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Investing in a solar panel is one of the most outstanding achievements for your home because it will provide renewable energy for over twenty years. Solar panels convert energy from the sun into electricity. Besides, it is an efficient and cheaper alternative to using the usual power from local companies. You can use solar energy at home in solar water heaters, solar pool heaters, solar cookers, and outdoor solar cooking, suggests YourEnergyBlog. These are amongst the many ways you can use solar energy at home.
However, just like anything else, solar panels need maintenance too, but they mostly clean themselves. You only need to maintain and check the electrical components and get rid of droppings, grit and excessive dust. This is to make sure that sun rays aren’t obstructed. Extensive maintenance will be required when energy output decreases or during heavy snowfalls. That said, here are seven tips on how you can maintain your solar panels at home quickly and efficiently.
7 Tips for Solar Panel Maintenance at Home
- Examine The Components Regularly
Examine the mounting rack, components, and wiring. You should also check for drainage issues, leaks or water damage around your panels. Check for frayed wiring, broken glasses and missing bolts. Early inspections can go a long way in mitigating costly issues. In addition, ensure that your solar panels at home are placed at high locations to prevent ground-level damage and debris. If you feel the components have some problems, don’t repair them. Call a professional to examine any problem with the panels. It is vital to check the panels to prevent the accumulation of debris regularly.
2.Ensure There Is Sufficient Availability of Sunlight
Ascertain that your panels are exposed to sun rays for several hours to get maximum effectiveness. Upon installation, the technician will place them where they get sun exposure. Nonetheless, trees also grow, causing the patterns to change while novel constructions may affect how much sunlight gets in contact with the panels. Due to these concerns, make sure your panels are located under the best sunlight orientation.
3.Check Your Energy Usage Frequently
Sometimes you might feel that checking your energy usage isn’t necessary because your metering arrangement will show the amount of energy being sold to your local grid. However, relying on those numbers is disadvantageous because you will not directly measure your panel’s energy output. You should check this energy output frequently using energy monitors. Energy monitors are the best and most straightforward way you can ensure your system is functioning as required. Some manufacturers produce such gadgets that will help in monitoring energy usage. These are known as inverters, and they possess a display that shows your cumulative and daily data as well as power output. Other sophisticated inverters can translate kilowatt-hours to carbon dioxide pounds that are being saved. This is an effective way to know how much carbon footprint is shrinking.
If you like apps, most monitoring devices can provide remote data. That way, you can use your phone to check how your panels are fairing on momentarily. Many analytic and information gathering operations are performable by data logging dedicated hardware connected to an inverter. Such devices can internally perform operations or even send info to your laptop then utilize its software efficiently to give you vital logs and charts. You don’t need complex data tracking levels for home usage of solar panels.
4.Cleaning The Solar Panels
Rain usually cleans pollen and dust off solar panels, especially if they were installed at steeper tilts. However, if the panels acquire heavy pollen and dust coating, you can wash them off using regular water. You can use a hose spray and shower the panels off like rain. You should, however, see if there are any scratches because it will lower the efficiency and effectiveness of solar cells. Therefore avoid abrasive cleaners when cleaning solar panels. Detergents are also dangerous because they leave smudges and streaks that are not easy to see. Plus, this lowers the sun rays that pass through. If there are oil or dirt residues, use rubbing alcohol mixed in water to clean them out. Use a squeegee or soft cloth for wiping down the panels. Since the panels are curated with glass, there’s no need to purchase special cleaning tools.
5.Replace or Repair Broken And Damaged Solar Panels
Should your panels require replacements or repair, you are best advised to seek professional assistance. In case they lose their efficiency when they are under warranty, call the solar panel company you purchased them from. The company will send a technician to see if your panels require repair or replacement. If they are sustaining physical damage, they can be covered by homeowners’ insurance or equipment warranty. Either way, you need to know if your panels will be covered and whom you can call to file claims. That is why you shouldn’t install the panels or repair them if you aren’t a solar system veteran.
6.Inspect Batteries Thrice Every Year
Solar panel batteries typically store produced energy. There could be no problems with the batteries but inspecting them thrice a year for corrosion will ascertain that they are all excellent and functional. Check if gunk or powder is building up around each battery’s terminals. Also, if they aren’t producing sufficient energy, they need cleaning. If they look clean, then they are okay. You can clean your batteries once in 5 years. Some manufacturers recommend cleaning every six months, but that’s excessive. Gel batteries and sophisticated storage panels don’t need cleaning.
7.Take preventive maintenance with a professional
This type of maintenance entails booking appointments with the solar installers to ensure everything is fine. It differs from curative maintenance and is done once a year to identify a failure of fault. You can ask your installer to also clean all the components of the solar panels during this time. It is noteworthy that solar systems typically are tied to an electrical grid, rendering maintenance dangerous. Don’t repair the components yourself unless you’re a professional.
Conclusion
Maintaining solar panels isn’t hard. Consider your safety during maintenance, and everything will be just fine. Reputable installers can send personnel to clean your panels for you. However, remember to check your solar installer’s track records to ascertain that they can care for the solar system extensively. Always go for reputable companies if you need solar panels for your home.