Why maintenance matters
A solar system is bought to produce electricity for many years, but it only earns its keep if it keeps working at full output. Dust, salt spray, bird droppings and pollen settle on panels and shade the cells. A shaded cell drags down the rest of its string, so a small patch of dirt can cost more than it looks. Over time, connections loosen, fans and vents clog, and an inverter may drift from its settings.
None of this is dramatic, but together it adds up to a system that quietly generates less than you paid for. A yearly check catches problems while they are small and cheap to fix.
What we check
We clean the panels with suitable water and tools, avoiding anything that scratches the glass or voids a coating. We inspect the mounting and fixings, look for hot spots and shading, check the DC and AC connections, and review the inverter's logs and settings. Where there is a battery, we check its state of health and that the inverter is managing charge and discharge correctly. You get a short report of what we found and what we did.
Monitoring and fault-finding
Most systems send data to a monitoring app. We help you read it: how much you generate on a clear day, how much the battery holds, and whether one part of the array is underperforming. When something looks wrong, we trace it to the panel, the string, the wiring or the inverter, rather than guessing.
How often, and what a visit includes
For most Cape Town homes we suggest a service once or twice a year, timed so the panels are clean before summer's long sunny days and again after the dusty, windy months. A visit usually includes cleaning, a visual and electrical inspection, a check of the monitoring data, and a short report. If we find a fault, we explain what it is and what it will take to fix, before doing any extra work.
Coastal and dusty sites
Cape Town has both. Homes on the Atlantic Seaboard and the South Peninsula deal with salt air, which is hard on fixings and connections. Homes in the drier, windier edges of the metro deal with dust. Both benefit from a more frequent look, and we will recommend an interval that suits your site.
Who it is for
Anyone with solar panels, whether we installed them or not. Owners who see a drop in generation and want it explained. Landlords and complexes that need a documented service record. Anyone planning to sell a property and wanting the system checked.
What affects the price
The number of panels and access to them, roof height and type, whether the visit includes cleaning or fault-finding, and whether parts are needed.
Related pages
See solar PV installation for how systems are designed, or read how solar and battery backup work.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How often should solar panels be cleaned?
In Cape Town, once or twice a year is usually enough, but dusty or coastal sites may need more. Rain helps, but it does not clear heavy dust, salt or bird droppings.
How do I know if my system is underperforming?
The monitoring app shows daily generation against what the system should produce. A steady drop, or one string producing less than the others, is a sign it needs a look.
Do you service systems you did not install?
Yes. We inspect, clean and fault-find on most solar and battery systems, whoever installed them, where the equipment is serviceable.