5 Tips On Maintaining Solar Panels At Home

A high-quality solar panel system that has been set up correctly should be good to function without a hitch for many years. However, routine maintenance can ensure that your system is operating safely and effectively.

What are the telltale signals that your solar system needs a quick tune-up? Your system may need a service if you notice a significant increase in your energy bill, a red or orange light on your inverter during the day, or panels that are visibly dirty or obstructed. These are all indications that your solar output may be reduced.

It’s still wise to schedule a routine maintenance appointment even if you don’t have any of these glaring warning signs because improperly maintained panels could end up costing you much more than just a few bucks a month in energy costs.

Here are some of the best maintenance tips to take note of:

Know When To Clean The Panels

Solar panel maintenance is very similar to window maintenance. The glass cover only has to be washed with soap and running water from a hose before being cleaned with a cloth. Since they could harm PV cells, stay away from using rough sponges, cold water, abrasive detergents, and high-pressure sprayers.

While climbing on the roof, keep in mind that safety should always come first because there is a chance of an accident. If your problem is somewhat complicated, hiring expert cleaners should solve it.

Keep Solar Panels Out Of Shade

The main way that shade can affect solar panels is in their performance. Shade blocks solar radiation from reaching the panels, potentially causing your panels to produce less electricity than they should. It can be difficult to keep panels fully out of the shade in some locations. However, trees will be cut back to allow more direct sunlight to reach the solar panels when they are elevated.

If you’ve had your solar panels for more than five years, it’s possible that new trees have grown around them. As long as the solar panel isn’t entirely obscured by shade throughout the entire day, this is still acceptable.

Remove Dirt and Debris On Panels

Solar panel debris is more than just an eyesore. It may also affect how well your solar panel generates power. You should call someone out as soon as you see anything like leaves or branches preventing sunlight from reaching the solar panel. You can, of course, climb up on the roof yourself, but not everyone feels comfortable doing so.

A further consideration is bird droppings. Birds will use solar panels as a place to rest, which might result in an accumulation of bird droppings on the solar panel. Birds like to visit solar panels that are positioned near together, so this is particularly problematic.

Check The Panels During Extreme Wheather

Panels may break during a hurricane, tornado, or other severe storms. Obviously, broken glass will negatively affect the efficiency of your solar panel installation. By examining the panels’ aesthetics or keeping an eye on their performance via online monitoring, you can quickly identify systemic issues.

Fortunately, in the event of extreme weather, panels are covered by homeowners insurance. You can get instructions on how to fix and/or replace your panels by getting in touch with your installer.

Monitor The Panel Performance

You might not see recording the performance of your solar panels as a maintenance task for solar panels. This entails recording the monthly kWh production as well as any shading or inverter problems. Then, during the year, make sure to review these figures so that you have records for later use.

There are several online tools that can track this data for you, and it’s possible that you already have it saved with the panels you bought. However, by monitoring these figures, you’ll be able to tell when your panels require repair or whether the degradation process is accelerating quicker than the warranty specifies.

Key Takeaway

For a number of reasons, using solar energy to power your home is the best option. Making the move to renewable energy not only lessens your influence on the environment but also allows you to save money because of its advantageous features. The time is now to purchase a solar panel system because the most recent versions are affordable and long-lasting.

Once you’ve made the decision to go solar, you should be aware that your system will need maintenance from time to time. Even though contemporary solar panels are made to withstand exposure to the elements, they still need to be maintained. You can maximize your investment by making sure that all of its components are in good working order because they may also malfunction.

The best approach to guarantee that your project functions at its peak are to install a solar panel monitoring system. Data on your solar system’s electrical production is provided through monitoring systems. You can compute the degradation of your panels by tracking this data over time. Monitoring systems also send out alerts in the event of a problem or damage.