Solar Systems Are Low-Maintenance, Not No-Maintenance
One of the appeals of rooftop solar is how little day-to-day attention it needs compared to, say, a diesel generator. But "low maintenance" doesn't mean "ignore it entirely" — small issues that go unnoticed for months can quietly cost you a meaningful share of your generation, and by extension, your bill savings. Here are the five signs we most often see homeowners overlook.
1. Your APDCL Bill Has Crept Up Without an Obvious Reason
If your household usage hasn't changed but your net bill has been rising gradually over a few months, don't assume it's just seasonal — check your inverter's generation log first. A slow decline in daily units generated, not tied to the expected monsoon dip, often points to dust build-up, a developing shading issue (a tree that's grown taller since installation, for example), or a partial panel or string fault.
2. The Inverter Display Shows an Error Code or Warning Light
Modern inverters, whether on-grid or hybrid, will usually flag faults through an error code on the display or a status LED that changes colour or starts blinking. It's worth learning what your specific inverter model's normal indicator looks like when everything is fine, so you notice quickly when it changes. Don't wait for generation to visibly drop before checking — some faults show up on the display well before they meaningfully affect output.
3. One Section of Panels Consistently Underperforms
If your inverter app or monitoring system shows generation broken down by string or panel group, watch for one section that consistently trails the others by more than a small margin, especially if that gap wasn't there when the system was first commissioned. This usually points to something localised — a loose connector, a cracked cell, bird droppings or debris concentrated in one area, or a shading source that's appeared since installation — rather than a system-wide issue.
4. Visible Physical Changes on the Roof
After any major storm — common during Assam's monsoon — it's worth a quick visual check (from ground level with binoculars if roof access isn't easy) for shifted panels, loose cabling, or a mounting structure that looks less secure than before. Catching a loosened clamp early is a five-minute fix; left unaddressed through another storm season, it can become a more serious structural or safety issue.
5. It's Been Over a Year Since the Last Professional Check
Even without any obvious symptoms, we recommend a professional check-up roughly once a year — ideally timed for just before or after the monsoon. A technician can check junction box connections, earthing integrity, mounting structure tightness, and inverter health in ways that aren't always visible from a simple generation-log review, catching small issues before they become bigger ones.
What a Typical Servicing Visit Covers
- Panel cleaning and visual inspection for cracks, hotspots, or debris
- Cable and connector check, including junction box and earthing points
- Mounting structure tightness and corrosion check
- Inverter performance log review and firmware/error check
- Net-metering and generation-vs-expected comparison
FAQs
How much does a servicing visit typically cost?
This depends on system size and what's found during inspection — routine annual servicing is generally modest in cost compared to the generation loss an unaddressed fault can cause over several months. Contact us for a specific estimate for your system.
Is servicing covered under warranty?
Manufacturer warranties typically cover component defects, not routine servicing or cleaning, which is usually a separate maintenance service. Check your specific installation agreement for what's included.
Can I monitor my system remotely to catch these signs earlier?
Most modern inverters offer an app or web dashboard showing daily/monthly generation — checking it every couple of weeks is usually enough to catch a meaningful decline before it becomes a larger problem.