Solar is about as close to "set and forget" as home investments get — but not entirely hands-off. Here's the honest picture: how long panels last, how much output they lose over time, and the small amount of upkeep that protects your investment.
How long do panels actually last?
Panels carry a performance warranty of around 25 years, guaranteeing a minimum output level (commonly around 80% of original capacity) by year 25. That's a contractual floor, not an expiry date — many real-world installations keep generating usable power well beyond it. Quality monocrystalline panels typically degrade at roughly 0.3–0.8% per year, meaning after 25 years they're still producing somewhere around 80–90% of their original output.
The maintenance that actually matters
- Cleaning: dust, pollen and bird droppings block sunlight and can cause hotspots if left for long periods. In dusty regions, a simple water rinse every 2–4 weeks in the dry season keeps output healthy; monsoon rain does a lot of this for you naturally.
- Visual checks: occasionally glance for cracked panels, loose mounting, or discoloration. Nothing technical — just noticing anything obviously wrong.
- Annual inspection (optional but wise): a professional check for loose connections, inverter health, and earthing every year or two catches small issues before they become expensive ones.
- Monitoring app: most inverters come with a basic app showing daily generation. A sudden, unexplained drop is usually the first sign something needs attention.
What shortens a system's life
- Poor installation: bad wiring, weak earthing, or a badly angled mount adds long-term stress. This is why installer quality matters more than shaving a little off the price.
- Neglected soiling: heavy dust left for years can cause localized overheating ("hot spots") that permanently damages a cell.
- Cheap, non-ALMM components: the subsidy scheme requires ALMM-approved panels partly because quality control matters — lower-tier components tend to degrade faster and fail more often.
Plan your system with real numbers
See your system size, cost after subsidy, and payback period in 30 seconds — with every assumption shown.
The bottom line
Budget for occasional cleaning and, ideally, a light annual check-up — that's genuinely most of it. There's no monthly bill for solar maintenance the way there is for, say, an AC service contract. Choose ALMM-approved equipment and a competent installer up front, and a rooftop system is a low-effort asset for two decades or more.
A note on the numbers: figures here are typical ranges as of June 2026 and change often. The PM Surya Ghar subsidy structure, your state's top-up, per-kW prices and electricity tariffs all vary — always confirm current rates on the official portal (pmsuryaghar.gov.in) and get written quotes before you buy. This is planning information, not financial advice.