Frequently Asked Questions

HomeAdvisor puts the average solar panel repair at about $861, with most jobs between $238 and $1,487. A loose connection can be around $100 in labor, while a replacement string inverter runs $800 to $2,500. Your written estimate after testing is the actual price.

Dust, a failed microinverter, a tripped breaker, shading from a grown tree, pigeon debris under the panels or a string fault are the usual causes. Panels also lose a little every year, roughly 0.8 to 1 percent for crystalline silicon. Comparing the same month across years in your monitoring app tells us which kind of drop you are seeing.

Yes. Many owners have systems from installers that have since closed, stopped answering or moved on. We need to know the inverter brand and whether you own or lease the system.

Using the right replacement parts and following the manufacturer's procedures keeps warranties intact in most cases. Before we touch a part that may still be covered, we check whether a warranty claim is the better route.

Like-for-like repairs such as cleaning or swapping a microinverter for the same model usually do not. Changing inverter type, adding equipment or altering the electrical tie-in can need a City of Peoria permit and a note to APS or SRP. Check with the city for your address; any permit step and fee belongs on the written estimate.

Usually, yes. Panels are expected to last 20 to 40 years, so on many older systems the panels are fine and the inverter is the part that has worn out. We will tell you plainly if the numbers point the other way.

Usually the leasing company owns the equipment and has to approve or perform repairs. Call them first. If they will not respond or the lease has ended and you now own the system, we can take it from there.

String inverters often carry manufacturer warranties of 5 to 10 years, and the capacitors inside them have a life of roughly a decade. In Peoria's heat, a unit mounted in direct sun may wear out sooner than one on a shaded wall.

Common causes are a ground fault in the wiring, an arc fault, high grid voltage, overheating or a failed internal component. The error code narrows it down, and testing confirms it.

Inverters protect themselves by cutting power when they get too hot. Blocked vents, a failing fan or direct afternoon sun on the housing are the usual reasons. Sometimes it is a sign the unit is near the end of its life.

Usually, yes, if the new one matches the array's voltage and current. A model change may need a City of Peoria permit and an update to your interconnection with APS or SRP.

For a full reroof or new underlayment, yes. The roofer needs to reach the deck and tiles under the array. Small leak repairs away from the array may not require it.

Mostly as long as the roofing work takes. The removal and reinstall are short by comparison, so the roofer's schedule sets the gap in between.

Reinstalling with the right mounts and connectors, following the manufacturer's instructions, generally keeps panel and inverter warranties intact. Roof penetration warranties from the original installer may end once someone else reinstalls, so check that paperwork.

Often, yes, but a layout change or added panels usually needs a City of Peoria permit and an update to your interconnection with APS or SRP. We would quote that separately.

Guards that clip to the panel frames do not drill into the module or the roof. Using clips made for solar frames is the standard approach and avoids altering the panel itself.

They will try, especially if they nested there before. Once the full perimeter is closed, they cannot get under the panels, and most give up and move on.

Mesh with an open weave still lets air move under the array. Clearing out packed nest debris usually improves airflow compared with what was there before.

We check for eggs and chicks first. Depending on what we find, we may schedule the cleanout and mesh for a later date so no birds are sealed in.

HomeAdvisor recommends an inspection at least once a year. In the West Valley, a check before summer, when the system should produce the most, is a practical time.

Find out whether the system is owned or leased, get the monitoring login transferred to you, and confirm it is producing. A checkup covers the rest and tells you what warranties may still apply.

Yes. String readings show whether a group of panels is underperforming, and a visual inspection finds cracks, browning and hot spots. Microinverter systems report panel by panel, which makes weak modules easy to spot.

Cleaning is a separate service, but many owners book both at once. If the panels are dirty, we note how much it is likely costing you.

In the monitoring app, a failed unit shows zero production or no communication while the panels around it produce. If every panel shows zero, the gateway or a breaker is more likely.

Microinverters typically carry 15 to 25 year manufacturer warranties. Many units installed in the last decade or more are still covered, which is why we check before quoting a new part.

Sometimes. The new unit must work with your existing trunk cable and gateway. Some combinations need an adapter or a gateway upgrade, which we would list on the estimate.

One unit takes one panel offline, so the loss is smaller than a string inverter failure. If it is under warranty, the replacement is usually worth doing, and we can bundle it with a cleaning or checkup to save a separate trip.

Yes. Enphase is a widely used microinverter brand, and we work on other brands as well.

It depends on how quickly dust builds up at your home. Watch your monitoring app on clear days. Many owners clean before summer and again after monsoon season.

No. High pressure can damage the glass coating and the frame seals, and many manufacturers advise against it. A soft brush and low-pressure purified water is the safe method.

Not well in Peoria. With about 9 inches of rain a year, there are long stretches without any, and a light shower after a dust storm often leaves mud streaks rather than clean glass.

Cleaning done according to the manufacturer's instructions does not. Scratching the glass with abrasive tools or harsh chemicals could cause damage that the warranty would not cover.