Solar repair guide
Panels gone quiet? It's usually the inverter.
Updated
Five safe checks before you call anyone
- Open the monitoring app.It shows live production. If it shows nothing at all, the system may still be running and only the inverter's internet connection has dropped, which EnergySage calls one of the most common "failures". Check your Wi-Fi name and password haven't changed. New owner without a login? See the paperwork section.
- Look at the inverter. It is usually on a wall near the electric meter or in the garage. Note any lights and error codes and photograph them: a repair firm will ask. On a microinverter system the inverters sit under the panels on the roof; leave those to a pro.
- Check the breakers. In the main panel, look for a breaker labeled Solar, PV or Inverter, and check the AC disconnect switch next to the inverter is on. Reset a tripped breaker once. If it trips again, stop and call an electrician.
- Check the rapid shutdown switch.Newer systems may have a box with an on/off switch labeled "rapid shutdown" that lets firefighters de-energize the roof. If someone turned it off, the system stays off until it is switched back on.
- Compare with last year. Output drops in cloudy winter months, which is normal. The US Department of Energy says a drop of more than 10% from one year to the next may point to a maintenance problem.
Who fixes solar when the installer is gone
Installers come and go; the equipment warranties usually outlive them. EnergySage notes that if your installer goes out of business, the panel and inverter makers' warranties still apply. And you are not locked to the original company: any licensed solar firm can work on your system.
- Find the brand.The maker's name is on the inverter. A sticker on the inverter or junction box often names the installer too.
- Call that maker's certified installers. Enphase has an installer locator by ZIP code, and a new installer can ask for access to your system in Enphase's app. Certified work keeps the warranty safe; EnergySage warns uncertified work can void it.
- Widen the search. Look up solar professionals in NABCEP's directory (the US Department of Energy calls NABCEP the industry-standard certification), then check their license with your state. Our solar installer finder lists companies serving your state.
- Ask before they come out:do you take service-only jobs on systems you didn't install? Are you certified for my inverter brand? What is the diagnostic fee, and does it come off the repair?
- Stuck? Solar United Neighbors, a nonprofit, runs a free solar help desk, and lists where to complain: your state contractor licensing board and attorney general.
What repairs cost
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic visit | $150 to $300 |
| Average repair | $750 ($400 to $1,000) |
| Inverter repair | $500 to $3,000 |
| Inverter replacement | $1,000 to $3,000 |
| Labor | About $100 an hour, usually a 1-hour minimum |
| Remove panels | $300 to $500 |
Fixr, updated January 31, 2025. Your quote depends on your system and area.
Check the warranty first.The Department of Energy puts panel life at 20 to 25 years and string inverters at 10 to 15, so a system from the early 2010s may simply need its first new inverter. Microinverters last about as long as the panels: Enphase's IQ7 and IQ8 carry a 25-year warranty, though it covers the part and not the labor to replace it.
Bought a house with solar? The paperwork
- Owned, leased or financed?The Department of Energy says to ask about every contract tied to the panels. A system paid off in cash or with a loan passes with the house; a lease or power purchase agreement belongs to a company, and that company fixes it. You can't claim the federal tax credit on a system someone else installed.
- Tell the utility.There is no national rule. Some utilities need a change of ownership form; National Grid in Massachusetts, for one, wants a form signed by the old and new owner. Others end the old net metering agreement and have you sign a new one. Search your utility's site for "solar change of ownership".
- Move the warranty and monitoring into your name.Enphase's warranty carries over only if you file its change of ownership form and pay a transfer fee within 30 days. SolarEdge has an online site transfer that also gives you the monitoring.
- Previous owner can't help?If they have died or can't be reached, ask the inverter maker how to transfer without them. SolarEdge, for one, accepts a document proving you own the home in place of the old owner's Site ID.
In the UK?
For Feed-in Tariff panels, the change of ownership goes to the energy company that pays the tariff, not to Ofgem. Ofgem can tell you which company the panels are registered with (and who owns them, if they belong to a "rent-a-roof" company), and if a change isn't sorted within 8 weeks of a complaint, you can take it to the Energy Ombudsman. For repairs, search for an MCS-certified installer; if your installer has gone, MCS can reissue the system's certificate to the current owner for a fee (helpdesk 0333 103 8130).
Frequently asked questions
Why did my solar panels stop working?
Usually it is the inverter, not the panels. EnergySage says the inverter is the part most likely to cause problems and that panels rarely fail. Often the system is still making power and only the monitoring has dropped off Wi-Fi. A tripped breaker or a rapid shutdown switch left off can also stop it.
Who repairs solar panels if the installer went out of business?
Any licensed solar company or electrician who takes service work on systems they didn't install. Start with the inverter maker: Enphase, for example, lists certified installers by ZIP code. Then check NABCEP's directory and your state's contractor license lookup. Using a certified installer helps keep the equipment warranty intact.
How much does solar panel repair cost?
Fixr puts a diagnostic visit at $150 to $300, the average repair at about $750, and a replacement inverter at $1,000 to $3,000. If the part is still under the maker's warranty you may pay only for labor; Enphase's warranty, for example, covers the microinverter but not the labor to swap it.
Do solar panel warranties transfer when you buy a house?
Often, but you may have to act. Enphase's US warranty carries over only if the new owner files its change of ownership form and pays a transfer fee within 30 days. SolarEdge has an online site transfer. Panel production warranties typically run about 25 years. Ask the seller for every warranty and the monitoring login.
How do I find out who installed my solar panels?
Look for a sticker on the inverter or junction box and check the house paperwork for contracts and warranties. The inverter brand is printed on the unit. On an Enphase system, the Enphase app shows your installer under Support, then Contact us.
General information, not electrical, legal or financial advice. Solar systems carry dangerous voltages: leave inspection and repair to a licensed professional. Costs and warranty terms change; check them with the maker and your installer. See our disclaimer.
Sources
- EnergySage, When solar panel repair is needed (updated Aug 28, 2025)
- EnergySage, What happens if your solar inverter fails?
- EnergySage, Rapid shutdown for solar
- EnergySage, What happens to your warranty if your solar company goes out of business (updated Jan 7, 2026)
- EnergySage, SunPower is bankrupt: what now? (updated Apr 16, 2026)
- US Department of Energy, A Consumer's Guide to Buying a House with Solar Panels
- US Department of Energy, Homeowner's Guide to Going Solar
- Fixr, Solar panel repair cost (updated Jan 31, 2025)
- Enphase, US limited warranty for IQ microinverters (effective May 1, 2026)
- Enphase support, How do I transfer ownership of an Enphase system?
- Enphase installer locator
- SolarEdge, site ownership transfer
- SunPower, update for legacy SunPower customers
- NABCEP professional directory
- Solar United Neighbors, Having problems with your solar installer? (May 6, 2024)
- National Grid, Moving? Transferring your solar system (Massachusetts)
- Ofgem, Feed-in Tariffs: guidance for generators
- MCS, Request an MCS certificate
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Photo: Watt A Lot on Unsplash (Unsplash License).