The Ultimate Guide to Solar Panel Care: Keep Your System Efficient
Maintaining your solar panel system is
crucial to ensuring it operates efficiently and maximizes your investment.
While solar panels are generally low-maintenance, regular upkeep can help you
avoid performance dips and prolong the system's lifespan. Here's a guide to
keeping your solar panels in top condition, supported by real-life examples and
data.
Cleaning is one of the vital maintenance
jobs for solar panels. The surface would start to gather dust, dirt, and bird
droppings, which may decrease the ability of the solar panel to absorb sunlight
properly. In California, where one study was conducted, a dirty panel is said
to lose as high as 20% of its efficiency. However, during the same survey, it
was found that cleaning regularly, about once every few months, would restore
most of the lost efficiency to a similar panel. Another real-life example
involves an Arizona homeowner who cleaned his solar panels every six months and
achieved 15% higher energy production than his neighbor, who cleaned his panels
annually.
Cleaning solar panels is easy; most of the
time, it can be done with water and a soft brush. Complex chemicals or sharp
materials are not recommended, as they could affect the panels. Professional
service is likely the better option when the panels are hard to reach.
Professional cleaning costs range from $150 to $350, depending on the size of
the system in question and site location. That may seem like a serious added
expense, but it can be offset over time due to the gains in efficiency.
Monitoring the performance of the system is
another important part of solar panel servicing. Most of these solar panel
systems, by default, nowadays come equipped with a monitoring app, which you
can connect to the smartphone, and it shows you energy production in real-time.
You will be provided access to regular data. Going through it regularly may
allow you to find out in advance if any abnormality occurs. Suppose you had
been accustomed to specific ranges of energy production; suddenly, it would
show up, for instance, some shading problems because of a new tree growing or
leaving debris on the panels. Paying quick attention to these factors can
prevent damage in the long term and ensure that your system remains running at
ultimate efficiency.
In one real example, a New Jersey homeowner
witnessed a decline in output from the solar panels, at which point he looked
up and noticed that the snow buildup inside the panels was blocking out most of
the sunlight. He carefully swept the snow away and found the system performing
just as it was. This is an excellent example to prove that seasonal maintenance
is essential, especially for areas with harsh winters and sand storms. Although
solar panels are designed to bear heavy loads of snow and ice, heavy buildup
will affect the panels' efficiency, and removal should be done safely. Another
critical aspect of maintaining a solar panel is periodic inspections.
Even though your system seems fine, it is
wise to have a professional inspection now and then. A technician would check,
among other things, for wear and tear that may indicate cracks, corrosion, or
loose connections that could affect performance or pose a safety risk. Indeed,
inspectors in one study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that
a third of the solar systems studied had minor issues, leaks being one of the
most common, if unchecked, might have led to significant declines in
performance. This is where an inspection becomes essential when your solar
panels are getting to the end of their warranty period.
Most solar panels have a 25-year warranty;
although they are built to last, some parts in them-inverters may be exchanged
sooner. After a decade and a half, the inverter element responsible for
converting the DC electricity generated by your panels into AC electricity,
which feeds your home, might need to be replaced. Inverter performance
monitoring and replacement when required help retain overall system efficiency.
Besides the professional inspections, it is also a good idea to take a look
yourself every now and then. Just look for apparent damage, such as cracked
panels and exposed wiring. Lastly, don't let big objects-blocks, shadows of
tree branches-cover your panels. Shading seriously impairs the efficiency of
solar panels, and tree removal or other obstructions done by trimming can
significantly boost energy production.
This means keeping records of all
maintenance activities involving cleaning, inspection, and repairs on the solar
investment. These may come in handy if one intends to file a warranty claim or
sell his house. Prospective buyers will appreciate the fact that the solar
system has been well looked after; it could just increase the resale value of
your property.
Of course, solar panels are relatively low
maintenance, but regular maintenance keeps them running at maximum efficiency
and saves you money on energy bills. Keeping your panels clean, monitoring
performance, conducting regular inspections, and swiftly fixing issues will go
a long way in making your solar panel system last longer and perform better.
From the DIYers to the leave-it-to-the-pros, this set of tips will no doubt
help maximize your solar investment, as evidenced by real-life examples and
data herein.
