Solar panels are a long-term investment that can power your home or business with clean, renewable energy for decades. One of the best things about modern solar panels is how simple they can be to look after. With just a little love, you can keep your system performing at its best year after year.

Naked Solar believe in ‘solar with nothing to hide’.  That means clear aftercare advice on what is and isn’t good advice, helping you avoid common myths and scams around solar maintenance.

 

Do Solar Panels Need Maintenance? 

The good news: Solar Panels require very little maintenance.  Unlike a boiler or a car, there are no moving parts to wear out.  Once your panels are installed, they should keep producing energy with minimal intervention.

In fact, for most small systems, an annual clean of the panels is all that’s needed.

Serious faults are rare, and if they do occur, they’ll show up in your system’s monitoring app or there’ll be a noticeable reduction in generation, particularly on wet and windy days.

Curious about how solar panels work in the first place? Our guides on Solar PV, for both home and businesses can give you further insight.

 

Cleaning Your Solar Panels 

Dirt, dust and bird droppings can reduce generation, so giving your panels an occasional clean helps maintain performance.  We recommend treating them just like your windows:

• Frequency: Once a year is usually enough, but in dusty or coastal areas you might want to clean more often. 
• Method: They’re glass so treat them the same as cleaning your windows.  Use soft brushes, squeegees or deionised water.  Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive tools. 
• Professional cleaning: Some customers prefer to book a service for peace of mind, especially if panels are hard to reach.  Most window cleaners will be happy to extend their brush so that they can clean your Solar Panels as well. 

MYTH BUSTER: We’ve seen adverts from window cleaners etc claiming 25% increase in yield if you clean your solar panels.  Naked Solar have carried out our own controlled testing by cleaning part of an array every two months, another section every 6 months and leaving one section dirty.  The generation difference between the dirty section and the other sections was less than 1% and the section cleaned every 6 months slightly out-performed the section cleaned every 2 months. 

Why? Because solar panels have hydrophilic or hydrophobic coatings meaning water and dirt get washed away by the UK’s regular rainfall.  Cleaning does reduce more stubborn stains like ‘bird strikes’, however the worst of these will be washed away eventually. 

Annual cleaning will help reduce the build up of lychen & algae so Naked Solar recommends a clean at least once a year.

 

 

Monitoring Performance 

Most of today’s solar systems come with monitoring software that makes it easy to check performance at a glance. 

It’s worth checking your monitoring regularly so you get a good idea of what normal generation looks like.  That will make it easier for you to notice a sudden dip in generation that may signal an issue.  Many monitoring systems also have alerts of a problem is detected too.  In most cases, solar panels just keep running smoothly without intervention.

Our team at Naked Solar use advanced tools like PV Sol Software to model performance at the design stage.  You can compare your PV Sol forecast to your actual generation if you want to double check you’re generating what’s expected. 

 

Beware of Misselling 

Sadly, some companies take advantage of homeowners by claiming solar panels need frequent servicing or expensive add-ons.  Naked Solar takes pride in our honest approach and we back that up with:-

• No commission: Advice is impartial and honest. 
• No pressure: Just clear facts to help you make informed decisions in your own time. 
• Complete & Clear quotes: No hidden extras or unnecessary upsells.  Just honest pricing that includes everything
• Transparent aftercare: Free post install advice & support.  You only pay if we have to come to site and many issues are covered by warranties.

Learn more about our ethos or have a chat with our team if you have any questions about Solar Maintenance, Solar Power or Solar Storage.

Common Scams: 

Some companies have illegally obtained lists of the MCS registered systems.  They send letters to properties on the list with a plethora of attempts to scare or entice responses.  If you’re unsure, Naked Solar will help you avoid…..

• Offers of a free solar check usually leading to false claims of a fault.  
• Don’t believe anyone who says your inverter is ‘out of date’ or ‘illegal’ – it isn’t.  
• “Your system has a fire risk” is commonly used as a scare tactic.  If you’re unsure, Naked Solar will provide an honest assessment. 
• “Increase your yield” is another common claim from con artists.  If your system is working as expected, there’s no product on the market that will improve this. 

Solar Panel Maintenance Concerns: When to Call Naked Solar 

While scheduled servicing isn’t necessary, there are times when you may want to get in touch with a reputable supplier like Naked Solar:

• If your monitoring app flags a fault.
• If generation is unexpectedly low for several days.
• If you’d like a professional inspection.  We’ll discuss if we think it’s necessary before you pay for any work.  
• If you’re considering expanding your system with storage or extra panels.

 

 

 

Our Team is here to provide peace of mind, from your first installation through to decades of clean energy production.

 

The Naked Solar Difference 

Choosing the right installer matters just as much as choosing the right panels.  Our award-winning team have been named one of the UK’s top solar PV installers, and their commitment to honesty, transparency, and aftercare sets us apart.  South West Solar Installer Winners since 2017, and National Winners in 2016 & 2022, along with many other awards, our team is built on a track record of reliable and comprehensive service. 

With us, you can be confident in receiving impartial advice and guidance, without unnecessary costs or complicated maintenance schedules.

 

Get in Touch With Naked Solar 

Looking after your solar panels doesn’t have to be complicated.  With a yearly clean, regular monitoring checks, and the reassurance of a trusted installer, your system will quietly generate clean energy for years to come.

For genuine advice and aftercare you can trust, get in touch with the Naked Solar team today.

 

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