Solar servicing
Solar panel maintenance and safety inspections in Melbourne
Solar panel maintenance in Melbourne comes down to a full electrical service at least every 2 years by a licensed A-Grade electrician, preferably accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia: Solar Victoria and Energy Safe Victoria both advise it. It is not a panel clean: the electrician tests the panels, cabling, DC isolator and inverter and writes a report. We service and inspect systems as part of our solar services.
Between services, watch the monitoring app and check the panels from the ground after storms. Energy Safe Victoria received reports of 138 solar-related house fires in 3 years to September 2025, many preventable with regular maintenance.
Updated
What maintenance does a solar system need?
A rooftop system is a live electrical installation outdoors, and Energy Safe Victoria warns that its wiring, switches and isolators can deteriorate. Most of the work is the electrician’s; yours is keeping an eye on it.
What it needs
- A full service every 2 years, or on the schedule your installer gave you.
- A regular look at the app and your bills for a drop in output or a new error code, as Solar Victoria suggests.
- Clear inverter vents. Solar Victoria warns: “Anything preventing air flow could overheat the inverter in hot weather and reduce its life.”
- Nothing stored against the inverter or battery, such as wood piles, paint and other flammable liquids, as Energy Safe Victoria asks.
- A call between services if you notice damage or a drop in performance, as Solar Victoria advises.
What it doesn’t need
- Regular cleaning, in most cases. Solar Victoria says rain washes off what you can’t reach when the panels sit on an angle.
- You on the roof, or DIY electrical work. Check the panels from the ground; opening the inverter, an isolator or the switchboard is a licensed electrician’s job.
How often should solar panels be serviced in Victoria?
Solar panel servicing is due at least every 2 years, unless your installer sets a different schedule. Energy Safe Victoria adds that most of the 138 solar-related house fires reported to it happened between September and January, so a service before spring finds faults ahead of the riskiest months.
| Who | What they advise |
|---|---|
| Solar Victoria | At least every 2 years, by a licensed A-Grade electrician accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia, with a detailed report. |
| Energy Safe Victoria | At least once every 2 years unless your installer says otherwise, including a check and test of the DC isolator. |
| Your distributor | Some of Victoria’s five distributors ask for a yearly anti-islanding check (a PV inverter test): a test that the inverter switches off when the grid does. |
Read your warranty before booking: Solar Victoria warns that it could be void if someone other than the installer does the service (what voids a warranty). If your system went in under the Solar Homes Program, Energy Safe Victoria suggests contacting that retailer first.
What does a solar safety inspection check?
A solar panel inspection, sometimes sold as a safety inspection or a solar health check, covers the same ground as a service. Energy Safe Victoria says solar servicing must be done by a licensed A-Grade electrician employed by a Registered Electrical Contractor, so check that whoever you hire as a solar panel inspector is one.
| Part | What gets checked |
|---|---|
| Panels and roof fixings | A visual inspection of the panels for cracks, chips and discoloration, and of the mounting; fittings and cables are securely attached; clearing debris and leaf litter from under the panels and around the inverter. |
| Cabling and switches | Electrical testing of the panels, cabling and switches; the wiring is not damaged or deteriorated; no switch has a defect. |
| DC isolator | A check and test of the DC isolator, whose casing can let moisture in as it ages (a fire risk); nothing blocks access to the isolator switches. |
| Inverter | That it runs correctly and its heatsinks and vents are clean; the inverter display reviewed for recorded faults. |
| Switchboard and signs | No parts have deteriorated or corroded; the emergency shutdown and isolation procedure is clearly displayed. |
| Performance | Electrical checks that every component works as intended. To judge output yourself between services: PVGIS models about 1,420 kWh a year for each kW of north-facing panels in Melbourne. |
| Report | A written report of what was checked, what was found and what was fixed. Solar Victoria notes that issues logged at a service could later support a warranty claim on the panels. |
If you have a battery
Energy Safe Victoria’s service list includes the battery, which should be free of leaf litter and debris, and it asks owners to store nothing against it. To check a battery against recall notices, see home battery recalls.
Tell us the battery’s brand and model when you book, and we’ll confirm whether the visit can include it.
DC isolators: faults, recalls and fire risk
A DC isolator is the switch that disconnects the direct current from the panels, so the inverter can be shut down safely. Under AS/NZS 5033:2021 it is either built into the inverter or a separate switch in its own box beside the inverter. Energy Safe Victoria warns that an ageing isolator’s casing can let moisture in, a fire risk, so every service should test it.
For new systems, Energy Safe Victoria strongly recommends inverters with a built-in DC isolator. Where a separate one is fitted, it recommends a non-combustible surface such as brick or masonry block, concrete, compressed cement sheeting and ceramic or terracotta tiles; on a combustible surface the standard requires a non-combustible barrier behind it. If yours sits on weatherboard with no barrier, ask about it at your next service.
