Why I Stopped Taking ‘Correction Jobs’ From Failed Solar Installations
The Call That Always Sounds the Same
If you’ve been in the solar industry long enough, you’ve probably received this call:
“Please, my solar system is not working. The last installer didn’t do it well. Can you help me fix it?”
It sounds simple, right? A quick inspection, a few component swaps, maybe a new connection — and boom, system restored. But over the years, I’ve realized that “correction jobs” are often more trouble than they’re worth.
1. The Real Problem Is Often Hidden
Most clients don’t know exactly what went wrong — and unfortunately, the previous installer’s mess usually runs deeper than they describe.
You arrive expecting to fix a few loose wires and end up discovering:
- Undersized cables everywhere
- Mixed battery brands and voltages
- Wrong charge controller sizing
- Panels installed at the wrong tilt or orientation
By the time you start diagnosing, you’ve already spent half your day and still haven’t earned a dime.
2. The Client Expects Magic, Not Diagnostics
The hardest part of correction jobs is not the technical work — it’s the client’s expectations.
They expect instant results because someone else already “installed” it. They don’t want to hear about load analysis, rewiring, or system redesign.
Try explaining that their 1kVA inverter can’t power their freezer and water pump, and you’ll quickly look like the bad guy trying to sell more products.
3. You Inherit the Blame
Here’s what many installers don’t realize until it happens:
If you touch a failed system — you automatically inherit its reputation.
The moment that system fails again (even if it’s due to the old wiring or bad batteries), the client tells everyone,
“I called a professional to fix it, and it’s still not working.”
Your name, not the original installer’s, becomes the one tied to the failure.
4. The Money Rarely Adds Up
Correction jobs often seem like easy cash — a few hours and a few thousand naira (or dollars). But in reality, they drain your resources.
By the time you:
- Visit for inspection
- Diagnose all issues
- Replace faulty parts
- Explain your findings to a skeptical customer
You’ve already invested time, transport, and expertise far beyond what you’ll ever charge.
5. It Affects Your Brand Image
As installers, we build trust through results. But correction jobs rarely give you clean, successful outcomes to showcase.
You can’t proudly post a photo of a messy installation you “patched up.” And even if the system works temporarily, it’s not your design — it’s a mix of errors you’ve just tried to make functional.
That’s not the kind of work that represents your brand standard.
So What Do I Do Now?
These days, when I get a correction job request, I politely say:
“I don’t repair failed installations. I redesign systems from scratch.”
If the client agrees to a full system audit and is willing to rebuild properly, great. If not, I move on.
It took time and a few bad experiences to learn that every project you take shapes your reputation. And sometimes, the best decision is to walk away.
Final Thoughts
Correction jobs might look like quick fixes, but they often expose you to unnecessary risk, low pay, and client misunderstandings.
If you’re an installer who values quality and long-term credibility, choose to build systems that you can proudly stand behind — not repair ones that others already destroyed.
Because at the end of the day, you’re not just fixing solar systems; you’re protecting your name.
🔧 Over to You
Have you ever taken a correction job that went wrong — or surprisingly well?
Share your experience inside the Globisun App community and let’s talk about it. 👇
👉 Open in App
