How to Maintain Your Solar Panels
Solar panels are like any other investment. You want to make sure you’re taking care of them so they run at peak performance.
Luckily, solar panels are pretty low maintenance. If you have a Solar PPA your panels maintenance should be covered by your Solar PPA provider.
If you own or are thinking of going solar here are a few things to consider:
What Does My Warranty Cover?
If you purchase your PV system you need to make sure you have a good warranty.
It should have a production guarantee that ensures your panels produce at least 85% of their quoted production.
If your panels underproduce or need to be fixed you want to make sure you have a warranty that covers both underproduction and repairs.
A good warranty will have a term between 15 and 25 years.
Can I Monitor My Solar Panels’ Production?
Actually, most solar companies offer an app or customer portal that allows you to monitor your panels’ production.
What to do to Maintain Your Solar Panels
Incidentally, most solar panels are installed at an incline so rain and debris shouldn’t collect on the panels.
However, it is recommended that solar panels be cleaned twice a year. This can easily be done with mild soap and a hose to clean off any pollen or dirt that may have accumulated.
What about Snow?
In fact, solar panels are actually more efficient in cold weather so they do very well in cooler climates. Snow can easily be brushed off with a broom thus making it an insignificant inconvenience.
Ground Mount Maintenance
Because, ground mounts are lower, and easier to access, maintaining them is much easier. Just like rooftop panels, you can use a broom for snow and wash them with mild soap and water twice a year.
Should I get my Panels Inspected?
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, or so the saying goes.
It’s a good idea to have an annual inspection of your PV system. You can have an electrician take a look at your panels and if anything seems out of place you can utilize your warranty to keep your panels working at top efficiency.
Having a PV system is a big investment, with a huge return. As you can see, maintenance is pretty straightforward and non-invasive. If you’re ready to learn more about your solar solution, Hirst Solar Consulting is ready to serve you. We’ll build you a custom solar design based on your energy usage. Contact us today!
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