What maintenance schedule does MCS suggest for domestic solar PV?
Short answer
MIS 3002 Appendix F is advisory. For privately owned homes, customers do visual checks yearly, an MCS intermediate visit is suggested at 10 years and a full visit at 15 years. Rented homes are 5 and 10 years. Full visits add clamp torque, rails, string resistance, insulation, PID tests and thermography. Cleaning is listed for shallow or dusty arrays.
Last checked 24 September 2026 · 1 source
In more detail
- Customer checks: modules from ground, inverter indications, generation increasing, structural distress, vegetation.
- Intermediate: isolators, SPDs/fuses, inverter logs, AC voltage/overvoltage risk, DC connectors, labels.
- Handover must state customer checks and what to do if issues are found (cl.7.3).
The facts, dated
- 01Suggested full maintenance visit interval, domestic owner-occupied — 15 years
standard · UK · checked 24 September 2026 · MCS
- 02Suggested intermediate visit interval, domestic rented — 5 years
standard · UK · checked 24 September 2026 · MCS
What we saw in the field
[QA review 2026-09-24] I-1 CONTRADICTS. | Earlier notes: Installer claim 'clean panels about every six months, no other routine maintenance' contradicts MIS 3002 App F, which lists periodic isolator, SPD, connector and electrical tests and only suggests cleaning where pitch is shallow/dusty.
Sources
Last checked: 24 September 2026