Part of the complete guide: Maintenance & performance
Quick answer
Clean solar panels every 4–6 weeks with soft water and a non-abrasive wiper, check for monsoon moss and bird droppings, and have an annual professional inspection of inverter, earthing and connections. Neglect can cost 10–25% of output.
What reduces output
- Dust and pollen in dry months
- Moss and algae after monsoon
- Salt film in coastal belts (Colachel, Varkala, Paravur)
- Bird droppings and tree debris
- Loose connectors and hotspots
Cleaning rules
Clean early morning or evening, never with hot panels. Use soft brush/wiper, plain water; avoid pressure washers and harsh chemicals.
Annual checklist
- I-V / output verification vs expected
- Thermal check for hotspots
- Torque check on structure and terminals
- Earthing resistance and surge protection
- Inverter firmware and fault log
Our Solar Health Check does all of this for ₹2,000–₹5,000 a year.
