When you opt for solar panel installation, you are making a long-term investment for your home and property. In fact, solar energy is the most abundant energy resource on planet earth, as 173,000 terawatts of solar energy continuously strike our planet, which is more than 10,000 times the world’s total energy use. Therefore, you need to know how to properly maintain solar panels so they last for a long time. Good thing maintaining solar panels is simple!
Here are a few tips on solar panel maintenance you need to know as a responsible homeowner.
Limit Shade
Solar panels need full access to the sun to function optimally. Therefore, it’s best to keep your solar panels out of the shade. If you have growing trees on your property, be sure to keep them trimmed so they don’t create shade over your solar panels.
Monitoring Performance
Another way to maintain solar panels is by monitoring their performance to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. Your manufacturer may have a monitoring system you can utilize. Writing down the day-to-day performance of your solar panels, which essentially means noting how much energy has been produced, is a great way to see if any improvement is needed. Be sure to write down the day-to-day performance at the same time each day, and noting the weather conditions is a good idea as well.
Solar panels benefit the environment. Monitoring their performance and ensuring they’re working optimally will allow you to see how you’re helping the planet!
Cleaning
Depending on where you live, your home may face harsh weather conditions. Wind and rain can cause debris to land on your solar panels. You may have critters crawling on your solar panels or dirt buildup. To properly maintain solar panels so they function best in the harsher elements, it’s best to clean your solar panels on a monthly or weekly basis.
A solar panel maintenance company near you may have solar panel cleaning kits you can purchase to clean them yourself, or you can hire a solar panel professional to perform the task. A solar panel cleaning kit may include an adjustable brush, a wiper, and environmentally-friendly soap. You can use these materials to gently clean your solar panels so they look good-as-new.
Solar panels are easy to take care of. So, ensure you understand the best ways to maintain solar panels so they work optimally year-round.
