The most useful thing you can do before a solar panel inspection in Gilbert, AZ is gather your system's paperwork and production history. An inspection compares what your system is producing now against what its own history says it should produce, so the more of that history you can share, the clearer the answer.
AZ Solar Maintenance is based in Gilbert and inspects systems across the East Valley. Here is a simple list of what to pull together, and why each item helps.
Why the prep matters
An inspection covers the panels and racking, the flashings underneath, the wiring and connectors, the inverter's current status, and production compared against expected output. The on-roof part can be done with nothing but a ladder and a careful eye. The production part is where your records come in.
If nobody knows what the system used to produce, it is harder to say whether today's numbers are healthy. That is common with orphaned systems and with homes that changed hands.
The checklist
1. Installer and inverter details
- The installer's name, if you know it - even if they are out of business
- The inverter brand and model, from the label on the unit or a photo of it
- The panel brand, if it appears on paperwork
You do not need the original installer to have your system inspected. Any qualified crew can do it, and we work across all major panel, racking, and inverter brands. The details just save time.
2. Monitoring app access
Most systems report to an app or dashboard from the inverter manufacturer. If you can log in, note how far back the history goes. Screenshots of monthly totals for the past year are a strong start.
If the app shows no data at all, that is worth knowing too. Our post on a solar app showing no data explains what that can mean.
3. Utility statements
Your true-up or annual statement shows how much power you bought from the utility. If last year's statement surprised you, bring it up. A production drop often shows up on the bill before anyone looks at the app. See true-up bill higher than expected.
4. Recent events
Write down the rough dates of:
- Monsoon storms with high wind or hail
- Any roof work, even a small repair
- Inverter alerts or error codes you have seen
- The last time anyone cleaned the panels
5. Why you are calling
Be clear about the reason: buying a solar home, checking after a storm, inheriting a system with no records, or getting a baseline before roof work. The reason shapes what you will do with the report.
What you get back
After the visit you receive a photo report with a written summary of what was found on every component. It is formatted so it works for an insurance file, a real estate transaction, or your own records. If the system is not producing the way it should, we tell you exactly what we found. What you do next - a repair, a claim, or a conversation with a buyer or seller - is up to you.
The Gilbert inspection photo report post walks through the report itself.
If you have nothing at all
That is fine. Many East Valley homeowners have panels on the roof, no installer to call, and no idea when the system was last checked. Send your address and whatever you do know. The inspection itself will fill in the gaps.
FAQ
Do I need the original installer's paperwork?
No. It helps, but we can inspect a system without knowing who installed it.
What if I cannot log in to my monitoring app?
Send what you can, including inverter photos. The production read on the visit still compares current output against what the system should be producing.
How is the inspection priced?
We quote it flat after you send the address and any system details. No site visit is needed to get a number.
How soon will I know what was found?
You get a photo report with a written summary of every component after the visit.
Next step
Send your Gilbert address and whatever system details you have through the contact page. AZ Solar Maintenance will price the solar panel inspection flat and get you a number the same day.