Solar Panel Maintenance Guide: Tips to Keep Your Panels Clean
Installing solar panels on your homes, offices, or commercial buildings is, without a doubt, a great investment. They provide you with clean and green energy at an extremely affordable price.
Solar panels can run any home appliances, depending on the size of your system. Remember, the electricity production of solar panels mainly depends on how you maintain them. Panels covered with dust, debris, leaves, or snow won't be able to operate at their full potential.
A well-maintained solar panel system can deliver maximum power, considering its capacity. But the question that arises here is, “How to do solar panel maintenance?”. If you have the same concern in mind, don't miss reading the discussion below, as it talks about the importance of solar maintenance and presents a step-by-step guide to maintaining your panels.
Do Solar Panels Really Need Maintenance?
The best thing associated with solar panels is that they need minimal maintenance. The only thing you should keep a close eye on is that snow, debris, dust, or leaves are not stopping your panels from capturing the desired amount of sunlight.
Moreover, keep a check underneath your solar panels for signs of animals. There are some conditions when your solar panels may need extensive maintenance, such as during the heavy snowfall season and when you discover an animal nesting under the panels.
The Importance of Proper Solar Panel Maintenance
Though modern solar panels are highly efficient, durable, and weather resistant, you should keep them well maintained. Properly maintained solar panels can produce 15% more energy than those that are maintained occasionally.
Regular maintenance of solar panels is important to ensure they last for years and generate maximum power. Tree leaves, dust, and dirt may cover the panels surface over time and block sunlight, resulting in decreased production and reduced energy output. When you keep your panels clean from these materials, they produce more energy and waste less power.
Like any other technology, things can go wrong with solar panels. Regular solar maintenance helps you identify potential issues and fix them immediately before they lead to major safety or financial issues. Whether it is a wiring issue, a minor crack, or a loose connection, highlighting the problem early can avoid costly repairs.
Since a properly maintained solar power system lasts for years to come, you can get the maximum out of your initial investment. All these factors contribute to highlighting the importance of maintaining your panels.
How Often Do You Need to Maintain Your Solar Panels?
As stated earlier, solar panels need minimal maintenance. The common issue is the buildup of debris and dust. Therefore, the frequency of maintaining or cleaning your solar panels largely depends on the area you live in and the climate conditions in your region.
If you live in an urban area where dust and debris often cover your panels' surface, you need frequent maintenance and cleaning. Similarly, if there is a storm season in your area, your panels may need cleaning more often. If you live in a snowy area, the snow may stop your panels from absorbing the desired amount of sunlight and delivering maximum power. In that case, frequent snow removal will be required.
You may not need regular cleaning if it rains frequently in your area. Since panels are installed at a specific tilted angle, rainfall automatically cleans dust and debris from your panels. Therefore, twice a year maintenance would be more than enough for such areas.
Generally, most companies recommend cleaning your panels twice or thrice a year. If you want to maximize the performance of your solar panels and want them to operate at their full potential, weekly cleaning is advisable in dusty areas because the more time dust stays on your panels, the higher will be the reduction in their performance.
Solar panels usually come with manuals that make you familiar with the best maintenance practices. Therefore, ensure to read the manual of your panels.
How to Maintain Solar Panels Effectively?
Below is a complete step-by-step guide to maintaining your solar panels like never before. Each step has its importance; therefore, ensure you follow everything.
1. Prioritize Your Safety First
Before you start maintaining your solar panels, ensure to follow personal safety measures. First, you need to make sure that you don't start the maintenance task during peak sunlight hours. Early morning or late evening are the best time of day to clean your solar panels.
Read the manufacturer's instructions and turn the system off before you start. Plus, if you are working on the roof, don't forget to wear safety gear, such as a safety harness, non-slip shoes, gloves, and goggles. While maintaining or cleaning, avoid stepping directly on your panels. Otherwise, they may crack under pressure.
2. Inspect Your Panels Visually
Visual inspection may help you discover if there is any physical damage or a prominent issue. Look for discoloration, burn marks, chips, or cracks on your panels. Broken glass can also be a leading issue if not detected and repaired on time, as it allows water to enter into the panels' circuitry and cause short-circuit problems.
Similarly, look for exposed cables or loose wire connections. Keep a close eye on bird droppings and debris. Tree leaves creating shadows on your panels and dirt buildup may also lead to costly repairs if not fixed in a timely manner. During inspection, you should keep an eye on all the mentioned issues. These sorts of inspections should be performed every one to two months.
