether the panels and inverter are still under warranty?
Not on its own. Solar panels commonly carry manufacturer warranties around 25 years, while inverters are usually warrantied for a shorter period and often need replacement sooner, and our team can note a component's apparent age and physical condition against those general lifespans. Confirming the actual warranty status, and whether it transfers to you, requires the original manufacturer and installer paperwork from the seller.
Can you tell me if I would be taking over a solar loan, lease, or PPA?
No, a physical inspection does not determine how the system is owned or financed. Whether you would own the panels outright, assume a loan, or take over a lease or power purchase agreement comes from the seller's contracts, your title company, and the solar provider. What our team can tell you is the physical condition of the equipment you would be responsible for, whichever way it transfers.
Add Solar to your inspection
Tell us about the property and what prompted the concern, and you get a quote back. Residential inspections start at $285.