What is actually included in a solar maintenance visit

Homeowners often ask what they are actually paying for when they book a maintenance visit. It is a fair question, and the answer is that a good visit is mostly inspection, with cleaning as the visible part.

Here is how we break the work down.

Panel cleaning

The glass is washed with deionised water and a soft brush, working in the morning while the panels are cool. We clear the bottom rail where leaves and needles collect, check the frame for standing water, and note any spot that will not come off, since a stubborn mark usually means a seal or coating problem rather than dirt.

Critter guard

Squirrels, birds and wasps like the gap under a rooftop array. Critter guard is a mesh skirt fixed around the perimeter of the array that closes that gap. It is inexpensive compared with the damage a squirrel can do to wiring, and once fitted it lasts for years.

Snow guards

In a northern New Jersey winter, a full sheet of snow can release from the array all at once and take out gutters, shrubs or whatever is below. Snow guards hold that sheet in place so it melts or slides off in smaller pieces. If your array sits above a walkway, a door or a young garden, this is the one to prioritise.

System inspection

This is the part that protects your investment. On an inspection we review production history against the system's expected output, look for loose mounting hardware, check junction boxes and conduit for water intrusion, confirm the inverter is logging correctly, and flag any hot spots or cracked glass. Anything we find is written up with a photo and a recommendation, not a surprise invoice.

Which service do you need?

• Panels look dull, production has dipped: cleaning.
• You hear scratching under the array, or birds nesting: critter guard.
• Snow slides onto a walkway or door: snow guards.
• The system is more than a few years old and production is trending down: inspection first, then decide.

You can combine services on a single visit, and the price is calculated from your panel count and roof height before you pay. If something is not needed, we will tell you rather than adding it to the order.