California homeowner quoted $4,000 to fix five solar parts said to cost about $70 each

"That sounds like an 'F-you' quote, they don't want the business."

A California homeowner wondered if they were being overcharged after getting a $4,000 quote for solar repairs.

Here's what to know

On Reddit, the Orange County homeowner said their solar panel system was three years old, but several optimizers had stopped working.

"Installer is completely out of business and no longer exists," they wrote. "Found another certified installer, they want $800 per optimizer to install, 5 optimizers total so $4,000."

The original poster then asked, "Is this a ridiculous price? I saw the optimizers are about $70 each so the labor seems high."

By the homeowner's estimate, the parts alone would total about $350.

"Yes, ridiculous," one top comment said. "That sounds like an 'F-you' quote, they don't want the business. A single $800 for all of them would be generous. It takes 2 minutes each. ... It's also DIY-friendly if you're comfortable on the roof."

Another commenter wrote, "They should be embarrassed to even quote that number. Unless they are the 5 optis in the middle of [a] huge array that would require them to lift a s*** ton of panels to reach them, that's nuts."

A third person suggested a fair price would be around five hours of labor at $200 an hour.

When homeowners work with a vetted installer, going solar can be one of the best ways to cut home energy costs, and solar leases in particular can deliver hundreds of dollars in monthly savings without any upfront costs. Homeowners can use EasyHome's free explorer tool to see their potential savings and find dependable installers in their area.

What can be done?

Several users recommended filing a warranty claim in hopes of getting replacement optimizers, while also collecting more service quotes.

Another commenter suggested, "Search for installers near you with service departments and make some calls."

For homeowners looking for guidance or considering solar panel installation, EasyHome can help explore options for solar and backup battery storage. Pairing solar panels with a battery can help homeowners maximize savings and keep power flowing with solar energy when the grid goes down.

Where can I learn more?

Other homeowners have also run into steep solar repair estimates or had trouble finding service after their installers shut down.

• A solar owner dealing with monitoring issues received a $2,000 inspection quote for an aging system.

• A New Jersey homeowner was stunned by a $90,000 quote to repair their solar panels.

• After a solar company closed, one homeowner got a free replacement inverter, but it was not plug-and-play.