You shouldn’t have any problems with your newly installed residential rooftop solar power system for the next 25 years — that’s what you think. That is what should happen in an ideal world but we don’t live in an ideal world. A properly installed system shouldn’t have any major problems but it does not mean that you could completely ignore simple maintenance.
You don’t need to worry too much about maintenance but still need to keep track of things. If there is too much dirt on the solar panels, take some time out of your busy schedule to clean them. If you get an energy bill shock, there is definitely something wrong with your solar power system. If the inverter is blinking with strange lights, it is a sign that things are not fine.
You should also engage the services of a licensed electrician to take a look at your solar panels at least once every 2 to 3 years. Don’t think of it as an additional cost as regular servicing and check-up can help significantly reduce the risk of solar panel fires.
Here are a few maintenance tips that should help you get the most out of your solar power system investment:
-
Check performance of your system
The most essential thing you need to do to maintain your solar panels is to check its performance regularly. You don’t need to check it daily but check it at least once a week or once every 2 weeks. It will make sure that your panels are performing as they should and there is no steep decline in solar electricity production or an increase in estimated costs.
-
Cleaning
Take a look at the panels and if you see a lot of dust on the surface or build-up of debris or scum, it is time to clean the panels. Take a soft cloth to clean them. If it is possible to wash down the panels with water, that will also do.
It is recommended to clean solar panels once every 3 months. If you home is near a highway or an airport, there might be some oil build up on the panels. There are special cleaners available in the market that can help you break that oil layer and make the panels clean.
- Annual Check-up
Check all the connections and make sure every connection is tight including those at the junction box. Check the seals for integrity and make sure there is no water accumulation. Get a licensed electrician to check the open circuit voltage as well as short-circuit currents. All the circuit breakers should be checked for integrity. The isolation device or the isolators should also be checked. Make sure there are no signs of corrosion on the panels or cables.
- Long-term maintenance
All the conduits should be checked for mechanical integrity as well as insulation integrity every 4 to 5 years. Also, the frames and brackets should be checked for corrosion.
It has been observed that most of the problems with a solar power system happen due to incorrect installation or the use of lower quality components. This is why you should never work with an unlicensed installer or an installer without proper accreditation and experience.
Final Thoughts
Your solar power system should keep working for more than 25 years. However, it isn’t completely maintenance free. It is a low maintenance system and you need to check it once in a while to make sure everything is working fine.
You could clean the panels on your own but it’s better to engage the services of a licensed electrician to check the voltages, currents and mechanical integrity of isolators, conduits and wiring.
Macedon Ranges Solar Power is a highly experienced and CEC accredited solar power system installer. We have been installing, repairing and servicing solar panels for more than 10 years.
Give us a call at 1300 693 113 to know more about solar panel maintenance and servicing.
