Solar Panel Repair and Maintenance in Durham, NC
Solar panel repair and maintenance from Durham Solar brings an underperforming or silent system back to life. Whether the original installer is gone or the system is simply aging, we diagnose and fix rooftop solar across Durham, Chapel Hill, and Cary.
- We service systems other companies installed
- Electrical permits through the Durham City-County Building & Safety Department
- Written findings before any repair
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Please call us at (919) 328-3993.
How to Tell Something Is Wrong
The monitoring app usually tells you first. A production line that keeps sliding month after month, a flat day in full sun, or one string producing far less than the others means something changed. An error code or warning light on the inverter, the box that converts panel power into household power, is the other common clue.
From the ground you might spot a panel out of line, loose conduit, wires hanging below the array, or leaves packed along the lower edge. Indoors, a tripped breaker or a switched-off disconnect can stop everything. A higher power bill with no change in your habits is also worth a call.
Please do not go on the roof or open the inverter. Solar equipment is energized whenever the sun is out, even during a grid outage, and should only be handled by a licensed electrical contractor.
Common Repairs
Inverter faults
Diagnosis and replacement for string inverters and microinverters.
Wiring
Damaged wire, failed connectors, and chewed cables repaired.
Panels and racking
Failed panels replaced and loose racking re-secured.
Monitoring
Monitoring reconnected so you can track production.
The Process
What a Service Call Looks Like
Data First
Monitoring history and inverter codes reviewed before the visit.
Inspect
Panels, wiring, inverter, and disconnects checked on site.
Report
What is wrong, what it costs, and what can wait, in writing.
Fix and Verify
Repairs made, permitted where required, and output confirmed.
Repairs Under North Carolina Rules
Solar repair is electrical work. North Carolina treats residential solar PV as electrical work, and installations of any value require an electrical contractor licence, and an electrical permit is required whenever wiring or equipment changes. When a repair replaces an inverter or changes wiring, we file with the Durham City-County Building & Safety Department at 101 City Hall Plaza and have it inspected.
Older systems may also face a rider change: legacy Rider NM customers move to the Net Metering Bridge after December 31, 2026. When we service an older system we can explain what that means for your credits and whether adding solar battery storage makes sense now.
Seasonal Care in the Piedmont
Panels need little care, but not none. The region's hot, humid summers and cool winters bring spring pollen, summer thunderstorms, and autumn leaves. Under the big trees of Trinity Park and Watts-Hillandale, leaves and twigs collect around arrays and pollen coats the glass each spring.
A yearly check covers every panel, the mounts and flashing, the inverter and disconnects, and actual production against expected. We clean panels when the data shows it is worth it, not on a fixed schedule, and we keep notes so you can see how the system ages.
Squirrels like the shelter under arrays and can chew wiring. Critter guards around the array edge keep them out and cost far less than rewiring later.
When the Roof Needs Replacing
If you need a new roof, the panels come off first and go back on after. We remove and store the array, reinstall it on the new roof with fresh flashing on every mount, and permit the reconnection. Coordinating with your roofer in advance keeps the time without solar short.
Want more capacity instead? A service visit is a good time to discuss adding panels or replacing an old inverter; see solar panel installation for how we design new systems.
Choosing a Repair Company
When the original installer has closed, look for a company that reviews your monitoring data before sending a truck, holds a North Carolina electrical contractor licence, and puts findings and prices in writing before any work. Be cautious about anyone recommending a full replacement before diagnosing; most problems trace to one inverter, one connector, or one damaged wire run.
Ask about warranties too. Panel and inverter makers often honor coverage even after an installer closes, and we help file claims when a failed part qualifies. We record every visit so the next technician, or the next owner of the house, can see the history.
Signs of a Healthy System
A healthy system produces close to its expected output for the season, shows no inverter errors, and has panels sitting flat and secure in their racking. Wiring under the array is clipped up and out of sight, conduit is tight, and the disconnects are clearly labeled. Production naturally dips in winter and on cloudy days; what matters is the trend over months, compared with the same season the year before. We share that comparison with you after every service visit so you know whether the system is aging normally or needs attention. Keeping a simple record also helps if you ever sell the house, since buyers often ask how the system has performed.
Book a Service Visit
Production dropped or an unexplained error code? Request a service visit or return to the home page.