The inverter works harder than any other part of a solar system, and it is nearly always the first thing to fail. Most string inverters last 10 to 15 years, so if your panels went up during the feed-in tariff years the original unit is living on borrowed time. We replace failed and end-of-life inverters on homes and businesses across the East Midlands, whoever installed the system.
Not sure whether it is the inverter or the panels? Our guide to testing a solar panel walks through the checks, or send us a photo of the display and we will tell you what we think.
Solar panels have no moving parts and most carry 25-year performance warranties. The inverter has a harder life. It converts DC power from the roof into AC power you can use, it does that all day, and it runs warm doing it. Ten to fifteen years is a normal life for a string inverter, so almost every solar system needs a new one at some point.
A lot of this is happening right now. A huge number of UK systems went in between 2010 and 2015 under the feed-in tariff, and their original inverters are wearing out together. We know because we fitted plenty of them. Back in 2013 we installed a 177kW array for Elsoms Seeds in Spalding; twelve years on, the original ABB units had reached the end of the road and we replaced them with six Solis 25kW string inverters.
We fit Solis string and hybrid inverters as standard. We install more Solis than anything else for good reason: they are reliable, sensibly priced and well supported in the UK. Every new unit carries Solis’s 5-year warranty, with paid extensions available to 10 or 20 years, and our own 5-year workmanship guarantee covers the installation.
Weighing up your options first? See our comparisons of hybrid vs string inverters and Solis vs SolarEdge.
Plenty of the companies that fitted solar in the 2010s are no longer trading, and some big kit brands have gone the same way. GivEnergy went into administration in April 2026 and its hardware warranties are no longer being honoured. Systems like that keep working, but when the inverter fails there is no manufacturer to fall back on.
We take on orphaned systems regularly. If your installer has disappeared or your inverter brand no longer exists, we survey what is there, replace what has failed and leave you with kit that is properly supported again. There is more on this in our guide to solar repairs when your installer goes bust.
A photo of the inverter’s spec plate, a photo of the fault light or error message, and your postcode.
One all-inclusive price. no vat on domestic work, +VAT on commercial. There are never any hidden extras with us.
We confirm the date with your quote. A domestic replacement is normally a single visit.
Old unit off the wall, new one in, strings and isolators tested, system recommissioned and generating before we leave.
Commissioning documents, DNO notification where it is needed, and the records your FIT or SEG supplier wants to see.
If you are on the feed-in tariff, replacing a failed inverter does not end your payments. The scheme allows repairs and like-for-like replacements; your FIT licensee just needs the right paperwork, and we provide it as part of the job.
We cover the East Midlands and surrounding counties. Spectrum has been installing solar since 2011, with more than 1,000 systems fitted and over 10MW connected to the grid. We are MCS certified, NICEIC approved and RECC members.
It depends on the size and type of unit, whether your supply is single or three phase, and the state of the rest of the system. We quote one all-inclusive figure within 24 hours of seeing your details: no vat on domestic, +VAT on commercial. There are never any hidden extras with us.
Yes. A lot of our replacement work is on systems fitted by other companies, including installers that have since closed down. We survey what is there before we quote.
No. The FIT scheme allows repairs and like-for-like replacements. Your FIT licensee needs notifying with the right paperwork, and we provide that as part of the job.
A domestic swap is normally a single visit. Commercial work depends on scale: replacing six 25kW inverters on a 177kW system at Elsoms Seeds took five days.
It can be the right moment. Switching to a hybrid inverter and adding a battery in one visit saves doing the work twice. It only makes sense if your usage justifies it, and we will tell you straight if it does not.
More common than you would think. GivEnergy went into administration in April 2026 and its hardware warranties are no longer honoured, and older names like Power One were absorbed years ago. We replace unsupported units with Solis kit that is fully supported in the UK.
The new Solis unit carries a 5-year manufacturer warranty as standard, with paid extensions available to 10 or 20 years. Our installation work is covered by a 5-year workmanship guarantee.
Send us a photo of your inverter and its fault light, plus your postcode, and we will come back within 24 hours with a fixed, all-inclusive price. Or call us on 0115 773 7575.
Thinking about solar for your home or business? We’ll design a system sized to your actual usage and send you a clear, fixed quote — with your projected generation, savings and payback. It all starts with a free remote roof and energy assessment, no site visit needed.
Prefer to talk? Call 0115 773 7575