The short answer
- Solar panels need little maintenance, but the system's performance should be checked regularly to make sure it's generating what it should.
- In the UK, rain keeps panels clean if they're tilted at 15 degrees or more, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
- The Energy Saving Trust says an inverter usually needs replacing after around 12 years, while the panels last 25 years or more.
- Solar panels produce electricity whenever light falls on them, so leave anything electrical or on the roof to a qualified engineer.
How much maintenance solar PV needs
Not much. Solar panels have no moving parts and need minimal maintenance, but the system's performance should be checked regularly to make sure it's producing as much electricity as it should. Most problems show up as a drop in generation or a fault light on the inverter, rather than anything you can see on the roof.
Your installer should have given you written details of the maintenance checks to make, including the inverter's main fault signals and some basic troubleshooting.
Keep an eye on your generation
The easiest check is to look at how much electricity the system is generating. Some inverters have online monitoring and can email you if the system fails. If yours doesn't, take a reading from your generation meter each month and compare it with the same month last year.
Generation varies with the weather, so don't worry about a dull week. A drop over several months, or no generation at all on a bright day, means something needs checking.
Cleaning and shading
The Energy Saving Trust says rain will clean your panels if they're tilted at 15 degrees or more. Panels on the ground, at a shallow angle (under 15 degrees) or in a dusty spot may need an occasional clean.
Trees and hedges grow, so shading can creep up over the years. Keeping nearby trees trimmed helps the panels keep generating as much as possible.
Inverters and fault lights
The inverter converts the electricity from your panels into the kind your home uses. Panels should last 25 years or more, but the Energy Saving Trust says the inverter usually needs replacing after around 12 years. Most inverters come with a warranty of at least five years, which can often be extended.
If the inverter shows a fault light or error message, or its display is blank in daylight, note what it says and contact us. Some faults can be cleared or repaired, and if the inverter has reached the end of its life we can replace it.
Leave electrical checks to an engineer
Solar panels produce electricity whenever light falls on them, and the cables between the panels and the inverter can carry a high DC voltage even when the mains is switched off. Don't open the inverter or isolators, disconnect cables or go onto the roof yourself. Testing should always be done by a qualified engineer.
What our solar PV service covers
- Inverter health checks
- System performance testing
- Generation monitoring
- Fault diagnosis and repair
- Panel inspection and safety checks
- DC and AC isolation testing
Book a solar PV service, or add a home battery with our installation team at Solwat Green Energy. We also maintain existing battery storage.
Common questions
How do I know if my solar panels are working?
Check the inverter display or its app for generation and any fault lights, and compare your generation meter readings with the same month last year. A sudden or steady drop is worth investigating.
Do solar panels need cleaning?
Usually not. Rain cleans panels tilted at 15 degrees or more. Panels on the ground, at a low angle or in a dusty spot may need an occasional clean.
Can you repair solar panels that someone else installed?
Yes. We carry out inverter checks, performance testing and fault diagnosis on solar PV systems from any installer.