Annual Solar Maintenance Checklist

For Homeowners & Property Managers of Residential Solar Systems

(With string inverters, microinverters, and optional battery storage)

Purpose:

To help you keep your solar energy system performing efficiently and catch any issues early. Most of these items are for awareness - no need to climb on your roof. If you notice anything unusual, reach out to RES for support (open a new support ticket here).

Checklist:

1. System Overview

☐ Walk around the property and look at the solar panels from the ground

☐ Note any new trees, plants, or structures that may be shading the panels

☐ Make sure access to the electrical panel, inverter(s), and battery area is clear

2. Solar Panel Condition

☐ Look for visible dirt, golf ball damage, bird droppings, or debris on the panels (from ground level)

☐ Check for signs of damage—cracks, cloudiness, or unusual reflections

☐ If panels are noticeably dirty or underperforming, schedule a professional cleaning

3. Vegitation Management

☐ Trim back any tree branches or plants that may cast shadows on the panels

☐ Consider how future growth might block sunlight in the next 12 months

4. Inverter & Battery Equipment

☐ Check the inverter display (usually mounted on a wall near your electrical panel or batteries)

☐ Look for a green light or “Normal” status; call for help if it shows red, blinking lights, or an error

☐ For battery systems: check for error messages or warnings on the battery screen or app

5. Monitoring App or Portal

☐ Log in to your monitoring app (e.g. Enphase Enlighten, SolarEdge, SolArk)

☐ Review the past year’s production and compare to prior years if available

☐ Check that all parts of the system are reporting and no alerts are showing

☐ Download or request a performance report if your provider offers one

6. Schedule Professional Maintenance

☐ Plan for a full system inspection by an RES technician every 1–2 years

☐ Ask RES to:

• Inspect wiring, roof attachments, and equipment
• Check inverter and battery health
• Perform a battery power backup test to ensure essential loads keep running during an outage
• Provide a performance and health report

☐ If panels need cleaning RES may be able to recommend a provider, but we do not offer this service at this time