Is my solar installer still trading?

Sterlingtimes

This is a question that many of us may soon be asking. Thankfully my system is working well and I have no need (yet) of calling upon my warranties.

However, TP Solar (my installer) seems to have disappeared. Website dead since September.

System

Might not be!

https://www.endole.co.uk/company/08387068/t-p-solar-limited

Cardew

You have raised a subject that I suspect will become a huge problem in years to come.


I think it is a racing certainty that the majority of solar installation companies will close down, and move onto the next gravy train.


IIRC correctly there have been half a dozen posts on MSE about their system breaking down and they have been unable to get it repaired.


Nearly all the posts extolling the virtues of solar have ignored the possibility of anything breaking down except for an inverter after 10 years or so.


Some of the break downs might well only need a reset of an inverter, but even that might be beyond the capabilities of many owners. However there will in future be problems with cabling/panels/fixings etc on some installations.


So who do you get to even diagnose the fault, let alone effect a repair; and how does Mr and Mrs Average know if they are being ripped off - 'yes Mr Average you need a new inverter or two panels.' Will repairmen get on roof without scaffolding?


What is the betting that someone will set up a nationwide repair scheme, like Homeserve have for gas CH(look them up on MSE), pay £15 a month and we will repair your system in 24 hours(perhaps!)

Sterlingtimes

Cardew wrote: »

I think it is a racing certainty that the majority of solar installation companies will close down, and move onto the next gravy train.

Thank you, Cardew. I agree with your posting. I was no no illusion that the warranties would most probably be worthless over years to come, so I placed little value on then in the first place. I have two limited manufacturers' warranties and a life member certificate (without terms) pointing to iwa.biz. The contract with TP Solar claims that the iwa.biz warranty is a 10 year workmanship warranty. Of course, without a contract the iwa.biz warranty is unlikely to respond to product defects. The manufactures may also not respond to their limited warranties. The manufacturers too are most likely fragile.

Fortunately, for now all is working well.

I suspect that most of the companies will move on to pastures new and that there will be companies who will service existing installations at a price.

I am hoping in my case a panel or a single inverter failure will only cause a fractional drop out. I presume that a failed inverter will cause an open circuit condition.