Solar Panel Maintenance at a Minimum

Usually, the only maintenance that your solar system will require is to be kept clean. This will help keep it running efficiently. Accumulations of dust, grime, and bird droppings could affect the efficiency of your system by reducing the amount of sunlight that can be absorbed by the panels. Most of the time, Mother Nature will take care of a lot of this with the occasional rain shower, but there may be times when your solar panels need some additional TLC from you. It is best to clean your solar panels every few months or if you notice that they are particularly dirty. This is often the case during the spring when they may become covered with a layer of pollen or in the fall when leaves have accumulated on your roof.

How to Clean Your Solar Panels

The easiest way to clean off your solar panels is to just give them a rinse with your garWinterden hose. If your panels need a little more attention than just a rinse, you can clean them with some soapy water and a long pole that has a squeegee, which is commonly used for cleaning high windows. Gently scrub your panels to remove the grime and then rinse with a garden hose. If your panels are too high to reach without a ladder or some areas are not accessible, contact us and we can guide you.

Winter Solar Panel Maintenance

For most of the winter, your solar system should not require any additional care. Because of their dark color and ability to absorb heat energy, snow should melt and slide off your panels during a light snowfall. Mother Nature’s snowfall and rain ultimately clean your solar panels throughout the year.

Accidents Happen Sometimes

To ensure that your solar system continues to operate safely and efficiently, you will want to inspect your panels after a storm or if you know something has directly hit your roof. Accidents can happen that could damage your panels. Heavy tree branches or an accidental baseball throw could break a panel.

If a panel should break, please call us immediately for service to have the panel replaced.

Any attempts to repair the panel may void the warranty so please call us!

Mechanical Failure
While unlikely, a failure of your system may occur. If you notice that your system is not producing as it should, call us and we can help you look into it.

There are a few signs to look for:

A panel may not be fully reacting to the light. You can determine this by performing a shade test. Cover a section of the panel to see if it produces less light. If the panel does not react, then it needs to be replaced.
Alternatively, if your solar panels are not operating properly during peak sunlight, it may be because of heat fade. This may be a result of poor wire connections.
Check the wiring for corroded, burnt, or loose connections. Loose wires can be tightened, but burnt or corroded parts will need to be replaced.