When your site misbehaves: quick context
When a website goes offline, loads slowly, or throws errors, it’s easy to panic. I’ll walk you through the most common hosting problems I see, why they happen, and concrete steps to fix them. You don’t need to be a server expert to do many of these checks , most fixes are about following a clear sequence: identify, isolate, apply a fix, and verify. If a step looks risky, or you don’t have access to the server, contact your host’s support with the exact findings you collected.
Top hosting issues and how to fix them
downtime and 500/502/503 errors
500, 502, and 503 errors are the web server telling you something is wrong. A 500 is a general internal error, 502 indicates the server acting as a gateway received an invalid response from an upstream service, and 503 usually means the server is overloaded or in maintenance mode. Start with the error logs: check your web server error log (apache’s error_log or nginx’s error.log) and your application logs. Look for recent fatal errors or repeated stack traces. If logs show resource limits or timeouts, try temporarily increasing php/worker limits, then test under load. If the error appears after a code deploy, rollback to the last working release. If you see database connection failures mixed with these errors, follow the database section below. If the host reports scheduled maintenance or a platform issue, ask for an estimated resolution and request status updates.
DNS resolution problems
If your domain doesn’t resolve or resolves inconsistently, dns is usually the culprit. First, check propagation and current records using dig or online tools: confirm A/AAAA records point to the correct IP, and that authoritative name servers are set correctly at the registrar. If records were recently changed, propagation can take time , but mistakes like incorrect TTL settings or missing a records are common. Clear your local dns cache and try from another network (mobile data or a different ISP) to rule out a cached failure. If you use a CDN or reverse proxy, ensure its settings match your origin. When DNS is managed by a third party, open a support ticket with both the registrar and DNS provider and provide trace results from dig or nslookup so they can diagnose faster.
Slow website performance
Slow pages are usually caused by one or a combination of: limited server resources, heavy database queries, unoptimized assets, or network latency. Start by measuring: use tools like Lighthouse, GTmetrix, or server-side profiling to find the bottleneck. On the server, check CPU and memory usage, disk I/O, and the number of active processes. Optimize by enabling caching (page cache, object cache like Redis or memcached), compress assets (gzip or Brotli), and use efficient image formats. For database issues, add indexes to slow queries, use query caching, and avoid SELECT * patterns. If Shared Hosting is the limit, consider upgrading to a vps or managed platform that fits your traffic.
ssl/tls and “secure connection” errors
Browser warnings about certificates happen when certificates are expired, misconfigured, or when the site uses mixed content (HTTP resources on an https page). Check certificate validity with online SSL testers or openssl s_client to see expiration dates and chain issues. Renew or re-issue certificates via your host or Let’s Encrypt if you manage them. Ensure the full chain (intermediate certificates) is installed. To eliminate mixed content, scan pages for http: resources and update links to https or use relative urls. If hsts is enabled and a certificate problem occurs, recovery can be complicated , you may need host support to reconfigure headers.
Email deliverability problems
If transactional or marketing emails are bouncing or landing in spam, check SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records first. These DNS records tell recipient servers your messages are legitimate. Verify reverse dns (PTR) for the sending IP and ensure your sending IP isn’t on public blacklists. Examine bounce messages for specific reasons; some providers block messages that lack proper headers or exceed rate limits. If you’ve exhausted these checks, use a dedicated email service (SendGrid, Mailgun, Postmark) which handles deliverability and scaling, or ask your host to move mail off a shared IP.
Database connection errors (e.g., “Error establishing a database connection”)
These are often caused by wrong credentials, the database server being down, or exhausted connections. First, confirm credentials in your app configuration match those in the database server. Test connecting to the DB from the server using the command line or a client. If connections fail even with correct credentials, check the database server status and logs, increase max connections if needed, and optimize queries to avoid long-running locks. For managed databases, consider vertical scaling or read replicas if load is high.
