Solar PV Inspection, Repairs, Testing & Maintenance
How Often Will Your Solar Array Require Inspection and Maintenance?
Solar panels are designed to be low-maintenance and reliable, but like any long-term investment, a little upkeep helps them perform at their best. Most systems require an annual visual inspection to check for dirt, debris, or damage, especially after storms or high winds. Professional servicing every 3 to 5 years is recommended to check wiring, mounting, and inverter performance.
Inverters - the component that converts solar energy into usable electricity - typically last 10-15 years and may need replacing once during the system's lifespan. If your panels are hard to access or prone to moss buildup, occasional cleaning may help maintain efficiency. GlowSolar offer maintenance plans for peace of mind. With proper care, your solar array can run efficiently for 25 years or more.
Common Problems With Solar Panels
While problems with solar installations are extremely rare, all electrical systems need periodic inspection and testing. Solar PV systems are no different. For PV systems mounted on buildings, the recommended inspection interval will depend on the type and use of the building.
Typical reasons for inspection, testing or maintenance include:
An obvious fault has developed - for example an inverter has stopped working or a panel is damaged
Concerns about reduced returns from your system
Periodic inspection or routine maintenance
A change in system ownership to your solar PV installation.
Water ingress
To safeguard your investment
What's The Risk?
In the vast majority of cases, problems won’t occur. Even when they do, the most common problem is reduced system output, undermining your investment returns. Very occasionally however, faults lead to fire or shock risk.
Faults occasionally develop in even the best installed and properly specified PV systems. The most obvious fault is usually an inverter failure, which generally is spotted pretty quickly. However, a loss of 1 or 2 strings in a larger system can be much more difficult to spot, can go unnoticed for months and lead to a significant loss in income.
Monitoring & Fault Alarms
While not an alternative to periodic system verification, an effective remote monitoring and fault reporting system will provide early warning of drops in performance or faults.
Most well designed larger systems should include such a facility. Retrofitting is a practical and effective option where not installed at the outset.
Battery & Inverter Brands Installed by GlowSolar
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Tesla Powerwall
Tesla Powerwall is a sleek home battery system that stores energy from your solar panels or the grid. This stored power can run your appliances and devices around the clock - even during power cuts. With flexible power settings, you can customise how your energy is used -whether you want to save on electricity bills, protect against outages, or make the most of your solar generation.
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SolaX
Easily store excess solar energy and benefit from smart energy management. With smooth integration between your solar panels, battery storage, and EV charger, your system works together effortlessly. Flexible operation modes—including on-grid, off-grid, and virtual power plant (VPP) readiness—give you greater control and open up new opportunities in the evolving energy market. It’s a future-ready solution designed to help you lower bills, cut carbon, and make the most of your green energy.
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Sig Energy
Sigenergy inverters stand out for their advanced technology, sleek design, and intelligent energy management, making them a compelling choice for homeowners and businesses aiming to optimise solar energy usage. Sigenergy's hybrid inverters achieve up to 99.0% efficiency, thanks to the use of Silicon Carbide (SiC) technology. This ensures maximum energy conversion from solar panels, enhancing overall system performance
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GivEnergy
GivEnergy batteries and inverters offer smart, reliable energy storage and management. With long-lasting LiFePO₄ technology, seamless solar integration, real-time monitoring, and flexible system design, they reduce energy bills and maximise self-consumption. Ideal for eco-conscious homes, GivEnergy solutions provide efficiency, resilience, and control for a more sustainable future.
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SolarEdge
SolarEdge batteries and inverters deliver high-efficiency energy storage with smart monitoring, backup power, and flexible installation. Scalable up to 29.1kWh, they optimise solar usage and reduce grid reliance. With advanced safety features and grid-support capabilities, they’re ideal for homeowners seeking energy independence, savings, and a sustainable, future-ready energy solution.
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Huawei
Huawei’s FusionSolar inverters and LUNA2000 batteries offer high-efficiency solar energy solutions with smart energy management, modular scalability, and robust safety features. Their systems provide seamless integration with EV charging, real-time monitoring, and backup power capabilities, making them ideal for homeowners seeking energy independence and sustainability.
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Fronius
Fronius offers high-efficiency inverters that enhance energy independence and savings. Their GEN24 Plus hybrid inverter provides flexible backup power options, ensuring reliable electricity supply even during outages. With smart energy management, seamless integration with solar systems, and scalable storage solutions, Fronius empowers homeowners to optimise solar energy usage and reduce reliance on the grid.
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Solis
Solis inverters provide high-efficiency solar energy solutions with smart energy management, flexible operation modes, and robust safety features. Their systems offer seamless integration with energy storage and backup power capabilities, making them ideal for homeowners seeking energy independence and sustainability.
What are some common solar inverter faults?
Generally if it is midday and your inverter is showing a red light instead of a green, you have a problem with your solar PV inverter. However, below we have listed a few of the really common faults we have come across:
Fronius
Fronius STATE codes beginning with 4 are error states that require the intervention of a technician. Please contact us for assistance.
Eversolar
A common error with Eversolar inverters is the "Relay Check Fail" warning. If you see this message more than likely your inverter will broken and will need replacing.
ABB/Power One
Error E031, this again is a relay failure, and your inverter will probably need replacing.
Our Solar Services
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Solar Panels
Solar PV is a good investment. Solar gives you energy security, saving you money on your electricity bills and protecting you from inevitable future price rises from energy suppliers.
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Battery Storage
Capture and store green energy with a solar battery. Adding a solar battery array is a great way to make the most of renewable energy and increase your independence from the grid.
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Maintenance & Repairs
All electrical systems need periodic inspection and testing. Solar PV systems are no different. For PV systems mounted on buildings, the recommended inspection interval will depend on the type and use of the building.
Get A Solar Quote
Contact us for a free, no obligation quote. We will visit your property and give our expert opinion on the best solar solution. No sales patter, just honest advice.