How Often Do Solar Panels Need Maintenance?

Since a lot of people are now switching to sustainable energy, solar energy has now become one of the most sought-after sources.  Over time, it helps you save energy and money, and is also beneficial for the planet, making it a great investment.

Solar panels can last for 25 year or more if properly maintained.  A first-time user may find himself anxious or confused on how to properly take care of solar panels at home without breaking them or shortening their life span.

We often ask: do solar panels really need to be maintained? Are they delicate? Do we need special tools or chemicals to get the job done? Or, should we hire a professional all the time?

Well, solar panels actually require very little maintenance for them to work properly.  Unless there is heavy snowfall, the only care that they need is very light cleaning from time to time to keep leaves, dirt, and other scraps from obstructing the sun’s rays.

It is highly recommended that you clean your solar panels at least twice a year.  And what special tools should you use?  All you need is a leaf blower or a garden hose and spray them quickly with water. Your panels will be clean in no time. There is no need to use soaps or other cleaning agents as these might harm the top sheet of the solar panels.

In winter though, use lukewarm water and squeegee when cleaning.  Avoid using hot water, as the sudden shift of temperature might cause the tempered glass on your solar panels to crack or break.

If you have ground panels, then you are in luck – they’re easier to clean than roof panels as they are more accessible.  However, since the sun rays are best caught up in the roof, it is always the perfect location for solar panels.  Just ask your installers to tile them so that they’re easier to clean.

Solar panels, like any other components of the solar energy system, have a lifespan. To monitor their performance, it is a good idea to install a solar monitoring system to help measure the amount of energy that your solar panel produces at any given day. It can also provide you information of the lifetime performance of the solar panels, so you can easily monitor and compare the results.

With the solar monitoring system, you will be able to check the health and performance of your solar panels, thereby immediately addressing maintenance concerns and the need for solar panel inverter repairs. Solar monitoring systems send you data and timely alerts, which helps save you a lot of energy and cost.

Having a solar energy system at home does have a lot of perks. They’re very easy to maintain, as long as you have the right tools and knowledge.  If more people switch to solar panels as a means of producing energy, we will help save the earth from burning more carbon and fuel, and for us, help save our money for things that matter.