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What to do if…
a solar inverter or home battery starts smoking or overheating

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

If the inverter or battery is smoking, burning, venting, hissing, popping, sparking, giving off a burning odor, or becoming rapidly hotter, get everyone outside and call 911 from a safe location. If it is only unusually hot or showing an overtemperature warning with none of those signs, keep away from it, stop using the system only if that can be done without approaching the equipment, and follow the installer or manufacturer’s emergency guidance; call 911 if the condition worsens or you are unsure whether there is immediate danger.

Do not do these things

  • Do not touch, open, move, cover, or lean over the inverter or battery.
  • Do not enter smoke or approach the affected equipment to operate breakers, disconnects, switches, or controls.
  • Do not delay leaving to use water or a household fire extinguisher.
  • Do not stay nearby to watch the equipment or record what happens.
  • Do not return for manuals, valuables, or pets that are not immediately reachable on your way out.
  • Do not restart, reset, recharge, or test the system.
  • Do not re-enter the building until the fire department says it is safe.

What to do now

  1. If there is smoke, flame, venting, hissing, popping, sparking, a burning odor, rapidly increasing heat, or another sign of active failure, leave by the nearest safe exit and alert everyone in the home. Close doors behind you when you can do so without slowing your escape.
  2. Call 911 from outside for those signs of active failure or if you are unsure whether there is immediate danger. Give the exact address and say that a solar inverter or home energy-storage battery may be failing.
  3. Describe any flames, sparks, swelling, hissing, popping, venting, burning odor, smoke, or increasing heat. Follow the call-taker’s instructions and do not hang up until told to do so.
  4. If the only sign is unusual heat or an overtemperature warning and there is no smoke, odor, venting, hissing, popping, sparking, swelling, flame, or rapidly increasing heat, keep people and pets away from the equipment. Stop using the system only if you can do so through a normal remote control or other method that does not require approaching the equipment, and contact the installer or manufacturer for urgent guidance.
  5. Keep people and pets away from the building and the equipment during any active failure. Move farther away if smoke drifts toward you.
  6. If you call 911, tell the call-taker whether the equipment is inside the home, in a garage or basement, or mounted outside. Mention anyone who may still be inside or who has inhaled smoke, been burned, or feels unwell.
  7. If firefighters attend, tell them that the property has solar panels, an inverter, and any home battery system. Point out equipment and shutoff locations only from a safe place and only if you already know where they are.
  8. If firefighters attend, stay outside until they give clear permission to return. If they do not attend, do not inspect or restart the equipment until the installer, manufacturer, or another qualified professional says it is safe; smoke stopping or the unit cooling does not by itself make the equipment safe.

What can wait

Calling the installer or manufacturer, checking recalls, taking photographs, contacting insurance, arranging cleanup, and deciding whether to repair or replace the system can wait until emergency responders have made the area safe.

Important reassurance

Leaving and calling 911 is reasonable even when there is no visible flame or the smoke appears to stop. Battery incidents can reignite, and solar-system components may remain electrically energized, so you do not need to confirm the cause or make the equipment safe yourself.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only. Inspection, isolation, removal, cleanup, repair, disposal, and restarting may require the fire department, the manufacturer, and qualified solar or electrical professionals.

Important note

This is general safety information, not a substitute for instructions from 911, firefighters, the equipment manufacturer, or a licensed solar, battery, or electrical professional.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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