🔥 Only 0.00005% of solar panel systems experienced a fire in first half of 2023

🛠️ Improper installation is the most common cause of solar panel fires

⚡ Loose connections and dodgy wiring lead to ‘electrical arcing’

✅ Hardware safety has also improved, such as the integration of DC isolators

🤝 It’s essential to choose a trustworthy, accredited installer

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Do solar panels ever catch fire?

Solar panel fires in the UK

Why do solar panels catch fire?

How to protect against solar panel fires

How do solar panel installers reduce fire risk?

Are solar panels becoming safer?

Solar panel fires: FAQs

Is there a fire risk with solar panels?

What causes solar panel fires?

Do solar panels overheat?

Solar panel fires: are they a risk? [UK, 2025]

What's in this guide?

Solar panel fires: are they a risk?

☀️ Solar panel installations usually come with three types of warranty

❌ Product and performance warranties include a long list of exclusions

🔧 A solar workmanship warranty is normally just 2-10 years long

🧑‍🔧 It’s crucial to choose a good installer to minimise the risks of voiding your warranty

🛡️ The 20-year Sunsave Guarantee provides comprehensive maintenance coverage

Do solar panels come with a warranty?

The three types of solar panel warranty

Sign up for Sunsave Plus

How to make a claim on your solar panel warranty

What voids your solar panel warranty?

Introducing the Sunsave Guarantee

Solar panel warranty: FAQs

How long is a solar panel warranty?

What is the life expectancy of a solar panel?

How much is a solar warranty?

Learn about what solar panel warranties usually do and don't cover, how long they last, and whether they're comprehensive enough.

Solar panel warranty: the expert guide [UK, 2025]

Solar panel warranty: the expert guide

🌧️ Solar panels are ‘self-cleaning’, so you don't need to clean them very often

🧽 It’s worth giving your solar panels a proper clean every two or three years

✨ To clean panels yourself, use a telescopic pole from ground level

🌞 Use gentle cleaning products to keep your panels intact

💷 You can hire a solar panel cleaner for a relatively low price

Do solar panels need cleaning?

If your house is near trees (which may leave debris), near the sea (which can leave a salt deposit), or near agricultural land (which may leave crop treatment residue or dust on the panels), then regular solar panel cleaning is recommended – probably between six months and two years, depending on the severity.

How do you clean solar panels?

Can you hire someone else to clean your solar panels?

Summary

Solar panel cleaning: FAQs

What is the best thing to clean solar panels with?

Can you pressure-wash solar panels?

How often should you wash solar panels?

Here's our step-by-step guide about how to clean your solar panels, how often to do it, and what professional alternatives are available.

How to clean your solar panels [UK, 2025]

How to clean your solar panels

♻️ Up to 95% of a solar panel can be recycled

☀️ It's free and easy to recycle your solar panels in the UK

🛠️ Your solar panel installer must take your old solar panels for free

⚡ Solar inverters can also be recycled

📈 The number of solar panel recycling centres will rise out of necessity

Are solar panels recyclable?

There have been recent breakthroughs in solar panel recycling, so the metals in the old panels are now much easier to remove and use again. This is so important because we want to keep driving down the initial carbon footprint of renewable products – so if we can reuse old materials instead of mining for new ones, this gives us a great boost.

How can you recycle your solar panels in the UK?

How many solar panels will need recycling?

Solar panel recycling: FAQs

What happens to an old solar panel?

What to do with solar panels after 25 years?

Can solar panels be removed and reused?

Can solar inverters be recycled?

Learn about the nuts & bolts of solar panel reycling, including how it happens and where it happens.

Can solar panels be recycled? [UK, 2025]

Can solar panels be recycled?

🛠️ A solar & battery system requires maintenance three times in 20 years, on average

✨ Your battery and inverter will usually need to replaced after 12 years or so

💷 A solar maintenance package can save you money over your panels’ lifespan

🔍 Monitoring your system's output is crucial – but it's best carried out by experts

📅 Solar panels will usually need to be replaced after 25-40 years

Do solar panels need maintenance?

