Solar electric systems are expected to last 20 to 40 years depending on who you ask.  Even at the low end of that range that's a long time.  Think of all the changes in your life from where you were 20 years ago.  
No Moving Parts
Almost all modern solar electric installations have no moving parts (except for shutoff switches and circuit breakers).  So there are no mechanical parts to wear out or to be lubricated.  A few inverters have fans but these are quickly disappearing. 

No Fluids to "Top Off" or Replace
There are no oils or coolants to fill up or replace.  There are no pumps and no pipes to corrode. 

What Maintenance is Required for Solar?
A properly installed system should require very little maintenance.  The primary maintenance that solar electric systems need is to keep the panels free of dust, leaves, bird droppings, etc.  Also, inverters could fail and need to be replaced in the future.  However, most inverters have 10 or 15 year warranties.  I take that as a good indicator that the manufacturer expects them to last at least that long. 

Silent Operation of Solar Electric System
Your solar electricity generating system will operate almost silently, except for the low hum of your inverter(s).  You can hear them if you listen closely. 

To know more about how your system is running, you will need to use a meter of some sort.  Your utility meter is a good indicator of whether your system is working or not.  Midday during a bright sunny day your utility meter should run backwards when not much electricity is being used in the house (see also Make Your Electric Meter Run Backwards, Legally).  To get more detailed system information you will need a monitoring system (see also Another Major Advantage for Microinverters). 


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Robert Morse
BSEE, MSEE
SunCal Solar, Incorporated
www.SunCalSolar.com