Solar panels have no moving parts, which is exactly why they get neglected - but a small amount of upkeep protects a lot of output over a 25-year system life.

Cleaning

Dust, pollen and bird droppings can cut output by 5-15% if left too long. In Coimbatore's dry season, a rinse with plain water every 4-6 weeks (early morning or evening, never on hot panels) keeps losses minimal. Avoid detergents and abrasive brushes - they scratch the anti-reflective coating.

Visual checks

• Look for cracked glass, discoloured cells or loose mounting bolts after heavy storms.
• Check that cables and MC4 connectors are seated and not chafing against the roof or structure.
• Clear any shading from new tree growth or added rooftop structures.

Inverter and monitoring

Glance at your inverter display or monitoring app weekly - a sudden drop in generation usually shows up there before it's visible on the roof. Fault codes, repeated restarts or unusual heat are worth a service call.

Dev Solar's installations include a post-installation walkthrough covering all of this. If you'd like a professional inspection, our O&M/AMC service handles cleaning, checks and performance monitoring on a schedule.