What can go wrong with solar panels?

An inverter is the brain of a solar panel system, but it’s also its weakest point, and after around 12 years it’s very likely that you’ll have to replace it. This is usually because its capacitors have been worn out by all the electro-mechanical stress, which is unavoidable. Fortunately, every Sunsave Plus customer gets a free inverter replacement if required.

How to maintain your solar panels

How much does solar panel maintenance cost?

How often do solar panels have to be replaced?

Does solar panel output decrease over time?

Next steps

Solar panel maintenance: FAQs

Is solar high maintenance?

When should solar panels be serviced?

What happens when it rains on a solar panel?

What is the lifespan of a solar panel?

Here's why solar panels need maintenance, how to take care of them, the most common problems, and how much it costs.

Solar panel maintenance: is it necessary? [UK, 2025]

Solar panel maintenance: an expert guide

📉 Low output is the most common problem

🔋 Be prepared to replace your battery and inverter after 10-12 years

➕ Sunsave Plus provides you with insurance and free replacement parts

🐦 Birds can sometimes nest under solar panels

🛠️ Choosing a reputable installer means you dodge problems later on

What are the 6 most common solar panel problems?

Problems with solar panels: FAQs

What is the biggest issue with solar panels?

What are the cons of using solar panels?

Do solar panels have any negative effects?

Wondering whether to switch to solar? Learn the potential pitfalls that face solar panel owners and what the solution is to all of them

6 problems to watch out for if you have solar panels [UK, 2025]

6 problems to watch out for if you have solar panels

☀️ Modern solar panels have a lifespan of around 30-40 years

📊 Monocrystalline solar panels last longer than polycrystalline

⏳ Solar panel lifespan has improved in the past few decades

📉 Solar panels degrade each year, but only very slightly

🛡️ There are steps you can take to ensure your panels last as long as possible

What’s the average lifespan of a solar panel?

If one of your solar panels has an issue that you believe to be the fault of the manufacturer, you can claim on your solar panel’s warranty, but this usually involves quite a lot of time and effort. As part of the Sunsave Guarantee, we’ll take care of any solar panel warranty claims so you won’t have to lift a finger.

Do solar panels degrade over their lifetime?

How to make your solar panels last as long as possible

Solar panel lifespan: FAQs

What is the average lifespan of a solar panel?

How often do solar panels need to be replaced?

What happens after 25 years of solar panels?

Can solar panels catch fire?

Do solar panels need cooling?

Find out how long solar panels usually last for, how quickly they degrade over time, and what you can do to maximise their lifespan.

How long do solar panels last? | Average lifespan [2025]

What's in this article?

How long do solar panels last?

🐦 Birds can damage solar panel systems

🐿️ High-quality solar panel bird proofing can also keep out other animals

💷 Solar panel bird proofing costs roughly £50 per panel

📅 Properly installed spikes can last as long as your panels

🌞 Bird proofing systems shouldn't require maintenance

Do you need to get bird proofing for your solar panels?

Types of solar panel bird proofing

How much does solar panel bird proofing cost?

How long does bird proofing last?

How to remove birds from under your solar panels

Are there any other pests that nest under solar panels?

Solar panel bird proofing: FAQs

How do I protect my solar panels from birds?

What is the best bird deterrent for solar panels?

How much does it cost to bird-proof solar panels?

Does bird proofing require any maintenance?

Are any birds capable of getting past bird proofing?

Is solar panel bird proofing worth it?

Do high-frequency bird deterrents work?

Why are birds afraid of reflective tape?

Here are all the reasons to bird-proof your solar panels, how much it costs, and whether it's worth it.

Solar panel bird proofing: an expert guide [UK, 2025]

Solar panel bird proofing: an expert guide

Maintenance