3. Clean the Panel Surface
If you notice bird droppings, dust, or dirt buildup on your panels' surface, remove them immediately to prevent any future loss. All you need to clean your panels is a soft brush (with a long handle), sponge, or a soft piece of cloth. Take a bucket and mix mild dish soap with lukewarm water in it. Avoid using harsh chemicals to protect your panels from further damage.
Dip the cloth or the soft brush in the bucket and gently scrub your panels in a circular motion. Do the same for all panels in your system. Once done, rinse with clean water using a garden hose. Never use a pressure washer, as it may damage the panels physically.
Once you complete the cleaning process, let your panels dry. Alternatively, you can use a soft microfiber to dry your solar panels.
4. Trim Vegetation and Trees
If your panels are under the shade due to nearby trees, you may need to trim them as a priority. Ensure to trim the branches as they over grow.
Remove tree leaves that cover the panels' surface. No plant should stop the panels from capturing the sunlight properly. Perform these things as and when needed.
5. Check the Mounting Structure
Make sure the tilt angle of your solar panels is not disturbed due to vibration or bad weather conditions. Look if there is wear, corrosion, or rust on mounts or if the screws and bolts are loosen.
If anything unusual appears, fix it on your own only if you are confident enough. If you can't handle it alone, make an immediate call to a professional technician for a quick and timely inspection and repair.
6. Protect Your Panels Against Pets & Animals
You should be aware of the fact that squirrels, rodents, and birds can nest under your solar panels and chew on the wires. If not addressed timely, it may lead to potential safety concerns and costly repairs.
Want to protect your panels from these issues? Install mesh barriers or critter guards around your panels to stop animals and pets from damaging your solar panel system. Moreover, never place a bird feeder near your solar panels. Furthermore, don't forget to seal any gaps around or under your solar panels.
7. Keep a Maintenance Log
You might wonder how this maintenance log can help you keep your panels well-maintained. Right? Well, this log can track inspection results on certain dates, any repairs performed, energy readings, and performance notes. This information assists you in optimizing your solar system, troubleshooting, and warranty claims.
When to Call a Professional for Solar Panel Maintenance?
Now that you are well aware of how to maintain solar panels, you might be wondering when to call a professional technician. Right?
If your solar panels are installed in a hard-to-reach location and you can't clean them properly, it is time to hire a trained technician to do the cleaning job. When you notice visible damage, such as breaks or cracks on your panel, calling a professional would be a better option. These issues are often covered by a separate equipment warranty.
When your panels need repair, you won't be able to do it yourself. Therefore, call a licensed technician without any delay. Similarly, if your panels are under warranty and you notice a significant drop in their performance, don't do anything by yourself; instead, call your installer and ask them to fix these issues as a priority.
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How Much Does It Cost to Maintain Your Solar Panels?
Generally, the cost of maintaining your solar panels is minimal, as they don't have many moving parts. However, the cost can be lower or higher depending on various factors, such as your system size, location, and type of maintenance required. The table below shows the average cost structure for maintaining your panels.
| Task | Estimated Yearly Cost ($) |
| Annual Inspection | 150-300 |
| Cleaning | 100-300 per visit |
| Repairs | 200+ (depending on the type of repairs) |
| Monitoring (if not included) | 100-300 per year |
| Inverter Replacement | 1,000-2,500 (after 10-15 years) |
Assuming occasional inspection and cleaning, the total average cost of maintaining your solar panels will be between $150 and $500.
Final Thoughts
Though panels are durable and highly resistant, it does not mean that you can take their maintenance for granted. Solar panel maintenance is important to increase their efficiency, energy production, and lifespan. A well-maintained solar panel system produces more power than one that is occasionally cleaned or maintained.
If you are wondering how to maintain your solar panels, this article has presented a step-by-step guide to keeping your panels well-maintained. It has also talked about how frequently you should maintain your panels and how much this task costs.
FAQs about Solar Panel Maintenance
What is the best time of day to clean my solar panels?
If you want to know the ideal time for cleaning your solar panels, it is late evening or early morning. This time reduces the risk of water spots and avoids hot surfaces.
What if my solar panel is damaged? What should I do?
If your panel is damaged physically, such as loose connections or cracks, call a professional technician to inspect the damage and repair immediately. Any sort of delay may cause costly issues.
What if someone does not maintain solar panels?
Negligence in maintaining solar panels may reduce their lifespans and efficiency, as well as pose safety concerns.
