Solar Inverter: lifespan, maintenance and replacement

Typical lifespan: 10–15 years (about 12 years).

Maintenance schedule

• Check status lights and error codes — Monthly
• Inspect wiring connections — Annually
• Clean ventilation openings — Every 6 months
• Monitor production data for anomalies — Monthly

Signs it needs replacing

• Frequent error codes or shutdowns
• Buzzing or humming noises
• Production significantly below expected
• Display not functioning
• Inverter over 10 years old and out of warranty

Tips

Microinverters (one per panel) last longer and allow panel-level monitoring vs. a single string inverter.