Easy Steps to Maintain Your Solar Panels
Your solar panels are essential to your household’s ongoing energy needs, so it’s important to keep them in good shape. Luckily, it’s not all that difficult to take care of your solar panels with easy steps, you can keep them running smoothly and efficiently. Read on to learn how to maintain your solar panels effectively.
8 Easy Steps for Maintaining Solar Panels
Maintaining your solar panels at home can seem like a daunting task if you’ve never done it before, but fortunately, there are plenty of resources out there to help you stay informed and get things done properly. Here are 8 easy steps to maintain your solar panels so you can keep them working as efficiently as possible.
1) Check the condition of your solar panels regularly
The sunlight that your solar panels convert into electricity is what keeps your home powered and your lights on. For this reason, it is important to check the condition of your solar panels regularly. If you do not know how often to do this, most experts recommend checking the condition of your solar panels every 3 months or so.
For your solar panels to work well and produce an ample amount of electricity, they need a few crucial components.
2) Keep your solar panels clean.
Keeping your solar panels clean is important for many reasons. First, it prevents dirt from building up on the panels, which can reduce your energy production by up to 30%. Second, you may be able to qualify for a tax credit if you keep your solar panels clean and in good shape. Third, keeping them clean will help ensure they last longer and do not get damaged.
3) Inspect your solar panel mounting.
Your solar panel mounting is an important part of the overall installation, and you must inspect it regularly. There are two main types of mounts: ground-mounted and roof-mounted. Ground-mounted mounts are typically cheaper, but they have some drawbacks. Roof-mounted panels are more expensive, but they're also more efficient because they're closer to the sun.
4) Check the condition of your electrical connections.
Check the condition of your electrical connections. Damaged or loose connections can lead to a drop in performance and should be repaired by a qualified electrician. If you have had your panels installed for two years or more, it may be worth considering having them checked now that they are approaching the end of their expected lifetime. Ask your solar company if they offer an inspection service. At Meraki Solar we want our customers to get the most out of their investment so we do not charge for this service. We just ask that any customers who require a warranty replacement as a result of our inspection pay for half of the labor cost associated with installation or repairs (up to $500).
5) Check for shading issues
One of the most common problems with solar panels is shading. If your panels are shaded by trees or tall buildings, they will not produce as much power as they would if they had direct sunlight all day. This can lead to a decrease in your energy savings and even an increase in your electric bill. To check for shading issues, look at how much shade your solar panels get throughout the day and compare it to what you expect them to get based on when the sun rises and sets.
6) Trim trees and shrubs around your solar panels
There are a lot of myths out there about solar panels. One of the most common is that they stop working if you trim trees and shrubs around them. The truth is, trimming trees around your solar panels will not harm your system. It may even improve its performance! Trees can cast shadows on your panels during certain times of day, so by cutting back the tree growth you'll increase the amount of sunlight falling on them.
7) Snow and ice removal.
If you live in a snowy area, it is important to properly remove the snow and ice from your solar panels. The snow will act as an insulator and can cause your panels to overheat and shut off or, even worse, start a fire. Follow these 8 steps for the safest way possible to remove the snow without damaging your panels
8) Have your system checked by a professional.
You will want to have your solar panels checked by a professional regularly. This should be done every year for the first five years, and then every three years after that. This will help ensure that there are no problems with your system, and will reduce the risk of having any costly repairs needed in the future. Clean off debris or snow from them.: You'll need to clean off debris or snow from your solar panels as necessary to keep them operating efficiently. It's also important not to spray anything directly onto them when cleaning because this could cause damage too!
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