How much does an inspection cost?

Inspection costs vary by market. Use our tool for a localized estimate.

Can I check this myself?

Some issues are visually checkable, but hotspots and cell damage require professional thermal imaging to confirm.

Is your solar inverter losing efficiency? — UK

Your inverter converts DC power from your panels into usable AC electricity. When it degrades or malfunctions, your entire system's output drops — sometimes by 10–25%. Here's how to spot inverter issues early and what to do about them. This guide is tailored for UK solar owners, where maritime climate conditions and shorter daylight hours create different challenges.

Symptoms to watch for

Signs that this issue may be affecting your system

Inverter efficiency loss

Moderate

Degradation or malfunction in the inverter reducing DC-to-AC conversion efficiency. Often indicated by error codes or unexpected shutdowns.

Loss: 5–25%Detection: electrical

What you can check yourself

Actions you can take today without professional help

Inverter efficiency loss

Check your inverter display for error codes or red/amber warning lights. Compare current output to the inverter's rated capacity.

When to get a professional inspection

Signs you need professional help

-Your system is over 7 years old and you've noticed a production decline

-Production has dropped more than 1% per year compared to year one

-Your system has experienced hail, storms, or physical damage

-You see visible damage: discolouration, bubbling, or cracked glass

-Your inverter shows frequent error codes or unexpected shutdowns

Expected inspection costs

Drone thermal audit

Most comprehensive option

Handheld thermal scan

Best for smaller systems

Electrical inspection

Inverter and wiring only

Find inspection providers

California Texas Florida Arizona Colorado New York

Is your system affected?

Use our free Solar Loss Checker to get a personalised diagnosis with an action plan.

Check my system Should I get an audit?

Based on conservative solar performance modelling and published degradation data

NRELIEA-PVPSSunSpecPVsyst+ published research

Updated April 2026 · Structured performance modelling

How we calculate →

More guides

→Why Are My Solar Panels Underperforming?→Solar Panel Hotspots Explained →How Dirt and Soiling Reduce Solar Panel Output →When Should You Get a Solar Thermal Inspection?

Solar inspection by state

→California (CA)→Texas (TX)→Florida (FL)→Arizona (AZ)→Nevada (NV)→Colorado (CO)