Should you repair or replace your solar inverter?
Updated August 2026
← Every repair-or-replace call
Plan on replacing a failed solar inverter rather than repairing it: $1,500–3,000 installed for a string inverter, or $150–400 each for microinverters. The inverter is the weak link of a solar array by design. Panels are passive glass and silicon rated for 25–30 years, while a string inverter is packed with switching electronics and capacitors running hot on a wall all day, so it lasts 10–15 years. Board-level repair is rarely offered outside warranty, parts for discontinued models disappear, and a dark inverter means your array produces nothing at all. Warranty status and turnaround time decide this one.
The short version
Warranty status settles most of these. Inside the standard 10-year to 12-year term, the manufacturer ships a replacement and you pay $200–600 in labor, so file the claim and move on. Outside it, almost nobody offers board-level repair, and a swap at $1,500–3,000 is the practical answer. Speed matters more here than with other equipment, because a dead inverter zeroes production entirely, and a mid-size residential array generates $1,000–2,000 of electricity a year, so each week down carries a real price. One planning note: if a battery is anywhere in your future, size the replacement as a hybrid inverter now instead of paying a second installation crew in three years.
Your situation, decided
| Situation | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Inverter faults out inside a 10-year to 12-year warranty | Warranty replacement | The part is covered; expect $200–600 in labor |
| String inverter past 12 years, warranty expired | Replace | A $1,500–3,000 swap; board repair is rarely offered |
| One microinverter offline, the rest reporting normally | Replace that unit | A $150–400 part and a roof visit, not a system job |
| Production at zero but the inverter shows no fault | Check the circuit first | A tripped AC disconnect or breaker looks identical to failure |
| Replacing anyway and planning battery storage | Fit a hybrid inverter | Doing both at once avoids a second labor charge |
What each path costs
Repairs typically run $150–400; a replacement is $1,500–3,000 installed. String inverters last 10–15 years against 25–30 for the panels, with warranties typically 10–12 years. Microinverters are warrantied up to 25 years and are swapped one at a time. Price your own number on the home maintenance cost calculator before you commit either way.
The repair-or-replace call is easy when you know the unit's age and service history. OnOtto keeps both, plus the maintenance that delays this decision for years.
Start your home's service log, freeFrequently asked questions
How do I know the inverter failed and not the panels?
Read the monitoring data. Panels fail one at a time and show as a single flat line among healthy neighbors, while an inverter failure zeroes the whole system at once, usually with a code on the display or in the app. Before calling it, verify that the AC disconnect and the solar breaker are on, because a tripped breaker mimics a dead inverter exactly. A unit that is dark, hot to the touch, or clicking on and off at midday is the inverter. Start with what an inverter actually does if the wiring is unfamiliar.
Is an extended inverter warranty worth buying?
Usually, because the replacement is the expensive event. Standard string-inverter warranties run 10–12 years, and extensions to 20 years cost roughly $200–800 bought at installation, against a $1,500–3,000 out-of-warranty replacement that tends to arrive right around year 12. Check whether the extension covers labor and shipping, since a part-only policy still leaves you $200–600 for the swap. Microinverters take the other route, carrying 25-year coverage that matches the panels. Compare either against the expected inverter life before deciding.
Should I switch to microinverters when the string inverter dies?
It is a fair moment to consider, though not automatic. Microinverters carry 25-year warranties, stop shade on one panel from dragging a whole string, and give per-panel monitoring. The catch is a roof visit for every unit, so retrofitting a full array costs far more than a $1,500–3,000 string swap. With an unshaded roof and sound wiring, replace like for like and plan the next swap for year 12. If you are also adding battery storage, look at a hybrid inverter and do the work once.