One of the best things about a modern solar and battery system is how little it asks of you. There are no moving parts on the roof, no fuel to top up and no oil to change. But "low maintenance" isn't the same as "no attention at all". Here's what a Cape Town solar and battery system really needs to keep performing, what you can do yourself, and what we look after for you.
Solar Panels: Mostly Hands-Off
Solar panels are sealed glass modules with no moving parts, so they need very little care. In most homes, rain does the bulk of the cleaning. In Cape Town, though, a long dry summer, coastal salt, wind-blown dust, bird droppings and nearby building work can all leave a film on the glass, and dirty panels produce less power.
The easiest way to know whether your panels need attention is to check your app. If production on clear, sunny days drops noticeably compared with similar days before, and nothing else has changed, it may be time for a clean or a check.
If you do clean your panels, keep it safe and gentle:
- Don't climb onto the roof. Roof work is the biggest risk in solar maintenance. Rinse from the ground if you can, or ask a professional.
- Use plain water and a soft brush. Avoid pressure washers, harsh chemicals and anything abrasive that could scratch the glass or damage the seals.
- Clean when the panels are cool, early in the morning or late in the afternoon, rather than splashing cold water on hot glass in the midday sun.
- Follow the panel manufacturer's guidance, so you don't do anything that affects your warranty.
The full-black panels we install on our home solar systems carry a 15-year product warranty and a 30-year performance warranty, so a little care goes a long way.
Batteries and Inverters: Sealed and Built for the Outdoors
Today's home batteries are very different from the old lead-acid backup systems many South Africans remember. A Tesla Powerwall 3 or a Sigenergy system is a sealed unit. There's nothing to top up and no routine servicing for you to do. Both are warranted for outdoor installation, both have rigorous battery fire-safety testing (UL 9540A), and both come with a 10-year warranty.
What helps is simple common sense:
- Keep the area around the unit clear. Don't stack boxes, garden tools or storage against it.
- Keep it free of heavy dirt, leaves and cobwebs with a dry or lightly damp cloth.
- Never open the unit or work on the wiring yourself. Leave anything electrical to a qualified installer.
Both systems also come with a swap-out warranty: if a unit is faulty, it's replaced with a new one rather than repaired.
Your App Does the Watching for You
The most useful maintenance tool you have is already on your phone. The Tesla app gives you a live view of your energy flow and Storm Watch, which prepares your Powerwall for possible outages. The mySigen app shows your live energy flow and uses AI energy management to run your Sigenergy system. On both, MLT can provide remote support, so we can often look into a question without a site visit.
A quick glance once a week is enough. You're looking for anything unusual: an alert, solar production that's lower than it should be, or a battery that isn't charging or discharging the way it normally does.
A Simple Owner's Checklist
- Weekly: open your app and check that production and battery use look normal.
- After a long dry spell or a windy season: look at your panels from the ground for obvious dust, droppings or debris.
- Every few months: check that the area around your battery and inverter is clear and clean.
- Always: keep your Certificate of Compliance and City approval paperwork somewhere safe. You'll want it if you sell your home or add to your system.
When to Call Your Installer
Get in touch if you see an error alert you don't recognise, a sudden drop in production, visible damage to panels, cables or mounting, or a breaker that keeps tripping. The same goes if you're planning changes, such as adding battery storage or an EV charger. Any change to your system should be designed properly, and in Cape Town it also needs to stay in line with the City's rules. Our guide to SSEG registration in Cape Town explains how that works.
Have an Older System?
If your system is getting on in years, it may be worth looking at an upgrade rather than keeping it going. One client shared this in a Google review: "We recently had our 13-year-old MLT solar inverter system replaced with one employing modern technology and are VERY happy with the new system!"
Why MLT Power
MLT Power is a family business founded in 1986, with more than 1,000 installations across Cape Town and Gauteng and a 4.9/5 Google rating. We're a Tesla Premium Installer, South Africa's first installer of the full Tesla range, and a Sigenergy Certified Installer. One of our values is simple: you call, we answer.
Whether you need a check-up on an existing system or want a new one designed for your home, send us your latest electricity bill or call 087 943 2299 for a free, fixed-price quote.
Ready to go solar?
Send us your latest electricity bill and we'll design a system and fixed price for your home or business.