How Much Maintenance Do Solar Panels Need?
Very little. Solar panels have no moving parts and are designed to withstand decades of British weather. Most systems will perform reliably for 25–30 years with minimal intervention.
That said, a small amount of care ensures you get the maximum output from your investment. Here is what we recommend.
Cleaning
Rain does a reasonable job of keeping panels clean in the UK, but dirt, bird droppings, pollen, and algae can accumulate over time, reducing output by 5–15%.
Recommended frequency: Once or twice a year, ideally in spring and autumn.
DIY cleaning: Use a soft brush or sponge with warm water. Never use abrasive materials, pressure washers, or harsh chemicals. Clean from the ground with an extendable brush if possible — do not walk on panels.
Professional cleaning: Costs £100–£200 and is worthwhile if your panels are difficult to access or heavily soiled.
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Annual Monitoring
Most modern inverters and battery systems provide app-based monitoring that shows your daily, monthly, and annual generation. We set this up during installation.
Keep an eye on your monthly generation figures. A sudden drop (not explained by weather) could indicate a fault with a panel, inverter, or connection. If you notice anything unusual, contact us and we will investigate.
Warranty Coverage
Your solar installation includes multiple warranties:
- Panel product warranty: 12–25 years (covers manufacturing defects).
- Panel performance warranty: 25–30 years (guarantees at least 80–90% of rated output).
- Inverter warranty: 10–15 years (Sigenergy and EcoFlow both offer extended warranties).
- Workmanship warranty: Our IWA-backed workmanship guarantee covers the installation itself.
If anything goes wrong, these warranties have you covered. Keep your MCS certificate and warranty documents safe — we also store digital copies for you.
Frequently asked questions
Professional cleaning is typically £100–£200 depending on access and roof size. It is worthwhile once or twice a year if panels are hard to reach or heavily soiled by moss, pollen or bird droppings.
Once or twice a year, ideally spring and autumn. UK rain does much of the work, but dirt build-up can cut output by 5–15%, so occasional cleaning protects your generation.
They have no moving parts, so maintenance is minimal — mainly monitoring generation via the inverter app and an occasional visual/electrical check. A sudden unexplained drop in output is worth investigating.
Typically a 12–25 year product warranty, a 25–30 year performance warranty (guaranteeing 80–90% output), a 10–15 year inverter warranty, plus our workmanship guarantee on the installation.
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