A qualified product requires very little solar panel maintenance. For the most part, your solar panels won’t require much maintenance other than regular inspection and cleaning.
How to tell when you need solar panel maintenance?
You can install a solar monitoring system to monitor the power output of your solar panels. If you suddenly notice that your solar panels aren’t producing as much energy as they normally do, and your electricity bill has gone up. Well, this is a sign that you need to consider solar panel maintenance.
A damaged, dirty, or otherwise malfunctioning solar system will leave a mark in its energy output statistics.
How to maintain your solar panels?
In fact, the most common type of maintenance for solar panels is cleaning. Dirt and debris can collect on your panels, especially during storms or long periods without rain. Over time, the output efficiency of solar panels becomes lower.
The most common way to clean is to hire a professional maintenance person to look at your solar panels. After that, a cleaning schedule is given, and solar panel maintenance is performed.
Cleaning the panels can improve their performance, especially in the case of roof installations. Light cleaning 1-2 times a year is recommended to remove debris and ensure adequate sunlight exposure to each panel.
If you find you absolutely must clean your solar panels, follow these steps carefully.
1. Turn off your solar panels.
2. Wipe the panel surface with a brush.
3. Use a low-pressure hose or water source to remove other debris
4. Gently scrub the remaining area with another brush
5. Monitor output to find out if cleaning has an impact on efficiency.
In addition to the above methods, you can prune trees and keep solar panels out of shade. As the tree grows, its branches may block the sun’s rays. This will affect the absorption of sunlight by the solar panel.
Another thing to keep in mind is bird droppings. Birds will use the solar panel as a sitting ground, which can lead to the accumulation of feces on the solar panel. You need to prevent birds from congregating on the panels.
Conclusion
Solar panel manufacturers offer a range of warranties to guarantee you will have support and coverage in the unlikely event of a problem caused by unusual circumstances, such as a large hailstorm or a fallen tree branch.
