For most Adelaide homes, a yearly solar check in late spring (October to November) is the right rhythm. Adelaide's dry summers let dust build up, so cleaning before December gets the most from your best months. Book an extra check after hail, storms or dust storms, if your app shows lower output, or if your inverter shows an error.
- Service solar at least once a year, ideally in late spring.
- Adelaide's dry summer means dust builds up just when panels make the most power.
- Book an extra check after hail, storms, dust storms, error codes or an output drop.
- A thermal inspection finds damage you can't see from the ground.
- Never walk on panels or clean them from the roof yourself.
Why solar maintenance matters
Solar has no moving parts, so it's easy to forget about. But dust, bird droppings, leaves and nests block light and trap heat. Loose connections and tired isolators can turn into faults.
We saw how bad it can get on a commercial roof in Gawler in October 2026. Built-up dirt had overheated rows of cells until they burnt. From the ground it looked fine. The whole system needed replacing, and regular cleaning and checks would have caught it.
Most solar problems are slow. Output drops a little each month as dirt builds up or a connection worsens, so it's easy to miss. A yearly service is a reset: clean panels, checked connections and a clear picture of how the system is going.
When to book a solar service
| When | Why |
|---|---|
| Every year, late spring | Clean and check before summer, when panels make about 5.8 kWh per kW per day in Adelaide. |
| After hail or a severe storm | Hail can crack cells without breaking the glass. See our guide to hail damage on solar panels. |
| After dust storms or nearby works | Dust from storms, farms, quarries or building sites settles fast. |
| When output drops | Compare to the same month last year in your app. A clear drop needs checking. |
| When you see an error | Isolation or earth fault warnings shouldn't be ignored. |
| When birds move in | Nests under panels trap heat, chew cables and fill gutters. |
| Before buying or selling | Know what you're getting, or show buyers the system is sound. |
Coastal homes and those near trees, farms or main roads usually need cleaning more often than once a year.
Send us your details and system size. We'll quote a clean and check, and spot problems early.
Why late spring is the best time in Adelaide
Adelaide gets most of its rain in winter, which rinses panels a bit. Then it goes dry. From December to March there's little rain, plenty of dust and the most sun.
Servicing in October or November means your panels go into their strongest months clean, with any faults fixed. It also gets ahead of the summer rush and the storm and hail season. Winter output is only about 40% of summer, so a dirty panel in winter costs you less than one in January.
Signs your solar needs a check now
Don't wait for the yearly service if you notice any of these:
- Output is down compared to the same month last year, with similar weather
- An inverter error or red light, or the inverter screen is blank in daylight
- Your app shows old data or has stopped updating
- Visible damage like cracked glass, loose panels or hanging cables
- Birds going under the panels or droppings building up on the glass
- A burning smell or buzzing near the inverter or isolators
The last one is urgent. Keep clear and call a licensed electrician. For the rest, book a service soon. Most problems are cheaper to fix early, and a fault that cuts output can cost you on every bill until it's found.
What a solar service includes
- Visual check of panels, frames, mounting and roof fixings
- Cleaning done the right way: soft brushes and clean water, no harsh chemicals or pressure washers. See solar panel cleaning
- Electrical checks of isolators, cabling, connectors and the inverter
- Performance check against what the system should make for the conditions
- Shade and bird check for new tree growth, nests and droppings
- Report on what we found and anything that needs fixing
For bigger or harder-to-reach arrays, a thermal drone inspection finds hot spots, cracked cells and failing connections you can't see. Thermal inspections are normally $750. During hail season we offer a $149 home hail check.
For commercial systems we can set up a regular service plan so checks and cleaning happen on schedule rather than when someone remembers.
Looking after your panels between services
- Check your monitoring app monthly and compare to the same month last year
- Keep an eye on your bills for a jump with no change in how you use power
- Trim trees that are starting to shade the array
- Hose from the ground only if you can do it safely, never from a ladder or the roof
- Don't walk on panels. It can crack cells
- Watch for birds going under the array and get it bird proofed early
If your inverter shows an error, don't open it or reset breakers repeatedly. Call a licensed electrician.
A few minutes a month in the app is the cheapest maintenance there is. It's how most faults get noticed early.