How Much Does It Cost to Repair Solar Panels?
Normal range: $225 - $1,574
Solar panel repair costs $888 on average, but ranges between $225 and $1,574 depending on the type of damage and your specific system.
On average, homeowners spend $888 to repair solar panels, but the level of damage can put these costs between $225 and $1,574. Installing solar panels can increase your home’s value by over 4% and help you save $10,000 to $30,000 across their lifespan, according to Energy Sage. But when hail, water, or tree branches damage your solar panels, you’ll need to be prepared to pay for their repair.
- Average
- $888
- Low end
- $99
- high end
- $5,000
Solar Panel Repair Cost Breakdown
Hurricanes, hail storms, and other severe weather events can seriously damage your solar panel system. In some cases, it may be more cost-efficient in these cases to simply replace the faulty panels or the entire solar energy system. Removing the panels entirely will be $400 to $600 before factoring in the price of roof repairs and the cost of purchasing brand new panels.
There are many factors to consider when it comes to solar panel repairs. Here’s a breakdown:
Labor
You can expect to pay a local solar panel professional $100 an hour to repair or replace your panels. This labor will typically be divided into numerous tasks; count on $600 to uninstall current mounting hardware, if necessary, and another $100 for each panel that needs repairs.
Roof Repairs
In some cases, the roof will have to be repaired along with the solar panels. The overall tally of a roof repair will depend on the panels’ location and the job’s difficulty. You should allow around $800 for roof repairs.
Materials
The technician will likely need to order and install new components and materials—sometimes entirely new solar panels. The average cost of a replacement solar panel is $150 to $350.
Panel Maintenance
While the panels have been removed, you can have them cleaned and professionally maintained. This will cost $10 to $20 per panel.
What Factors Influence the Cost to Repair Solar Panels?
Every renewable energy system and roof is unique, so solar panel repair costs will vary. Cost estimates can be impacted by location, type of solar energy system, panel placement, and the parts needed to complete the repair.
Distance From the Ground
The solar panels’ location and their various components can significantly impact your repair costs. If the panels are on your roof, any repair job will have to factor in access and the time it will take to remove the hardware. If the panels are on the ground next to your home, you’ll pay less.
Roof Grade
If the panels are located on a particularly steep area of your roof, the contractors will likely have to put safety precautions in place that could impact the cost of repairs. This will increase the number of professionals needed to complete the solar panel repair. Have information about your roof grade ready for the pro when you’re getting an estimate.
Type of Solar Panel System
There are a number of different solar panel energy systems, and complicated systems typically require higher repair costs. This can be due to the overall cost of replacement materials or the complexity of the system itself.
Size
If you’re repairing numerous panels in a large energy system, or repairing the system itself, increased repair costs are a given. Larger-than-average solar panel systems will also require more time for an inspection after the work is completed, and cleaning will take longer too.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Solar Energy System Near You?
Material and labor costs vary by location. Here are some price estimates throughout the U.S.:
| City | Price Estimate |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $231 – $1,699 |
| Denver | $212 – $516 |
| Austin, TX | $355 – $539 |
| Miami | $135 – $685 |
| Phoenix | $173 – $766 |
| San Francisco | $210 – $803 |
| New York | $297 – $1,441 |
Common Solar Panel Repair Cost Estimates
Unsurprisingly, there isn’t a one-cost-fits-all solution for repairing your solar panels. Different issues require different fixes, which impact what you’ll end up paying.
Broken or Cracked Panel
Repairing a broken glass solar panel will range anywhere from $120 to $450, depending on the materials needed. If your glass panel needs minor repairs, the technician may need to just purchase a bucket of epoxy for around $20. For major repairs, the service professional may need to purchase a brand new solar panel, which will cost around $200 to $300, plus $100 in labor.
Before you throw a broken solar panel away, check it for power output. Panels may still work with some broken glass, though the output could be decreased.
Loose Connections
Repairing a loose connection within a solar panel should cost you an hour of labor, at around $100. Loose connections can cause the power reserve capacity to shift as the panels heat and cool.
The repair process here typically requires a technician to cut through soft silicone to access the power cells for repair. They may need to un-solder and then re-solder the equipment. In rare cases, two or three hours may be needed to conduct the repairs, which would bring the cost to $200 to $300.
Solar Panel Inverter Replacement Cost
One of the most expensive components of a solar energy system is the solar inverter, otherwise known as the PV inverter. A replacement inverter could cost you anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000. The labor cost here comes in at $100 per hour.
Solar panel inverters are used to convert direct current (DC) electricity to alternating current (AC) electricity, which is used by a standard electrical grid. String inverters are much cheaper to replace than micro inverters.
Cost to Remove Solar Panels
If you need to conduct roof repairs or replace the roof entirely, then your solar panels will also have to be removed and reinstalled. Removing and reinstalling a solar energy system averages $1,500.
The hourly rate to remove and replace a single panel is around $100 to $200. This cost should be multiplied by the number of panels you have installed on your roof.
While the panels are removed, you can have the panels cleaned. This will cost around $10 to $20 per panel. Having your solar panels regularly maintained can improve efficiency by up to 30%.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Solar panel systems are a significant investment for modern homeowners, so it is important to protect that investment by hiring a reputable contractor. Conduct thorough research on the service technician and their company and make sure they are insured and licensed.
To make sure the repair or replacement process runs smoothly and without incident, consider asking the following questions:
Do you have proof of insurance and a professional license? A professional contractor should have no hesitation to show you this and answer any questions about the policy.
Are you a member of any national trade organizations, such as the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)? While not required to do a great job, this shows investment from the contractor and that they’re dedicated to best practices.
Do you have references you can provide from former clients? This will allow you to talk to people who have worked with the contractor before, and to potentially even see some examples of completed work.
How much have past jobs similar to this one cost? You can get a better idea of the rate range you are being quoted, and what your final cost could be.
What is your typical turnaround time for a project like this one? While they may not be able to give you an exact date that your project will be complete, this can help you get an idea of when the repair or replacement will be finished.
What potential issues could you run into that may increase the cost mid-project? By being aware of these from the beginning, you can budget for potential extra costs in case something out-of-the-ordinary happens.