Home emergency playbook
Solar inverter or battery system smoking
Conservative first steps for homeowners before cleanup, repair, or contractor dispatch. When safety is uncertain, leave and call first.
Immediate steps
- Evacuate everyone from the affected area and call 911 from a safe location before cleanup or repair.
- Keep clear of the inverter, battery cabinet, combiner, and conduit because solar wiring may stay energized in daylight.
- If an exterior rapid-shutdown or AC disconnect is clearly marked and outside the smoke path, point it out to responders.
- Call the solar installer or monitoring company after emergency crews control the immediate hazard.
Do not do this
- Do not re-enter the building until emergency responders or the utility says it is safe.
- Do not open an inverter, battery cabinet, combiner box, or rooftop disconnect.
- Do not spray water on energized solar equipment unless trained responders direct firefighting actions.
Who to call
- Call 911 first for immediate danger, injury, fire, smoke, shock, collapse risk, or trapped people.
- Call the utility emergency line before private repair when gas, electric service, public water, sewer main, or buried lines may be involved.
- Call a qualified solar installer or electrician after immediate life-safety and utility hazards are controlled.
Damage mitigation
- After clearance, photograph warning labels, inverter screen errors, battery cabinet, roof conduit, and scorch marks.
- Keep monitoring alerts, installer service tickets, and utility interconnection documents together.
- Leave the solar system offline until the installer verifies PV strings, battery modules, and disconnects.
Prevention
- Keep inverter and battery clearances open for cooling and service access.
- Review monitoring alerts promptly instead of waiting for production to stop.
- Have roof penetrations, conduit, rapid shutdown labels, and battery ventilation inspected after storms or remodels.
Typical cost band
Usually moderate to high because fire-risk electrical work often requires licensed diagnosis and possible replacement.
Insurance note
Solar and battery losses may involve homeowners coverage, equipment warranty, installer workmanship, and utility interconnection records; document each party's findings.
Related ProFix resources
Solar Installer emergency guideTrade-specific dispatch, utility-first, and after-hours cost guidance.Troubleshooting encyclopediaSymptoms, maintenance intervals, contracts, and warranty norms.National FAQHiring, licensing, scams, permits, and DIY boundaries.Cost calculatorPlan the permanent repair after the emergency is controlled.