Solar Maintenance

Solar Panel Maintenance & Servicing

Maximise the longevity and efficiency of your solar PV setup with our comprehensive service and maintenance packages. Even if we didn’t install the solar panels ourselves, Solar Voltaics is equipped to keep your panels performing at their best for many years to come! Working with commercial and domestic clients, we aim to keep your solar panels in full working order and any fault or drop in a generation is identified and resolved quickly.

 

Effective Solar Maintenance Plans

Solar Voltaics was established in 2010 and has developed an excellent reputation as a leading solar maintenance company operating within the commercial, public sector, agricultural and domestic markets. We specialise solely in solar, so whatever you may think is causing a drop in your panel’s performance, our team can make swift recommendations and repairs.

Why Choose Solar Voltaics?

  • Quality Products
  • Expertise in Solar Solutions
  • Solar and Battery Installs
  • Save on Carbon Emissions
  • Outstanding Customer Service
  • Bespoke Solutions

What’s Included in a Service?

Keeping on top of your solar performance

Generally, solar PV systems don’t need much upkeep and work smoothly if they’re built right. Still, you never know – things like the weather, outside interference, or a part failing might cause some surprises. To give you peace of mind, our annual health checks include:

  • Visual inspection of the system
  • Assess for shade issues occurring since installation/previous health check
  • Ventilation space under panels is not obstructed
  • Roof condition visual inspection
  • PV module string tests
  • Isolation resistance checks
  • Generation power output check
  • Inverter system checks & error log messages
  • Junction box, isolator, distribution board and cabling inspection
  • Meter check & comparison to the previous year
  • Labelling/schematic check

You will also receive a solar maintenance report after the health check, together with any recommendations. If repair work is required, we will provide a no-obligation quote for the work to bring your system back to full health. You will also benefit from 20% off our standard parts and labour rates.

Why Have a Solar Panel Maintenance Plan?

At Solar Voltaics, we understand that maintaining your Solar PV system is essential to ensure it operates at peak performance, delivering maximum energy production and long-term savings. Our solar energy systems are built to last for at least 30 years, benefitting from high-quality products sourced from reputable manufacturers. We offer comprehensive solar panel maintenance packages to safeguard your investment and financial returns.

Our maintenance services include remote system monitoring and regular on-site visits, effectively mitigating the risk of performance losses and protecting your solar investment. Even if you already have a solar system installed, our maintenance plans can quickly identify and resolve any faults, ensuring your system continues to deliver cost savings and environmental benefits.

Mercedes Benz Solar Panel Installation Exeter, Devon

Mercedes-Benz South West embrace Solar Energy

Car showrooms are an excellent opportunity for the application of solar energy. Daytime energy consumption is highest during the daytime and more so in the summer – just when the sun shines most and solar power can help out! Mercedes-Benz South West is one of the fastest growing dealerships of its kind in the country.

Accreditations & Partnerships

Annual Solar Maintenance Packages

Maintenance plans from £239 per year

Solar PV systems are very reliable, but planned solar maintenance is essential to ensure continued high output efficiency. Many solar systems in the UK have been installed for several years now, some for over 5 years. Whilst most maybe running well, many owners don’t check their systems performance regularly and wouldn’t know if it was performing well or not.

If your solar panels are not performing to its full potential, or has stopped working altogether, you will be losing out on free solar energy for your property. You will also be losing out on the Feed In Tariff subsidy payments from the government. You won’t be able to claim back for lost energy generated.

Please note that we currently offer solar maintenance and servicing packages to commercial and domestic customers across the South East. To find out more information on our service area, please get in touch with the Solar Voltaics team.

Contact Us For The Next Steps

Common Solar Panel Pain Points

Generally, solar panels are pretty low-maintenance because they don’t have many moving parts. But it’s still a good idea to have them serviced once a year. This way, we can spot any potential problems early and sort them out, keeping your energy generation stress-free.

Reduced Efficiency

Without regular maintenance, solar panels can experience a decline in efficiency due to various factors such as dirt and debris accumulation, shading from new obstructions, or general wear and tear. This reduction in efficiency directly impacts their energy-producing capability, leading to a noticeable decrease in power output.

Consequently, this can result in higher utility bills as you may need to rely more on traditional power sources to meet your energy needs. Regular maintenance ensures that your panels operate at optimal efficiency, keeping energy production high and energy costs low.

Higher Repair Costs

Higher repair costs in solar panel systems often stem from minor issues that escalate due to neglect. For example, small cracks or loose connections, if not fixed promptly, can lead to serious damage, requiring extensive and expensive repairs. Regular maintenance can identify and rectify these issues early, preventing them from worsening.

This preemptive approach not only saves significant repair costs in the long run but also ensures consistent performance and extends the lifespan of your solar panel system.

Safety Risks

Safety risks in solar panel systems, such as electrical fires, can arise from issues like faulty wiring, inverter failures, or physical damage to the panels. These problems may not be immediately apparent but can pose significant hazards if left unchecked.

Regular maintenance plays a crucial role in early detection and resolution of such issues. By routinely inspecting and servicing the system, potential risks are identified and mitigated before they escalate into serious safety concerns, ensuring a safer operation of your solar installation.

Did You Know?

Solar panels can lose up to 25% of their efficiency if not regularly maintained.

Solar Products

Explore our range of solar products, carefully sourced from reliable manufacturers and fully certified to MCS standards, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. From advanced solar panels that harness sunlight, to cutting-edge battery storage systems, we provide practical solutions that lower costs and promote sustainability.

Solar Panel Installation

Whether it be a simple domestic installation or a multi-site commercial project, Solar Voltaics has the technical expertise and resources to deliver complex projects on time and to a very high standard. Our typical customers are businessesconstruction companiescounty and city councils, warehouses, farmers, schools and the general public.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should solar panels be cleaned in the UK?

