Solar panel maintenance is an essential factor in ensuring the optimal performance, safety and durability of any photovoltaic system.
Even though it is a technology recognized for its low need for intervention, solar modules operate exposed daily to the sun, rain, dust, pollution, bird droppings and even industrial waste.
Over time, these factors can compromise the efficiency of energy capture and cause failures in electrical and electronic components, such as inverters, cables and circuit breakers.
In this guide, you will understand when to perform maintenance, how it works, the risks of negligence and the main types of service involved, all with a technical basis and practical guidelines to protect your investment. Enjoy reading!
Do you need to perform maintenance on your solar panel?
Yes, every photovoltaic system requires maintenance, even though it is recognized for its durability and low need for intervention.
As solar panels operate exposed to weather conditions all the time, dust, pollution, leaves, bird droppings, salinity (in coastal regions) and even soot from fires can accumulate and reduce their efficiency.
Additionally, systems have electrical and electronic components (such as inverters, circuit breakers and cables) that also need to be checked periodically.
Therefore, maintenance not only ensures optimal operation, but also prevents failures that could compromise energy production and, therefore, the savings anticipated in the project.
The good news is that this maintenance is usually simple, quick and low-cost, especially if done preventively.
Read also Find out what you need to install a solar panel
How important is it to maintain solar panels?
Maintenance of photovoltaic systems is essential for several reasons, such as:
- Energy Efficiency: dirt and debris accumulated on the panels reduce the capture of solar radiation, directly impacting energy generation. A dirty panel can produce up to 20% less energy;
- electrical safety: poorly secured connections, oxidation or overheating of cables can pose risks, including short circuits or even fires;
- System longevity: with proper care, the system can operate for more than 25 years. Maintenance helps preserve the physical and electrical integrity of the components;
- Financial feedback: the closer the system operates to its ideal performance, the faster the initial investment pays for itself — and the greater the gains over time;
- Compliance with warranties: Manufacturers and installers often require periodic maintenance to maintain equipment warranty coverage.
In other words, maintenance is not an additional cost, but rather a guarantee of performance and investment protection.
What happens if I don't perform maintenance on the solar panel?
Failure to perform maintenance can seriously compromise the performance and safety of the system. The main risks are:
- Significant drop in power generation: dirty or partially and constantly shaded panels can generate less electricity, which can be seen on the electricity bill;
- Loss of useful life: small, unidentified defects (such as micro-cracks, hot spots or faulty inverters) can become more serious and reduce the system's durability;
- Structural problems: rust in the fixings, misalignment of modules or leaks can occur in poorly inspected systems;
- Electrical hazards: exposed or poorly connected cables can cause serious failures, electric shocks and even fires;
- Depreciation of the property or project: a poorly maintained system impacts technical evaluations and future sales of properties with solar energy installed.
Negligence, therefore, can generate losses greater than the cost of preventive maintenance, both in financial and safety terms.
How does solar panel maintenance work?
Solar PV system maintenance is divided into three main pillars: inspection, cleaning and electrical testing. Each plays a crucial role in ensuring system performance.
- Visual inspection: the professional checks the integrity of the plates (identifying cracks, stains or overheating points), the fixing structure, the presence of unforeseen shading and the condition of cables, connectors and protection devices;
- Cleaning the plates: usually done with water and soft brushes, without abrasive products. This cleaning removes dust, excrement and other impurities that block sunlight. In areas with a lot of pollution or dust, this cleaning can be even more critical;
- Electrical tests: include measuring voltage, current and system resistance, analyzing inverter operation, checking grounding and electrical insulation, as well as comparing production data with expected values.
In larger or more critical installations, advanced features can be used, such as:
- Thermography (to identify hot spots);
- Remote monitoring via software (to detect faults in real time);
- Drones (for inspection in large plants or difficult to access areas).
How are solar panels maintained?
Solar panel maintenance begins with a careful visual inspection, in which the professional checks the integrity of the modules (glass, frame, cables) and identifies possible cracks, delaminations or shading points caused by leaves, dirt or debris.
The plates are then cleaned using water (preferably demineralized) and soft brushes to remove dust, soot, bird droppings or other residues that reduce solar capture.
It is important to note that chemicals or abrasives should never be used, as they can damage the module's protective layer.
In addition, the technical team checks the electrical connections, including the grounding system and surge protection. The solar inverter is also tested to check that it is operating according to the expected voltage and current parameters.
In more sophisticated systems, equipment such as thermal imaging cameras (to detect hot spots) and drones (for inspections in plants that are difficult to access) can be used.
The final technical report presents the general status of the system and guidelines for possible corrections or improvements.
