A solar system is only as good as its worst-performing panel — and on the dusty Highveld, performance quietly erodes long before anything "breaks". Here is how to keep your Johannesburg array producing what you paid for.
Why Johannesburg is hard on panels
Long dry winters, fine Highveld dust, pollen in spring and the odd hailstorm all conspire to coat and stress panels. A film of grime you can barely see can cut output by 15–25%, and because panels are wired in strings, one shaded or dirty patch can drag down its neighbours.
How often to clean
For most Gauteng homes, a clean every 3 to 6 months keeps output healthy — more often if you are near trees, a dirt road or heavy traffic. The clearest signal it is overdue is a noticeable drop in daily production on your monitoring app.
What a proper service covers
- Safe cleaning of the panels themselves
- Inverter performance check and error-log review
- Inspection of wiring, connectors and mounting
- Battery health test (for hybrid systems)
- Firmware updates and a production-to-spec check
See our solar system maintenance service.
Why not just DIY it
Light cleaning is fine at ground level, but roof work is genuinely dangerous and aggressive cleaning can scratch panels or void warranties. A professional clean comes with the electrical check that catches small faults before they become expensive ones.
Protect the investment
You spent six figures on going solar — a modest annual service protects that return for 20+ years. Book a solar service or read more about our solar installations.