Investing in solar panels is one of our best ideas so far. We can’t begin to describe how much electricity and energy bills we’ve saved!
Today, we will discuss proper solar panel maintenance to help you save money. This ensures your panels stay in tip-top shape each time!
How to Maintain Solar Panels
Cleaning solar panels was the last thing we wanted to do. We thought it was just an unnecessary and tedious task that the rain could do.
But after doing our research, we realised that by not cleaning our panels, we risk spending more in the future.
1. Get Your Panels Serviced
No matter how long you’ve had your solar panels, have it serviced by a professional!
We recommend doing it at least every five years to ensure your solar panels stay in good condition!
Always ask for solar quotes regarding how much the maintenance may cost and if your warranty covers it
2. Check for Any Issues
A visual inspection of your solar panels gives you an idea if they’re still in good condition.
More importantly, check for any rain damage that your warranty can get covered.
3. Clean Your Solar Panels
Part of solar maintenance is giving your solar panels some tender loving care. Periodic cleaning can help you increase its lifespan and lessen the need to use the warranty.
This could affect its energy production and performance, which we want to avoid.
4. Remove Potential Dangers
The last thing you’d want to happen is your solar panels burning down your house.
As much as possible, keep your solar panels free from unnecessary objects that would cause an accident.
5. Keep Solar Panels Out of the Shade
Solar panels need access to direct sunlight.
The last thing you’d want to do is put it under a shade, regardless of the panels or on the ground, or the roof.
6. Check if the Inverters Are Flashing Green Lights
If your inverter is flashing a green light, you have nothing to worry about. This means your solar panels are running at peak efficiency!
If the inverters are flashing red, you need to seek the help of a professional to get to the root of the problem.
7. Inspect the Day-To-Day Performance of Your Panels
One of the most effective tips we can share is tracking the day-to-day performance of your panels. Keep tabs on how much energy it is generating each time.
Once you notice a sudden drop, this should alert you that there may be a problem.
Cleaning Solar Panels
Solar panel cleaning doesn’t take rocket science. Anyone can do this simple task with the right information about cleaning solar panels.
Frequency
We always recommend cleaning solar panels at least every six months.
This ensures the panels stay in good working condition and check if parts need to undergo some repair or service!
You can also schedule an annual service to ensure the whole system functions properly.
Tools and Materials
The great thing about cleaning solar panels is you don’t need any fancy tools and materials.
You can make do with whatever tools you use to clean your windows, like the following:
- Non-abrasive cloth or sponge to wipe panels on the roof
- Long hose for panels installed at the ground level
- Clean hot water
Steps
It’s so easy to achieve clean solar panels. You must wipe the panels with a wet and non-abrasive sponge and free them from dirt.
Make sure to get all any debris and dust out of the way, and be mindful of any loose parts. Finish off by rinsing your solar panels with a hose. It’s that simple!
Inspecting Solar Panels
Besides cleaning your solar panels, we highly recommend routine maintenance inspections.
This may take a few minutes or hours of your day, but it can help you save money and avoid big problems.
Visual Inspection
You can already tell from the looks of your solar panels if there’s anything wrong with it. In some cases, you might notice that your panels no longer have high energy production.
It could be that a mound of dirt and dust has already accumulated. In some cases, there may even be moving parts that need to be checked.
Electrical Checks
Check the inverter of your solar panels and that it’s always flashing green light. This clearly shows that your solar panel system is working properly.
You also want to check the energy your panels produce daily and watch out for instances when there’s a sudden drop.
Check for the details your installer might have left.
Troubleshooting
Knowing how to troubleshoot your solar panel system is very important, especially when you can’t call a professional installer.
We recommend doing the following troubleshooting procedures to get you started:
- Make sure the breaker switches aren’t overloaded and working beyond their capacity.
- Solar panels shouldn’t be under a shade and must be free from obstructions like snow, bird droppings, dirt, and dust.
- Check the solar monitoring system to assess the performance of your panel and compare it with past data.
Common Solar Panel Maintenance Issues
After many years of using solar panels, there are a few issues that we’d have to deal with often. Safe to say, we’ve mastered managing this issue, and it’s high time you do too.
Faulty Connections
One of the hardest problems we had in our new system was fixing faulty connections.
Unfortunately, there are several instances when solar panels tend to be faulty, especially when their wirings get loose.
Thankfully, simple maintenance work can fix this!
Solar Panel Covers
Because solar panels are exposed out in the open, you must free them of any dirt and debris.
This affects how much energy your solar panels can collect and power. Scheduling a regular solar panel cleaning can help avoid this problem.
Degradation of Solar Panels
Like with most appliances and equipment, solar panels need to be replaced. They degrade through time, losing their power and efficiency.
If you notice this, it’s time to replace your solar systems with a new one.
Alternatively, you can ask for professional help on what you can do next.
Keep in mind that the cost of photovoltaic solar panels is reasonably priced, making this a great option.
Summary
Before we leave with our parting words, let’s summarise what we’ve learned about solar panel cleaning.
Benefits of Solar Panel Maintenance
There are a lot of benefits to having clean solar panels, such as the following:
- Keeps panels working in top condition and collects more solar energy;
- Frees the surface from any snow and debris that can affect its systems;
- Reduces the need to replace the panels often.
If your solar panels are on the roof, make sure to be careful that you don’t slide off when going back to the ground.
Tips for Maintaining Solar Panels
Achieving clean solar panels is easy, and there are a lot of cost-effective measures you can take:
- Install automated cleaners on your roof for low-maintenance cleaning;
- Use sprinkler systems or a simple garden hose for your regular maintenance;
- Alternatively, you can use a soft brush to manually clean your solar panels.
Common Issues With Solar Panel Maintenance
Keep in mind that no matter how much you clean your solar panels, several issues may still arise:
- Faulty connections when solar panels aren’t installed properly (Check out the solar PV installation course to help you)
- Solar panels getting covered by snow and debris
- Needing to get a new inverter or repair some of the parts
Conclusion
Through the years of using solar panels, we’ve learned how to maximise their use and maintain solar panels properly.
Considering how much a single panel costs, we would all be better off if we had just learned about solar panel maintenance!
What do you have to lose? You can save money in the long run!
Check if your preferred solar companies have a solar operations and maintenance agreement to help you save on cost!
