How Much Does Solar Panel Maintenance Cost in 2025?

Solar Panel Maintenance Cost Factors

Many scenarios can affect the total cost of the project. You’ll want to keep the following factors in mind when budgeting for a solar panel repair or maintenance project.

Location

Most installations are on the roof, but some panels are located on the ground or the side of the home. The ease of access to your system will affect the labor rate. The contractors may need more time or extra laborers to ensure proper safety on high, hard-to-reach areas on the roof, which can add around $100 per hour to the repair cost.

Roof Grade

The steepness of your roof will affect how much time and what safety precautions will be necessary to perform the work. This adds to labor costs, further driving up the cost of solar panel maintenance. 

System Type

Higher-grade systems may cost more to repair due to the higher price of materials or the extra care needed to navigate various components. Certain solar arrays are more complicated to work on, meaning you’ll need to hire more specialized experts and pay their increased service rates.

System Size

Larger systems need more time for an inspection to ensure peak performance and can take longer to repair if multiple panels are damaged. If you have a smaller-than-average system, you’ll still need to pay a minimum service fee, usually $100 to $250, potentially making your cost-per-panel less favorable. 

Warranty

If your solar panel warranty is still active, you might not need to pay anything for accidental damage or a product that isn’t generating as much power as it should. Sometimes, the manufacturer may cover repairs and replacements but not the cost of shipping.

Solar Panel Repairs

Solar panel repairs cost anywhere from $20 to $3,000, depending on the nature of the issue. Annual maintenance comes out to $150 to $300 per year. Broken glass, cracked panels, and loose connections are the most popular fixes. Expect to pay an hourly rate of at least $100 per hour plus the cost of materials for professional solar panel repair work.

Broken Glass Panel

The material price for fixing broken glass could be minimal, like $120 for a bucket of epoxy, or substantial, like $500 for a whole new panel. If you can remove the broken glass, a professional might be able to replace it with a new piece. The hard part will be keeping water from condensing inside and fogging the new glass. The panel may still work with the broken glass in place, though it will run with reduced output due to the shade the broken glass creates. Before you throw the broken cell away, check it for output. Your contractor may be able to apply epoxy or stained-glass tape to secure it.

Cracked Panel

Fixing cracks may only take an hour or two of labor at $100 per hour. Depending on the extent of the crack, the fix may need a full replacement at $200 to $550 for the new panel, plus labor. Sometimes, a professional can solder the edges together to save the unit. The sooner you address the issue, the more money you will save in the long run. While individual solar panel costs vary, it will be less expensive to solder a crack than to replace and reinstall a new panel.

Loose Connection Repair Costs

As with cracks, it may only cost $100 for an hour of labor to repair a loose connection, but complex wiring damage may cost up to $400. Loose solder connections cause the connection to cut in and out as the panels heat and cool. You may notice cells cutting in and out if you sharply tap the panels with your hand. A professional can cut through the soft silicone embedding in the cells to access the backs of the cells for repair. They may also need to un-solder and then re-solder the equipment or replace or fix the cuts and padding material.

Solar PV Inverter

Micro inverter replacements cost $100 to $250 per unit, while string inverters are $1,200 to $2,500 per unit. This equipment handles converting the direct current energy into alternating current energy. In the case of the micro type, each panel has its own inverter. String inverters, on the other hand, serve the entire system. Both types should last the length of the warranty. Once the warranty has expired, it may be time to replace this part. A professional can complete this task for $500 to $3,000 in labor costs.

Labor

Labor is a major cost factor when it comes to solar panel maintenance. Solar panel installation pros charge around $100 per hour. Maintaining a single panel takes around an hour, which essentially means you’ll pay $100 per panel, plus additional costs for extra services like uninstalling mounting hardware.

Inspection

Assuming inspections are not included in your installation service contract, you’ll need to pay around $150 to $350 per inspection. You should have solar panels inspected regularly—at least once a year, or more if you live in an area with lots of dust, extreme weather, or plenty of bird activity. 

During an inspection, your solar power inspector will check each panel for damage and dust buildup. They’ll also look for issues in the other components, including the wiring, junction box, inverters, and mounting systems. They’ll check for the presence of any pests or nesting animals around the solar panels and run tests to confirm the system is working efficiently. 

Solar Panel Cleaning 

Most solar panel systems cost between $150 and $500 to clean and maintain. Solar panel cleaning costs about $10 to $20 per panel. In rainy climates, solar panels tend to need less cleaning. In dry and polluted climates, however, dirt and debris build up and decrease system efficiency by up to 30%. Annual maintenance and cleaning go a long way to optimize energy output and save you money by increasing the unit’s efficiency.

Solar Panel Removal

The total estimated cost to remove solar panels is between $2,000 to $3,000 in total or $200 to $500 per panel. Several steps can affect the total cost of the removal, including any potential roof repair costs.

Installer warranties do not typically cover the price of removing solar panels. Homeowners choose this service because they want to:

• Bring the system with them when they move

• Improve, fix, or replace the roof

• Get rid of an outdated, broken system

• Update to a newer system

• Stop using solar energy as a resource

Solar Panel Replacement

The rate to remove and replace a single panel is around $100 per hour, and the average cost of the replacement unit is $200 to $350 per panel. It costs $2,000 to $3,000 to remove an old system and $18,000 to $45,000 in solar installation costs to replace the system with new solar panels. How much you spend depends on the number of units that need replacing. 

Solar Panel Repair vs. Replacement

If your solar panels only have minor damage, such as hairline cracks in the glass or loose wiring in the system, it almost always makes more sense to repair the system rather than replace it. On the other hand, issues with voltage can actually damage your entire solar power system over time, meaning arrays with these issues are better off being replaced. If you notice your solar panels are becoming inefficient or you have severe damage on multiple panels, it might be time to replace them.

Budgeting for Solar Panel Maintenance

Solar panel maintenance is absolutely essential, but the costs can add up quickly. Here are a few ways to save on solar panel maintenance:

• Clean your system regularly to prevent build-up—twice a year is recommended to help you save on future repair costs.

• Protect solar panels with a cover during inclement weather.

• Add to your home’s energy efficiency by paying solar screen costs to maximize the output of your solar power.

• Have your panels placed at the right angle to prevent damage and maximize energy efficiency. 

• Have your solar panel pro install a pest guard to stop rodents and other animals from damaging your solar array.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the 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.