Solar panels in the UK should typically be cleaned once or twice a year. The frequency can increase in areas with higher levels of dust, pollen, or bird droppings. Regular cleaning ensures that panels operate at optimal efficiency by removing obstructions that block sunlight.

While rain can naturally clean panels to some extent, it often isn’t enough to remove all debris. Professional cleaning or using a soft brush and soapy water can effectively maintain cleanliness without damaging the panels.

Can bird nesting affect solar panel performance?

Bird nesting under solar panels can lead to several issues. Nests can obstruct air flow and cause panels to overheat, reducing their efficiency. Bird droppings can also block sunlight and corrode the panel’s surface. To mitigate this, you can install bird-proofing measures like spikes or mesh around the panels.

Regular inspections are crucial, especially during nesting season, to ensure that any nests are promptly removed and preventive measures are in place to deter birds from nesting under the panels.

What are the signs that solar panels need maintenance?

Signs that solar panels require maintenance include a noticeable drop in energy output, visible physical damage like cracks or discoloration, and alerts or error messages from the solar monitoring system. Regular monitoring of energy output can help identify any unusual patterns or drops in efficiency, indicating potential issues.

It’s also important to visually inspect your panels for any signs of damage, especially after extreme weather events. Addressing these issues promptly can prevent further damage and maintain the efficiency of your solar system.

How do solar PV cells work?

Photovoltaic (PV) cells convert radiation from the sun into electricity.  A typical PV cell consists of a wafer of semi-conducting material, usually silicon, manufactured with two electrically different layers.

When sunlight hits the cell it excites the electrons within the silicon, creating an electric field across the layers and causing a flow of electricity.

How does weather affect solar panel maintenance in the UK?

In the UK, weather conditions can significantly affect solar panel maintenance. The frequent rain can lead to mineral deposits or lichen growth, while winds can bring dust, leaves, and other debris. Winter snowfall can cover panels, drastically reducing their output.

Additionally, temperature fluctuations can cause expansion and contraction in solar panel materials, potentially leading to microcracks. Regular maintenance must account for these weather-related challenges, ensuring that panels are cleaned and inspected to deal with the specific conditions prevalent in the UK.

Is remote monitoring something you offer?

Remove the worry of monitoring your system. If your system fails without you knowing, you could lose many hundreds of pounds in lost Feed-In Tariff revenue and energy production. Our remote monitoring allows us to measure your generation output every day and contact you promptly if we detect a fault or loss of power.

We will install a replacement generation meter with roaming sim card which transmits your generation data to a central portal where we can monitor performance. We will also complete the paperwork for the meter swap and send it to your Feed-In Tariff licensee. The annual fee covers the cost of the sim contract and the monitoring.

Why is shade a problem for solar PV systems?

Any shade, such as from trees or neighbouring buildings, can have a large impact on the performance of a PV system. Because modules are constructed from a number of PV cells interconnected together, if one cell is shaded it has a knock-on effect that prohibits the whole module from generating electricity.

To work effectively, we recommend that whole PV array needs to be free from shade for the majority of the day.

Quick Facts About Solar Maintenance

  • Solar inverters, critical for converting solar energy to usable electricity, typically need replacement every 10-15 years
  • Modern solar systems often include monitoring tools that alert owners to efficiency drops, indicating the need for maintenance or cleaning
  • With proper maintenance, solar panels can last up to 30 years, maintaining about 80% of their original efficiency by the end of their lifespan
  • Most solar panels come with up to 25 year warranty. Regular maintenance ensures warranty conditions are met, protecting your investment
  • A single relatively small commercial roof installation of 30 KW will save over 26 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to fossil fuels

Why Choose Solar Voltaics?

CHAS (Construction Health and Safety) & Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)

Solar Voltaics is accredited under the CHAS (Construction Health and Safety) scheme. We are experienced in working on construction sites and operating to strict safety standards.

All installations are carried out to the standards laid down by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). We are regularly audited by NAPIT to confirm that our workmanship standards are up to the required quality levels.

No Sub-Contracting

At Solar Voltaics we prefer not to sub-contract to other companies. We stand by the quality and professionalism of our installations, because we manage them all with our own professionally trained staff.

Recommendations

We are more than happy to put you in touch with previous clients who can vouch for how we performed for them. Our solar PV experts understand that this is good commercial practice and we have plenty of clients that we can refer you to, including public sector, private companies and institutions in the UK.

Get in Touch With a Local Engineer

Call now to learn how little it takes to get started, and how much you can save when a solar maintenance package is in place.

We don’t do a hard sell. You can have as much or as little information as you like and we won’t hassle you with unwanted follow-up sales calls. Most of our clients want to do their own research and due diligence and we will gladly supply any information you require regarding our trustworthiness and commercial standing.

Get In Touch

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Address

Solar Voltaics Ltd
Bramley Barn, Main Road
Chichester
West Sussex
PO18 8XA

Our Testimonials

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    • Fantastic job by the Solar Voltaics team. Very polite, professional and tidy. Would certainly recommend. Currently enjoying free energy on the evening of the installation.

      Dean
    • Solar Voltaics have been superb from start to finish. So good to deal with a human company, no phone queues, quick and thorough survey, very clear explanations of the planned installation. The installers were all great, very tidy and quick. The price has been very competitive and the system is up and running well. Couldn’t recommend them more highly.

      Robin
    • Fantastic from initial phone call, through to installation, commission, MCS & G99. Very helpful to the non-experts like me and always open to give advice and guidance.

      Competitive price by a very trusted business and it has been a pleasure to use Solar Voltaics!

      Ryan
    • Really good service and support.

      Mike
    • Solar Voltaics recently installed Solar on my property very professionally from start to finish would recommend.

      Kay

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