Paperwork
Buying a house with solar panels: what should I check?
Check who owns the panels, get the seller's paperwork, and know the inverter's age before you exchange.
Straight answers about solar
What things cost, how the paperwork works, and what is genuinely worth doing. Written by people who install and maintain these systems, and not afraid to tell you when the answer is to do nothing.
Paperwork
Do I need a G99 compliant inverter when I replace my solar inverter?
Not always G99. A replacement inverter has to meet today's rules for your system, G98 for most homes or G99 for larger ones, and the exact model must show as compliant on the ENA's Connect Direct register.
Maintenance
Do solar panels really need cleaning in the UK? An honest answer
We recommend cleaning solar panels one to two times a year, depending on the area they are in and what the panel warranty asks for.
Maintenance
Do solar panels work in a power cut, and what if they don't come back on?
No. A standard grid-connected solar system switches itself off in a power cut, even in full sun, and should restart on its own once the mains is back.
Maintenance
How do I stop pigeons nesting under my solar panels, and what does the law allow?
The reliable way to stop pigeons nesting under solar panels is clip-on mesh round the edge of the array, fitted once no nest is in use.
Maintenance
How long do solar panels last in the UK?
Solar panels usually last 25 years or more, but the inverter typically needs replacing at least once along the way.
Costs
How much does it cost to bird proof solar panels in the UK?
Bird proofing (pigeon proofing) a typical home's solar panels in the UK costs £400 to £800 fitted, plus £400 to £800 if nests need clearing first.
Maintenance
How to clean solar panels yourself, and can a window cleaner do it?
To clean solar panels yourself, work from the ground with a soft brush on a pole and plain water, and never use a pressure washer, detergent or scourer.
Maintenance
My solar installer has gone out of business: who looks after my solar panels now?
Any competent solar company can service and repair a system it didn't fit, so losing your installer doesn't leave your panels stranded.
Maintenance
What does a solar panel health check involve, and what does it cost?
A solar panel health check is a visit where an engineer inspects the panels, tests the electrics and inverter, checks the fixings and generation, then writes it up in a dated report.
Paperwork
G98 vs G99: which one do you need, and how long does it take?
G98 and G99 are the two routes for connecting solar panels or a battery to the electricity network in Great Britain.
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