Specialty inspection
Solar Panel Inspection for Phoenix Homes
A solar panel inspection shows the condition of a home's solar system before you take it on. Our team looks over the panels, mounting, wiring, and inverter, and the findings come back in an SPRK Solar Inspection Report with a letter grade for the whole system on its cover. Selling a home with solar? Ask about the Solar Listing Report.
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.
Sample reports
Three SPRK reports, one for each side of a solar sale
Every report below is powered by SPRK and carries AZ Home Inspection Services' name and contact details. These are the actual sample pages.
For buyers
Solar Inspection Report
- A letter grade for the whole solar system on the cover
- SPRK Certified Solar Home seal shown on the sample's grade-A system
- Property, year built, home size, inspection date, time, and weather on record
For homeowners and buyers
Home Energy Report
- Estimated average, lowest, and highest electric bills
- Monthly and 10-year savings compared with similar homes
- An interactive web report, an energy savings plan, and the solar system information
For sellers and listing agents
Solar Listing Report
- System size and specs, plus estimated monthly and annual savings
- Ownership documented: owned, loaned, or leased
- Warranties, installer, monitoring access, and solar transfer steps
Listing a home with solar? How the Solar Listing Report works for agents
How it works
On the day
Add the solar evaluation when you book the home inspection and your inspector covers the system on the same visit. The array is assessed from safely accessible vantage points: the reachable panels, the roof attachments and flashing, the wiring and disconnects, and the inverter, with written notes and photographs of what is found. Modules are not taken apart, the system is not switched on or off for testing, and a roof that cannot be walked safely is not walked. The findings are then delivered in an SPRK Solar Inspection Report carrying AZHI's name and contact details, graded on the cover so the overall picture reads before the detail does.
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. He showed genuine respect for the home and the relationship the current owner has with it. 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
Not sure what the property needs? Call 480-805-2025 and we will talk it through.
- This is not a metered production test. The energy and savings figures in the SPRK reports are estimates; nobody logs the system's actual output across days, seasons, or years.
- The inspection does not settle the terms of a solar loan, lease, or power purchase agreement. The Solar Listing Report records whether a system is owned, loaned, or leased, but the contract itself, and whether a lease or PPA can pass to a buyer, sits with the seller, the solar provider, and your title company.
- 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.
- Neither the inspection nor the report is a warranty, guarantee, or insurance policy for the solar system or the home. Manufacturer and installer coverage comes from the original paperwork and the companies that issued it.
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.
What is an SPRK Solar Inspection Report?
It is the report your solar evaluation comes back in. Our team inspects the system, and the findings are delivered in a report powered by SPRK that shows an overall letter grade for the solar system on its cover, next to the property details, inspection date, time, and weather. Founder Bob Clardy and lead inspector Stephen Lafakis are both SPRK Solar Certified Inspectors.
Will I find out whether the panels are owned, financed, or leased?
The inspection itself reports the physical condition of the equipment, not who owns it. When a Solar Listing Report has been prepared for the home, it documents whether the system is owned, loaned, or leased, along with the warranties, the installer, and steps for transferring the system. Confirm the actual contract terms with the seller, the solar provider, and your title company.
Will I know whether the panels and inverter are still under warranty?
The Solar Listing Report lists panel, inverter, and workmanship warranties, the installer, and monitoring access. The inspection adds each component's apparent age and condition: panels commonly carry manufacturer warranties around 25 years, while inverters usually carry shorter ones and often need replacing sooner. Whether coverage transfers to you is confirmed with the manufacturer or installer.
Is there a solar report for sellers and listing agents?
Yes. The Solar Listing Report is built for real estate agents marketing a home with solar. It covers the system's size and specs (panel count, kW, inverter type, install date), the estimated monthly and annual energy savings, whether it is owned, loaned, or leased, warranty and installer details, and the buyer and seller steps for transferring the system, so buyers understand the system before they schedule a showing.
What is a Home Energy Report?
It is a companion SPRK report on the home's electricity use. The sample estimates the average, lowest, and highest monthly electric bills, compares the home with similar homes to show monthly and 10-year savings, and links to an interactive web report. Inside are a home energy profile, an energy savings plan, the solar system information, and an energy concierge.
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 $325.