TL;DR
Barely any. No moving parts means no servicing schedule. Rain keeps them clean, you'll swap the inverter after 10–15 years, and a quick annual visual check is all they need. That's it for 25+ years of free electricity.
Honestly? Barely any. No moving parts, no servicing schedule, no annual costs. Your panels just sit on the roof quietly making electricity while you get on with your life. It's about as hands-off as a home improvement gets.
But a tiny bit of attention keeps everything running at its best.
Cleaning
Good news: British weather actually helps here. Rain handles most of the dirt. If bird droppings or leaves build up, a garden hose and soft cloth once a year sorts it out. A specialist will do it for £50–£100 if you'd rather stay off the ladder. The Energy Saving Trust recommends an annual check to keep output at its best.
One golden rule — never use a pressure washer. It can crack the glass or damage the seals. Plain water and a gentle wipe is all you need.
Your monitoring app
Your system comes with an app that shows daily generation. Glance at it now and then. If output drops sharply for no obvious reason, that's your prompt to check for dirt, shade, or a fault. Think of it as a two-second health check.
The inverter
This is the one part that won't last as long as the panels. Inverters typically need replacing after 10–15 years — a straightforward swap costing £500–£1,500. Not exactly a crisis. We cover this in more detail in our guide to how long solar panels last.
Battery life
Got a battery? Expect 10–15 years from it too. They don't just stop working — they gradually hold less charge. You'll notice it running out a bit earlier each evening. Battery prices keep falling, so the replacement will likely cost less than the original.
Annual five-minute check
Once a year, have a quick look for:
- Cracks or discolouration on the glass
- Loose wiring
- Pigeons nesting underneath (they love it under there)
- New shade from growing trees
Spot something odd? Ring your installer rather than going full DIY electrician on the roof.
Warranty
Quality panels come with a 25-year warranty guaranteeing at least 80–85% output. At Lunar Solar, we add a 2-year workmanship warranty on the installation. As MCS Certified installers, your manufacturer warranty is fully protected from day one. See our full solar panel installation page for warranty details.
The short version
Keep an eye on the app, hose them down once a year, swap the inverter after a decade or so. That's genuinely it. For something generating free electricity for 25 years, the to-do list is laughably short.
