The upside of solar panel maintenance: Minimal work, maximum savings

Going solar can translate into serious savings, but with five-figure upfront costs, you’ll want to make those panels last as long as possible. 

Solar panel systems are incredibly durable and require little to no maintenance over their 25+ year lifetime. Monitoring your system’s production and keeping your solar panels clear of debris are the best things you can do to maintain their performance and output. Unless you live in an area with relatively low rainfall and a lot of smog, dirt, or dust, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about regular maintenance. 

But periodic checks don’t hurt and can help you identify issues as they arise. If something does go wrong, your equipment’s warranties should cover replacement and repair costs. Here’s what you need to know about solar panel maintenance.

For most homeowners, solar panels need almost no attention over their decades-long lifespan. The rare issues that do occur usually happen right after manufacturing and are caught before or during installation. The only regular maintenance they may need is a good cleaning a couple of times a year, but even that can be taken care of with enough rain.

“Solar panels don't really go bad. Sometimes you may pull it out of the box and it doesn't work, but that's about it. Very seldom have I seen a solar panel go bad once it’s installed,” Duane Wright, president of Fused Solar and Roofing, told EnergySage. “As long as it rains enough to remove bird droppings, dust, and pollen, that’s pretty much all the maintenance needed.”

Solar inverters, on the other hand, are more prone to needing service. If you see an unusual drop in production, it’s often an inverter problem—caused by overheating, electrical surges, or improper installation. Fortunately, these issues are usually straightforward to fix.

“Most maintenance we do involves replacing or repairing microinverters. If you have 25 microinverters on a 25-panel system, there are 25 fault points, and they’re underneath the panels on the roof,” Wright said. “With string inverters, there's only one fault point, and it’s at ground level, meaning I don’t have to get on the roof.”

How do you know when your solar panels need maintenance?

You’ll know your system needs attention if its output declines more than it should. A damaged, dirty, or otherwise malfunctioning solar panel system won’t perform well. In most cases, you can narrow down the culprit of faster-than-usual degradation by monitoring your electric bill, using system software, or installing a solar monitoring system.

Most of the time, keeping panels free of debris is enough to keep them running efficiently, but watching for changes in production helps you catch issues early.

Wright, who’s based in hot and humid Florida, explained that some production dips are seasonal and nothing to worry about: “Compared to April and May, June, July, August, and September are actually lower production months because of the heat,” he said. “At the same time, consumption tends to go up because of AC use.” 

So your consumption goes up and production dips—that's usually the problem rather than anything to do with the products themselves, he said. 

Can weather damage your solar panels?

Solar panels are built to withstand hail, strong winds, and other rough weather—but they’re not indestructible. Even though weather damage is uncommon, purchasing panels with a strong warranty is important in case you need to repair or replace them.

Fortunately, annual solar panel maintenance costs are pretty low, considering how infrequently it’s needed. Solar panel systems are designed to be relatively self-sufficient, but a few scenarios require professional maintenance.

Your original installer should be your go-to contact for your maintenance needs, but some companies won’t be around for the whole lifespan of your solar energy system. If your solar installer goes out of business, you’ll need to find another qualified company to handle service.

Start by contacting your equipment manufacturer—they can often recommend local companies authorized to work on your system. Given that any installer warranty you had with your original company will likely disappear with their business, it’s important to ensure the new company's work done to your system won’t void your manufacturer’s warranty, too.  

As the solar industry adapts to changing policies and regulations, more companies are offering operations and maintenance (O&M) packages for “orphaned” systems. Wright is one such installer: “I just added a dedicated service truck and hired a licensed electrician in June, [and] he’s been busy because of orphaned systems,” he said.

Solar panel manufacturers offer a few warranties that guarantee coverage in the unlikely event of an issue. A good solar panel warranty saves you the maintenance costs associated with any manufacturing defects over the lifetime of your system.

Power output warranties guarantee a specified production level over the warranty term (usually 25 years). For instance, a manufacturer might offer a warranty ensuring peak power output won't fall below 85% for 25 years.

Panels also come with a product warranty that protects against defective parts. Today, most solar panel companies offer at least 25 years of protection. The same product warranty sometimes covers inverters and racking equipment, but not usually. Separate warranties for each component are more common, though that could change as the industry evolves.

For most homeowners, maintaining a solar panel system comes down to keeping an eye on production and letting the rain do the cleaning. These systems are built to last decades with minimal intervention. When issues do arise, they’re often covered under robust manufacturer warranties.

By pairing basic monitoring with occasional professional cleaning (if needed) and ensuring qualified technicians handle any repairs, you can protect your investment and enjoy reliable, low-cost energy for years.