Residential Solar Power Systems: Low Maintenance, Not No Maintenance
Rooftop solar systems can provide you with reliable electricity for decades! However, they are not a “set-it and forget-it” investment. You will need to put in some work to reap the most rewards. Luckily, maintenance is easy and will maximize your return on investment.
Solar panels are durable, reliable, and have no moving parts. However, they are exposed to the elements. The best thing you can do is monitor your energy production. That way, you can catch maintenance needs before they snowball into expensive problems.
We at Convert Solar provide every residential solar owner with a smart home monitoring system. This simple, mobile-friendly app lets you track your production and consumption in real-time. For maintenance purposes, our app tracks lifetime analytics, helping you spot dips in efficiency.
It would be best if you looked out for declines in production or efficiency. Some dips are expected, but others may indicate a physical maintenance need. For example, your solar system will not produce as much energy on heavy, overcast days. Your power output will also decrease in the winter when there is less sunlight. That’s normal and doesn’t indicate any problems.
However, if you compare your system’s current performance to the same time last year and notice a 3% or more efficiency decrease, that’s a sign.
All Solar Panels Naturally Degrade, But Maintenance Will Slow Degradation and Improve Your Payback Period.
Before we get into the actionable advice, let’s understand how solar panels degrade. Systems lose around 2.5% of their overall efficiency within the first year. Every following year, this results in around 0.5% degradation. After 25 years, you can expect your system to operate at 85.5% of its original efficiency. That is why losing 3% or more in a given year is cause to act.
You might have noticed performance warranties ranging from 25 to 30 years when researching solar installations. Performance warranties are guarantees from the installers that a solar system will perform within set parameters for a set length of time. The most common performance warranty is 80% original efficiency after 25 years. Routine maintenance can keep your system running above 80% efficiency for decades.
Those 25 to 30 years are the primary lifespan. However, the oldest, still operating solar panels are over 60 years old! So, the real service lifetime is around 40 to 50 years. Regular upkeep can ensure your solar power system’s long and productive life.
What Causes These Decreases in Efficiency?
The most common culprit (beyond natural degradation) is simply something on the panels.
Weather: Windy autumns cause leaves to accumulate on the panels, blocking sunlight. Wind can deposit dirt, dust, and sand in dry, arid climates like Arizona.
Pollution: Urban and heavily industrialized areas often have low air quality. Nasty smog and sickly pollution pile up on your panels.
Pollen: Everyone’s least favorite aspect of spring. Tree pollen lands on your panels, blocking light.
Miscellaneous residue from living things: Bird droppings are the most common culprits in this category. However, you might also have tree sap or muddy footprints from little critters like squirrels and raccoons.
The Best Thing You Can Do Is Clean Your Panels.
Depending on the ailments plaguing your system, you might need to clean them every month. Or you might be able to get away with washing every six months. For example, pollution and smog can get bad in some areas and require monthly cleaning. But pollen is seasonal, and heavy rain might clear it away.
A good middle ground is every three months. We recommend cleaning your system at dawn, dusk, or on a cloudy day so you don’t miss out on energy production.
Washing Your Solar Panels is Very Easy.
- First, power down your system for your safety. Then, physically inspect all the components to ensure there is no damage.
- Rinse your solar panels with deionized or reverse osmosis (RO) water. Technically, you could hose down your solar panels, but we don’t recommend it. Tap water is heavy in minerals like calcium, sodium, and magnesium. That’s fine for us to drink, but those minerals will leave a thin film on your panels. Deionized and RO water had all those minerals removed. You can purchase large quantities of this water at supercenters and home improvement stores.
- Use a soft material to scrub your panels. There’s no need for bristle brushes, soaps, or harsh chemicals. You need a soft sponge to remove noticeable messes like bird droppings. The initial rinse will have removed most of the grime. Harsh chemicals and abrasive scrubbers can damage the surface. Soap leaves a thin film, which decreases sunlight absorption.
- That’s pretty much it! You can do another rinse to remove any fingerprints you might have left, but it is optional.
- Inspect all components again to ensure safety, then turn your system back on.
Drying your panels or using heavy equipment like a power washer is unnecessary. Just to be clear, this is just a blog. While cleaning panels is straightforward, you should read the manual and double-check any installer or manufacturer recommendations.
Be cautious every step of the way. Water and ladders don’t mix well. If you don’t want to clean your panels, you can hire professional cleaners or, in some cases, your installation team. These services usually cost between $150 to $350 per visit.
If your system is still experiencing a dip in efficiency, it might cause a problem with the other equipment.
A solar power system is more than just panels. There are other important components like a charge controller, inverters, cabling, and potentially batteries. If you spot a break in the cabling, you could DIY a solution. However, that might void a warranty.
We recommend reaching out to a professional. After each installation we do, we provide continuous support, so you can always reach us.
Even if you’re not noticing any problems, we recommend scheduling an annual professional inspection. Yearly inspections can catch minor kinks before they spiral into big problems.
A Few Side Notes on Maintenance.
Snow
If you live in a region that receives snow, you might be tempted to clear the snow off your panels. It is best to simply let the snow melt, as clearing snow can scrape and damage the panels.
Natural Shade
During the initial consultation, before you even have a solar system, an installer might recommend trimming back trees. This is to prevent shade from blocking sunlight.
Years after the installation, that shade might grow back and lower your efficiency. It is a good idea to check your roof and trim back any shade.
“That panel doesn’t look right…”
While you’re on your roof, cleaning your panels, you might notice cracks, discoloration, or other damage. If you do, contact your solar installer for a repair. It is essential to discuss warranties during the initial consultation.
Final Thoughts: A Simple Wash May Seem Inconsequential, But It Makes a Big Difference!
Routine cleanings are the most maintenance your residential solar power system will require. Rinsing your panels may seem like nothing, but research shows that avoiding cleaning can reduce your power production by 25%!
Maintenance makes a difference in your payback period and return on investment. Now that you understand the responsibility of a solar system let’s achieve your energy independence goals. Request a solar site assessment to start. If you have any questions, concerns, or curiosities, please contact us at (757) 447-6527.