How often should solar panels be maintained?
The ideal frequency of maintenance depends on factors such as geographic location, level of environmental pollution, presence of trees, dust or sea air, and the type of system installed. However, some general guidelines are widely recommended:
- Cleaning the modules: should be done every 6 months in urban or rural areas with low levels of dirt, and may be necessary every 3 months in areas with high levels of dust, industrial zones or coastal regions;
- Complete technical inspection: It should occur at least once a year, performed by a qualified professional. This annual maintenance ensures that the components are operating safely and efficiently;
- Continuous monitoring: Most modern systems offer online platforms that allow daily monitoring of energy production. Unexpected drops in performance can signal the need for corrective maintenance.
Adopting a preventive maintenance schedule not only improves system performance, but also helps identify problems before they cause greater damage.
How long does it take to maintain a solar panel?
The time required to perform maintenance on a photovoltaic system can vary depending on the size of the installation, the complexity of access and the scope of the services provided. In general:
- Residential systems (up to 12 panels): maintenance usually lasts between 1h30 and 2h30, including cleaning, testing and issuing a report;
- Commercial or rural systems: can take 4 to 8 hours, especially if it involves detailed inspections with specific instruments;
- Large-scale solar plants: maintenance can last several days and requires a specialized technical team with adequate equipment, such as support trucks, full PPE and mapping drones.
The time can also be influenced by the weather conditions of the day (rain, strong wind) and whether or not the system needs to be shut down during maintenance.
How much does it cost to maintain solar panels?
The cost of maintaining a photovoltaic system is influenced by several factors, such as the number of modules, the height of the roof, the location of the property, the type of structure (ground, roof, carport) and the level of service contracted (simple cleaning or a complete package with electrical inspections).
See below the average values in the Brazilian market:
- Small residential (up to 12 modules): between R$250 and R$500 per technical visit, including cleaning and general inspection;
- Commercial systems (above 5 kWp): values can vary from R$600 to R$1.500, depending on the complexity;
- Annual plans or quarterly packages: Some companies offer recurring maintenance contracts with reduced prices per visit, starting at R$1.000 per year for homes.
It is important to consider that regular maintenance, even at a cost, increases efficiency and avoids significant financial losses due to technical failures not identified in time.
Also check out: How do I know how many kWh I spend per month on my electricity bill? See the step-by-step guide.
What are the types of maintenance for solar energy panels?
When we talk about types of maintenance of boards, solar energy, there are three main approaches that complement each other and are applied according to the stage of operation and the needs of the system: predictive, preventive and corrective maintenance. Understand more below.
Predictive maintenance
Predictive maintenance is based on constant monitoring of system performance, with the support of sensors, software and digital platforms.
By analyzing real-time data such as power generation, module temperature and inverter status, it is possible to identify abnormal behavior patterns before they result in actual failures.
For example, a sudden drop in output from a single string may indicate shading, localized dirt, or panel failure.
With this type of information, the technician can act quickly, avoiding prolonged loss of efficiency.
This model is ideal for medium and large systems, such as solar plants, with remote monitoring and professional management of the operation.
Preventive maintenance
Preventive maintenance is scheduled and systematic, carried out to avoid failures and wear that compromise the system. It involves activities such as:
- Cleaning solar panels;
- Inspection of electrical connections;
- Verification of the grounding system;
- Checking the inverter and fixing structure.
This approach is recommended for all types of systems, including residential ones, and should be done at least once a year, ensuring that everything works safely and within ideal parameters.
In addition to preserving the durability of equipment, preventive maintenance reduces the risk of high costs with corrective maintenance, in addition to maximizing energy production over time.
Corrective maintenance
Corrective maintenance occurs after a failure or anomaly in the system has been identified, such as:
- Burnt inverter;
- Panels damaged by impact or corrosion;
- Loose or oxidized electrical connections;
- Sudden drop in energy production.
This type of maintenance requires a quick response and may require component replacement or complex repairs.
Therefore, it is the most expensive and risky, especially if the flaw remains hidden for a long time.
Although necessary at times, ideally corrective maintenance should be the exception rather than the rule. After all, this is a scenario that preventive maintenance and predictive monitoring help to avoid.
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Conclusion
Investing in solar energy means investing in efficiency, sustainability and long-term savings. But for all of this to work as expected, proper maintenance makes all the difference.
Understanding the types of maintenance (predictive, preventive and corrective) allows you to make more informed decisions, avoid losses and maintain the high performance of your system. Rely on experts, plan your reviews and always be one step ahead.
Clean energy requires ongoing responsibility. And the Canal Solar is here to help you every step of the way.