File upload and permissions issues
When uploads fail or files aren’t accessible, permissions or ownership are usual suspects. For linux-based hosts, files should typically be owned by the web server user (www-data, apache, nginx) and have correct modes (e.g., 644 for files, 755 for directories). Avoid setting 777 unless a short test, because it’s insecure. If using PHP, check upload_max_filesize and post_max_size in php.ini, and verify temporary folder permissions. If a CMS reports inability to write files, ensure the storage directory is writable and that SELinux contexts are correct on systems that use SELinux.
High resource usage and throttling
On shared hosting, a single noisy site can consume CPU or memory and trigger host throttles or account suspensions. Monitor usage trends with host-provided graphs or server metrics. Identify heavy scripts using top, htop, or process monitors, and profile PHP or background jobs. Introduce caching to reduce repeated processing, offload background tasks to queues, and schedule heavy jobs during off-peak hours. If your site consistently hits resource limits, upgrade to a plan with dedicated resources or a containerized architecture that isolates processes.
Backup and restore problems
Backups that fail or are incomplete leave you exposed. Confirm that backups run on a schedule and test restores regularly , a backup that can’t be restored is useless. Store backups offsite (S3, external ftp, or another region) and use a retention policy that fits your update frequency. For databases, use consistent snapshots or logical dumps taken during low-activity windows, and verify integrity with checksum or test restores. Automate alerts when backups fail so you can act before a disaster happens.
Malware and security incidents
If your site is hacked, clean up quickly and methodically. Take the site offline or show a maintenance page if needed. Identify the breach vector: outdated plugins, weak credentials, or vulnerable scripts. Replace core files from clean sources, remove unknown admin users, rotate all credentials and API keys, and scan files for injected code. Apply patches, remove unused plugins/themes, and harden access with two-factor authentication. After cleanup, review logs to understand impact and notify affected users if sensitive data was exposed.
When to contact your hosting support
You should contact support when you hit a permission barrier, suspect a host-level outage, need access to network or hardware logs, or when configuration changes fall outside your control (e.g., kernel tweaks, systemd services, or provider-level firewall rules). When you reach out, include timestamps, error log snippets, steps you already tried, and any relevant trace outputs. Clear, concise information gets you faster and more accurate help.
Checklist to diagnose most hosting problems
Use this short checklist to collect useful information before taking action or opening a support ticket. It saves time and reduces back-and-forth:
- Record exact error messages and timestamps.
- Check server error and access logs for matching entries.
- Measure PAGE LOAD times and run a trace (curl -I, traceroute, or browser dev tools).
- Confirm DNS records and propagation status.
- Verify ssl certificate validity and chain.
- Check resource metrics: CPU, memory, disk, I/O.
- Test database connections and validate credentials.
- Try a safe rollback if the issue started after a recent change.
Summary
Hosting problems are stressful, but most can be solved by systematic checks: read logs, confirm DNS and SSL, measure resource usage, and isolate the failure to the application, database, or network layer. Use caching, offload heavy tasks, and keep software and credentials up to date to prevent many issues. When you do need help, provide clear evidence and the steps you’ve already taken to get faster support.
FAQs
Why is my site slow only sometimes?
Intermittent slowness often points to resource spikes, scheduled tasks, or network congestion. Check cron jobs, backups, and background processes, and monitor traffic peaks. A temporary external API call or database lock can also cause sporadic delays.
Can I fix ssl errors myself?
Yes, many SSL issues are straightforward: renew or reissue the certificate, install the full certificate chain, and fix mixed content. If HSTS or a misapplied redirect is involved, you may need help from your host.
How do I know if my email is blocked or just going to spam?
Check bounce messages for codes and reasons. Use an email deliverability tester and verify SPF/DKIM/DMARC. If mail servers accept your messages but they appear in spam, reputation or content scoring is likely the issue.
What if I can’t access logs or server settings?
Open a support ticket with your hosting provider and include the symptoms, timestamps, and any client-side traces (browser console, curl responses). Ask them to provide relevant logs and to perform checks you cannot run.
How often should I test my backups?
Test restores at least quarterly for critical sites, and after any major update. Automate backup verification if possible and keep at least one full offsite copy for disaster recovery.