Recalled DC isolators
Some DC isolators have been recalled. For example, in November 2017 AGL Energy Services recalled Salzer DC LB232 isolator switches (IPV40E and IPV40ES) because some failed, generating excessive heat that melted or charred them: a fire risk under certain conditions. They were sold nationally between 25 August 2016 and 1 November 2017. To check yours, read the brand and model on its label from a safe distance and search the ACCC’s product recall list.
Look, don’t touch: Energy Safe Victoria lists a burning smell and unusual noises as warning signs. Don’t operate or open an isolator that looks scorched, cracked or melted. Keep clear, and call a licensed electrician.
Installation faults a solar inspection finds
They are common enough to look for. Since its inspection program began, the Clean Energy Regulator has inspected a random sample of 9,085 Victorian systems, and up to 30 June 2025 it rated 14.8% of them substandard and 2.6% unsafe. Of the systems installed nationally in 2024, 18.6% were substandard and 0.4% unsafe. The most common reasons for a substandard rating were wiring, how the panels are mounted, earthing of the panel frames and the disconnection points (Inspections update No. 24).
Every Victorian solar system is prescribed electrical work: a Licensed Electrical Inspector inspects it, and Energy Safe Victoria says it can’t be turned on or left on until then. Solar Homes installs can also be audited by Solar Victoria’s independent auditors, generally within six months. Solar inspectors at a later service, or before you buy, look for the same faults:
| Fault | Why it matters | What good looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Loose or exposed DC cables | Wiring is one of the most common reasons the CER rates a system substandard, and exposed live wires or parts make a system unsafe outright. | Cables fixed so they can’t move, and protected from UV; conduit carrying DC cables sealed. |
| Mismatched or badly made DC connectors | Solar Victoria’s audits found mismatched connectors in 30% of the Victorian systems they checked in 2019 and about 8% in 2022. A failed one can arc and start a fire. | Connectors mated only with ones from the same manufacturer, designed to be mated together (AS/NZS 5033:2021). |
| Panels clamped outside the maker’s zones | Panels not securely mounted make a system unsafe, and Canadian Solar’s Australian warranty excludes improper installation. | Panels fitted to the maker’s installation instructions, including its clamping zones. Where the clamps go. |
| Roof penetrations without proper flashing | Solar Victoria’s auditors check that the roof still keeps water out once brackets and cables go through it. | A fit-for-purpose collar flashing where a cable or conduit passes through a tile or steel roof, and tiles that sit flat again after the brackets go in. |
| An inverter in full sun or boxed in | Solar Victoria warns: “Anything preventing air flow could overheat the inverter in hot weather and reduce its life.” Sungrow’s warranty excludes damage from insufficient ventilation. | An inverter placed to its maker’s instructions on direct sunlight and clearances. |
| A wet or badly placed DC isolator | Water damage to a DC isolator makes a system unsafe outright. Since a change to AS/NZS 5033 allowed disconnection points instead of rooftop isolators, the CER’s unsafe ratings from DC isolators have dropped to nil. | An isolator built into the inverter, or a separate one on a non-combustible surface or with a barrier. DC isolators. |
| No shutdown procedure or labels | In an emergency, Energy Safe Victoria tells you to follow the safe isolation procedure located at the solar inverter. | A shutdown procedure beside the inverter, and DC cables away from the panels labelled “SOLAR” at least every 2 m. |
| Monitoring or the consumption meter not working | You can’t see faults without it. Sungrow lists a meter or CT wired the wrong way round, or not talking to the inverter, as codes 84 and 514. | Before the installer leaves, the app shows production, home use, and imports and exports. Consumption meters. |
| An inverter not set up for the emergency backstop | Since 1 October 2024, new, upgraded and replacement systems up to 200 kW must be backstop enabled; AusNet caps one without internet at 1 kW of export. | An inverter that talks to the network using the CSIP-AUS standard and an internet connection. |
Look, don’t touch: these are the inspector’s checks, not yours. The installer should also leave you the certificate, the system documents and the shutdown procedure.
Pre-purchase solar inspections: buying a home with solar
If the home you’re buying has solar or a battery, an inspection before you sign shows whether the system is safe, working and documented. Ask the seller for:
- The system documents the installer must hand over under AS/NZS 5033:2021 and AS/NZS 4777.1:2016: Energy Safe Victoria says they are needed to run, maintain and inspect the system.
- Service reports from the last 2 years, and a Certificate of Electrical Safety for any wiring repairs.
- Warranty papers with the brands and serial numbers, because makers’ transfer rules differ: how solar warranties work.
- The monitoring login, so you can see past output and move the account into your name.
- Who installed it, and whether it was a Solar Homes Program system.
