So, you have bought and installed rooftop solar panels at your home. Congratulations on contributing to the nation’s battle against rising environmental challenges. It is a good decision not just to reduce your electric bill but to benefit the whole planet by decreasing the carbon footprint. However, to get the most out of this sunny investment, regular maintenance of rooftop solar systems is essential.
In this post, you’ll find useful maintenance information to keep your solar panels functioning properly and smoothly throughout their lifespan.
Key Reasons Solar Maintenance is Important
For an optimal function of a rooftop solar panel, proper maintenance must be performed regularly. Keeping your solar systems well maintained is important to ensure their lifespan. Furthermore, it helps in keeping the PV (photovoltaic) cells working at optimal capacity. Cleaning helps in removing any obstruction from the surface that prevents or reduces sunlight exposure to the PV modules.
Having your solar systems inspected regularly enhances and retains high levels of safety by identifying and recovering any possible damage timely. Other reasons why solar installations need to be maintained include increasing your savings by twofold and preventing invisible damages from getting worse.
Useful Tips for Rooftop Solar System Maintenance
To ensure the correct maintenance of various solar components, it is essential to consider the solar panel maintenance guidelines recommended by the experts. Here are some useful tips you can follow to ensure safe and proper maintenance.
Solar Panels Cleaning and Maintenance
We all know solar panels need minimal maintenance. But it doesn’t mean that they don’t need any care or attention. It is important to occasionally clean and inspect solar panels to timely identify any problem or damage and ensure effective functioning. Luckily, cleaning and examining solar panels is not a big battle as you need to do only certain things.
First, keep the panel’s surface clean. Make sure that the surface is not covered with dirt, bird poop, dust, or gum resins. These elements can reduce around 15% of the system’s efficiency and energy production. Inspect the modules every three months to identify if there has been an appearance of fungus on and around the solar array.
During the maintenance of rooftop solar systems, clean the panels using a garden hose or a dry cloth. Never spray too hot or cold water as it can lead to damage. If a garden hose doesn’t do the necessary cleaning, you can use a sponge for better cleaning.
Never use a metal brush and detergents or any abrasive material as they can cause severe damage. You can use isopropyl alcohol for grease or oil stain removal. Never clean modules when they are extremely hot.
Secondly, be sure that there will be no shading of nearby tall trees or buildings on the panel’s surface. Next, confirm that solar panels and supporting frames are completely secured. Moreover, the cables at the panels, fittings, and cables at the inverter are attached securely. Lastly, never use solar panels for other uses like drying chips, clothes, etc.
Maintenance of Solar Batteries
The rooftop solar system maintenance will be incomplete if you skip the maintenance of solar batteries. Just like other solar components, batteries also need regular check-ups with extreme care for an extended lifespan. Industry experts always recommend users to administer frequent evaluations and cleaning of installed batteries.
Busy owners can also perform the necessary inspections without wasting time by doing visual checking. There are certain things that you must consider when inspecting batteries. It includes cracks in the batteries, electrolyte leaks, or corrosion at the terminal and connectors. Additionally, be sure that batteries must be free from dust, electrolytes, and corrosion. Moreover, make sure that the batteries are completely dry. Remember to go for battery cleaning once a month.
Maintenance of Solar Inverter
The inverter is one of the most important components of a solar system for residential flats, homes, and commercial buildings. It is responsible for converting the captured sunlight into a usable form of electricity. Therefore, it must be given the utmost care and maintenance. Firstly, place it in a dry, airy, and clean area away from the battery bank.
Secondly, do necessary operational checks like visual inspection of the inverter and scanning all connections for resistive joints. Also, check the DC voltage which is transferred to the inverter as an input. Be sure that all the cooling vents are completely clean. Wipe out any dust and debris from ventilation and heat sinks using a clean and dry cloth or brush.
Moreover, determine if vermin have not infested the solar inverter. Nests of wasps in heat sinks and spider webs on the ventilation grills are normal signs of this. Lastly, inspect LED lights for proper working and make sure there is sufficient space around the units for perfect cooling.
Cables and Connection Boxes
Check the cable connections for tightness and corrosion. Moreover, make sure that all wires in the connection box are tight and the water seals remain undamaged. Inspect the cable-insulating covering for breaks, burns, or cracks. Replace the wire instantly if you notice any damage in the insulation. There must be no vermin inside the connection box. Also, ensure the proper wire connectivity. Wires must not rub against any sharp corners.
Regulators or Charge Controllers
Just like inverters, controllers or regulators must be installed in a neat, ventilated, and dry area. When it comes to the maintenance of rooftop solar systems, one cannot underestimate the importance of these component’s maintenance.
The charge controller or regulator is an electronic appliance that allows voltage regulation of the power production of the charging source to the introduced battery bank. In simpler terms, regulators reduce or separate the charge current after the reach of preset voltages.
When checking this electronic appliance, inspect it for any detached wiring placed on the terminal connections. Make sure that you clean the unit properly to remove all the extra dust with a dry and soft cloth. Immediately contact your solar installer if you are not noticing any signs of charging in a charge controller.
Performance Monitoring
To identify any problem earlier, keep monitoring the solar panel’s performance daily, monthly, quarterly, and annually. Daily inspection includes checking the inverter display for the presence of the green light and correct function. Moreover, keep a daily record of the output to track its performance. Do panel cleaning monthly and quarterly. Annual maintenance inspection includes a thorough inspection of the whole solar system to confirm the right operation.
Check for Shading
The maintenance of rooftop solar systems also includes checking the panels for shading exposure. Keep looking for the shading of tall trees, big buildings nearby, etc., which can decrease the amount of power generated by the solar panels. Never cut down the nearby trees, instead, trim them to avoid shading. Additionally, you can adjust the position of solar panels to optimize the amount of sunlight panels capture.
Conclusion
Regular maintenance of solar panels is necessary to improve their performance, lifespan, and safety. By following these tips, you can ensure proper and effortless maintenance and cleaning of your solar systems. Consequently, you will enjoy sustainable and affordable energy for around 25-30 years to come.
Although solar panels are environment-friendly, reuse and recycle solar components after their lifespan to reduce the environmental impact of solar panel waste. The reason is that the disposal of solar panels after their end can pose some challenges. So, take care of solar panels during as well as after their use.