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Get a fair quoteBy Our research team · Last verified · 10 jobs priced · Methodology
Solar panel cleaning (15–25 panels). The full price list is below.
How we get this dataMost solar systems need little upkeep. Cleaning costs $150–$500 a visit and a health check $150–$350. The big one is a string inverter replacement, $1,500–$3,500, usually once in the life of the system. Taking panels off for a new roof costs $3,500–$8,000.
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 42+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Typical US prices for upkeep and the repairs owners actually face. Many are free under warranty in the first 10–25 years; check yours first.
| Job | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar panel cleaning (15–25 panels)per visit | $150 | $300 | $500 |
| System health check / inspectionper visit | $150 | $250 | $350 |
| Monitoring subscription, where chargedper year | $0 | $120 | $240 |
| Microinverter replacement, one unit (out of warranty)per unit | $300 | $450 | $750 |
| String inverter replacementinstalled | $1,500 | $2,300 | $3,500 |
| Hybrid inverter upgrade (battery-ready)installed | $2,500 | $3,500 | $5,500 |
| Critter guard around the array (8–10 kW)installed | $700 | $1,200 | $1,700 |
| Remove and reinstall panels for a re-roof (about 20 panels)per job | $3,500 | $5,000 | $8,000 |
| General repair visit (wiring, glass, loose mounts)per job | $250 | $600 | $1,500 |
| Loose or chewed wiringper job | $100 | $250 | $400 |
US prices, November 2026. Low is a simple job in a low-cost area; high is a bigger job or a high-cost city.
Yes. The same job costs more where labor and rent cost more. Here's how solar panel prices in the biggest US metros compare with the US typical of $22400.
Labor, rent and demand move every job on this page in the same direction. Open your city's guide for its full local price list.
Very little. Rain cleans most tilted panels. Watch the monitoring app: a sudden drop in output is the sign something needs a look. Cleaning pays where dust, pollen, salt or bird droppings build up, such as desert, farm and coastal areas.
Pros charge about $10–$20 a panel, $150–$500 for most homes, with a minimum of about $100. Do not pressure-wash or walk on panels; it can void the warranty and crack cells.
A string inverter usually lasts 10–15 years against 25 or more for the panels, so plan on one replacement: $1,500–$3,500 installed. Microinverters usually carry 20–25 year warranties; one replaced out of warranty is about $300–$750.
If you want a battery later, replacing a tired string inverter with a hybrid inverter ($2,500–$5,500) gets you battery-ready in the same visit.
Removing and reinstalling about 20 panels costs $3,500–$8,000, roughly $200–$300 a panel, plus the roof itself. Off-site storage adds about $250. The original installer is often the cheapest and keeps the warranty intact.
Squirrels and pigeons nest under panels and chew wiring. A metal-mesh critter guard around the array costs about $700–$1,700 for an 8–10 kW system. Ask for it at install; it can also be added later by a local installer.
Be wary of anyone selling a yearly cleaning contract for a roof that does not get dirty, or a repair visit before checking the monitoring data. Most panel makers warrant 25 years, and many installers give 10–25 years on workmanship and roof leaks around the mounts. Use the warranty before you pay for a repair.
A home in a squirrel-prone area that re-roofs once. Typical US prices, paid out of pocket after the warranties.
That is about $350 a year. Many homes never need the critter guard or the re-roof, and spend closer to the inverter alone. Dusty areas may add a cleaning or two a year.
Check your monitoring app first. Most problems show up there before you can see them.
| What you see | Likely cause | Often covered by | Cost if you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero output on a sunny day | Inverter fault or a tripped breaker | Inverter warranty | $1,500–$3,500 |
| One panel low in the app | That panel's microinverter | Microinverter warranty, up to 25 years | $300–$750 |
| Output a bit lower every year | Dirt, or normal aging of about 0.5% a year | Nobody; it is normal | $150–$500 if dirt |
| Nests, droppings or chewed wires | Squirrels or pigeons | Usually not covered | $100–$400 plus a guard |
| Cracked glass after a storm | Hail or flying debris | Home insurance may cover it | $250–$1,500 |
| A roof leak near the panels | Seal around a roof mount | Installer workmanship warranty | $250–$1,500 |
| App offline, power still flowing | Wi-Fi or the gateway box | Usually free to fix | $0 |
The company owns the panels, so repairs and upkeep are usually its job. Call it before you call anyone else.
Leased panels are usually insured by the company, not by your home policy. Ask your insurer and the company who covers what, before a storm.
Panels are built for local snow. Let it melt and slide off. Do not use warm water or salt, and do not climb the roof to clear it.
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Most homes need it rarely or never; rain does it. Where dust, pollen or birds build up, once or twice a year at $150–$500 a visit is typical.
$1,500–$3,500 for a string inverter, installed. A single microinverter out of warranty is about $300–$750. A battery-ready hybrid inverter is $2,500–$5,500.
Not by law. A health check every few years, or after a big storm, costs $150–$350 and catches loose wiring, cracked glass and failed parts early.
About $3,500–$8,000 for roughly 20 panels, or $200–$300 a panel, plus the new roof. Ask about storage if the panels have to leave the site.
Most systems include a free app. Where an installer charges $10–$20 a month for extra monitoring, check what it adds beyond the free one.
Panels are usually warrantied for 20–25 years but have no set end date. They keep working past that and make a little less power each year; NREL found a typical loss of about 0.5% a year.
A string inverter often lasts 10–15 years, so plan for one swap at $1,500–$3,500. Microinverters last longer; Enphase gives a 25-year warranty on IQ8 units used in the US.
Often, for panels fixed to the house, under dwelling coverage for covered damage. Wear and tear is usually not covered. Ground mounts may fall under other structures. Leased panels are usually insured by the leasing company. Ask your insurer.
No. Let it melt and slide off. Warm water or salt can damage panels, and climbing the roof is not worth the risk for a few days of output.
Panel and inverter warranties come from the makers, so call them first. For labor, hire a licensed solar contractor; a repair visit is about $250–$1,500.
From the ground, yes: a garden hose and a soft brush on a pole. Do not use a pressure washer, and do not climb the roof. A pro charges $150–$500.