Two rules matter to a buyer. Victoria’s premium feed-in tariff ended on 1 November 2024, so your exports earn your own retailer’s rate: feed-in tariffs in Melbourne. And Solar Victoria’s panel rebate isn’t available where a solar system was installed at the address in the last 10 years, which matters if you plan to replace it: Solar Homes rebate rules.
Storm and hail damage: are damaged solar panels dangerous?
They can be. Energy Safe Victoria warns: “Solar panels can produce energy during daylight hours. This means they can be a potential safety risk even if the power is turned off.” After a storm:
- Stay clear. Never go near any equipment or cables if you see any damage to your solar system or battery. Look from the ground, and don’t climb onto the roof.
- Shut down only if it’s safe. If the inverter and the area around it are undamaged, follow the safe isolation procedure located at the solar inverter.
- Call a licensed electrician to make the system safe (doing major electrical repairs yourself is unsafe and illegal, Energy Safe Victoria warns), and get a Certificate of Electrical Safety when the work is done.
- Record it for your insurer. Take photos from the ground and keep the electrician’s report.
Panels carry hail ratings (how hail affects panels). Whether storm damage is covered depends on your home insurance policy, not the panel warranty: insurance and solar.
If your insurer needs a report on the damage, tell us when you book and we’ll confirm what the visit can provide.
Cleaning is not servicing
Energy Safe Victoria is blunt about it: “Unqualified operators offering so-called ‘maintenance’ services are often just cleaning panels. They’re not trained to identify and fix faults and might even cause damage or increase fire risks.” A clean can help dirty panels make more power, but it finds no faults, and Solar Victoria says to check your warranty first, because work by a cleaning service could void it. Before anyone works on the system, check their licence on Energy Safe Victoria’s public register.
Solar panel maintenance costs
We quote a service or an inspection for your system when you book: the price depends on its size and age, how easy the roof is to reach and whether a battery is included. Repairs are quoted after we find the fault, and nothing is replaced without your go-ahead.
Whoever you book, Energy Safe Victoria recommends getting at least two quotes, each describing the work. A failed inverter costs more to put right: inverter replacement costs.
Solar maintenance and inspections: your questions
What is a DC isolator on a solar system?
It is the switch that cuts the direct current from the panels so the inverter can be shut down and worked on safely. Under AS/NZS 5033:2021 it is either built into the inverter or a separate switch in its own box beside the inverter. Energy Safe Victoria warns that an ageing isolator’s casing can let moisture in, a fire risk, so a service should check and test it. If one looks scorched or melted, keep clear and call a licensed electrician. Safe first checks on an inverter
Should I get a solar inspection before buying a house?
Yes, if the home has solar or a battery. A licensed electrician can test the system, check the DC isolator and inverter, and give you a written report. Ask the seller for the system documents, service reports from the last 2 years and the warranty papers too. Victoria’s premium feed-in tariff ended on 1 November 2024, so there is no premium rate to take over.
What should I do if my solar panels are damaged in a storm?
Stay clear and look only from the ground. Energy Safe Victoria warns that panels produce energy in daylight, so damaged panels or cables can be dangerous even when the power is off. If the inverter is undamaged and safe to reach, follow the shutdown procedure posted there, then call a licensed electrician to make the system safe. Take photos for your insurer. Home insurance and solar panels
How much does a solar panel service cost?
It depends on the size and age of the system, how easy the roof is to reach and whether a battery is included, so we quote it when you book. Energy Safe Victoria recommends getting at least two quotes, each describing the work, and Solar Victoria says to ask for a detailed report of the checks, findings and fixes.
Who can service solar panels in Victoria?
Energy Safe Victoria says solar servicing must be done by a licensed A-Grade electrician employed by a Registered Electrical Contractor, and recommends one accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia. Check the licence on Energy Safe’s public register before anyone works on the system. If it went in under the Solar Homes Program, Energy Safe suggests contacting that retailer first.
Servicing a Melbourne system: book it before spring
Energy Safe Victoria says most of the 138 solar house fires reported to it in Victoria happened in the warmer months, September to January, so for a Melbourne home the service is best booked in winter, before the risk rises. Between visits, your own yardstick is output: for our Mount Waverley base, PVGIS models about 1,420 kWh a year for each kW of north-facing panels, from about 164 kWh per kW in January down to 65 in June. A system well below that on clear days, an isolator on a weatherboard wall with no barrier, or a home you’re about to buy with solar on the roof are all reasons to book an inspection now rather than wait for the next service.
Book a solar service or inspection
Tell us about your system and we’ll book a service or inspection. Repairs are quoted before any work starts.
Talk to us about servicing your solar
Locally owned, locally installed. Call, email, or send the form and we’ll come out and inspect the property.
- Phone
- 0485 000 015
- Workshop
- 8/41 Ricketts Road,
Mount Waverley, VIC 3149