Solar Panel Maintenance : Everything You Need to Know

So, you’ve installed your solar panels, which are now producing clean, low-cost energy for your home. How do you maintain your solar panels to ensure they keep producing at maximum efficiency?

This is a common question amongst homeowners. Protecting and caring for your investment is essential to owning any item. Thankfully, solar panels are incredibly durable. Most panels are made of tempered glass, anodized aluminum, and (aside from tracking arrays) have no moving parts. So conveniently, they require little to no maintenance. Your friends at solar.com recommend cleaning your panels once every three months to ensure maximum efficiency.

Requirements For Cleaning Your Solar Panels

Many homeowners are concerned about weather conditions damaging their solar panels or roof. Solar systems are installed in all types of climates. Whether you live somewhere with severe winters, a heavy rain season, coastal weather systems, or heat waves – your solar system can and will handle it all. So what is required to keep them simply clean and performing like new?

Keeping your panels clear of debris or snow is crucial to ensure your panels are performing at maximum capacity. There are ways to ensure your panels are putting out full energy production.

For debris from trees, birds, and general dust build-up, some low-cost solutions are:

• A leaf blower
• A simple, quick rinse with a hose of water
• Or even light rain can wash away panel build-up (rain usually won’t clean off flat panels)

For removing a heavy layer of snow:

• Throw a soft football to shake the snow loose (this could end up in a lost football)
• Use a leaf blower
• Use a long pole with a squeegee at the end
• Spray your panels with lukewarm water

If it is a light layer of snow, it will likely slide off, cleaning your panels in the process (this isn’t applicable for flat panels)

When cleaning your panels, NEVER:

• Spray hot water on cold panels
• Use RainX
• Use car wax
• Rock salt

These options can permanently damage your panels, roof, and electrical elements, causing more harm than good.

Solar Panel Monitoring

A solar panel monitoring system is the best way to ensure your project performs at its best. Monitoring systems provide data on the electrical output of your solar system. You can track this data over time to calculate the degradation of your panels. Monitoring systems also provide a notification if there is a malfunction or damage.

**Safety is of utmost importance for all matters concerning your solar system. You can almost always maintain and clean your panels from the ground with a hose. However, if you need to get to your panels, use caution when climbing on your roof.

Extreme care should be taken if surfaces are slippery or wet. Do not touch the electrical components of your system at any time. Also, please make sure you properly secure your ladder before attempting to get up on your roof**

Solar systems are incredibly durable and last for many years. To date, the first generation of solar panels, made with less advanced technology, are still performing exceptionally well!

Here at solar.com, we want to ensure that every single question and concern you have are addressed when you decide to go solar.

If you’re still in the shopping phase, let us guide you through the purchasing experience with our vetted solar installer community.