The Do’s and Don’ts of Solar Panel Maintenance

“Solar is the most common type of energy on Earth, and yet it is so underused because people aren’t taking care of their systems.” — Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

When I first installed my solar panels, I was pumped about reducing my electric bill and shrinking my carbon footprint. What I didn’t realize was the importance of maintenance. Until i came across a study revealing that clean, well-kept panels can produce 25% more power (Solar Plus).

The message could not be simpler: regular care makes the system last more years and leaves more savings on bills. Conversely, neglecting maintenance reduces power production ability, generates needlessly high repair bills, and even shortens the life of the system.

In this article, we’re going to hit on the most important do’s and don’ts that all solar owners should be aware of. You will learn some simple things anyone can do to help their system stay fine-tuned and some hidden repairs that can surface at the most unexpected of times.

At the end, you will be equipped with all the necessary solar panel maintenance tips to protect your investment and make big savings on energy bills for many years to come. Additionally, finding out how to protect and improve the lifespan of your solar panels.

Common Mistakes That Reduce Solar Panel Lifespan

There’s no better way to ensure your solar panels continue to run well for years to come than to take care of them. The most common consequence of homeowners skipping on regular maintenance is a decrease in energy production. Indeed, there’s evidence to suggest that dirty panels could produce some 50 percent less power. (Ifbot)  And the lost power will mean higher electricity bills and more repair bills down the line, erasing the savings you thought you were going to get by going solar. Just remember, the inverters that convert sunlight into usable electricity usually have a useful life of 10 to 15 years, but a failure of maintenance can cut it in half.

There are many homeowners who do the maintenance themselves. In fact, a whopping 70% try to clean it themselves. (Huawei) It may spare a few bucks, but performing without proper tools and training it frequently causes more problems. And even small errors — like grabbing the wrong cleaning pad, climbing a tumble-ready ladder — can scratch the glass or break wires. 

By sidestepping a few common errors, you can continue to keep your panels at their best. Here is a closer look at the seven mistakes that can harm your solar system and diminish the amount of power it produces over time.

• Ignoring minor dirt buildup: Don’t overlook tiny bits of dust, fallen leaves, or bird mess. As little as 1 percent of shade can reduce energy production from your solar panel by 10 to 20 percent. (ScienceDirect) So, it’s extremely important to make sure you keep your panels clean on a regular basis.
• Postponing inverter repairs: If you’ve put off a necessary inverter repair, you’re just begging for more trouble. One broken part can place strain on parts that are near it, causing them to fail as well. That can lead to repair costs that pile up fast.
• DIY cleaning with ladders: Washing solar panels while perched on a ladder can have an unfortunate ending. You could slip, and you might inadvertently dent or crack a solar cell. For tall or hard-to-reach panels, hire a pro to work from the ground up and preserve your system.
• Want to know how to defend a solar investment and get every last drop of power from it? Go to our blog, “5 Tips to Maximize the Lifespan of Your Solar Energy System.” There are simple, low-cost tricks you can use to boost your output and make your panels last.

The Do’s of Solar Panel Maintenance

Cleaning a solar panel doesn’t just mean removing dirt to make the surface shiny; it’s about making sure each beam of light reaches the cells in the panel and that the cells convert as much of that light as possible to electricity for you to use.

By following an intelligent O&M (operations and maintenance) strategy, the average performance of solar power plants can increase from 92% to over 95%. That also means extra energy and lower costs. (The Department of Energy’s Energy.gov)

Follow these simple dos to take good care of your system

• Schedule Regular Professional Inspections: A professional should inspect your solar set-up annually at least. They can head off little problems before they become big. Frequent inspections ensure that your solar panels stay in excellent condition.
• Clean Panels the Right Way: Soft brushes and microfiber cloths can be used to lightly brush away dust and debris. Avoid strong chemicals, abrasive sponges, or high-pressure washers as they may scratch the panels and reduce their efficiency.
• Monitor System Performance Regularly: Monitor how much electricity your panels are producing regularly using your system’s monitoring apps or tools. If you see a sudden dip, track it down fast so you can fix it before it reduces power production.
• Check Surrounding Environment: Notice if new trees, buildings, or fences will be growing or built around your panel array. Even partial shade can reduce the energy production of your panel. So you should trim trees or select panel placement wisely.
• Address Repairs Immediately: If you notice cracks or chips in the exterior of your water heater or a loosened connection, just be sure to contact a solar repair professional as soon as you notice the problem.

Savvy moves early on help protect your investment — and your bank account — by keeping those panels gleaming and minimizing repair costs and energy fees. Who wants to shell out for surprise bills when a little easy, regular care will help keep everything running smoothly?

Stick to these simple tips and your solar system will remain robust and working at its best for years to come.

Note: Want your solar panels to have a longer life and better output? Find out how Solar O&M services keep your system in great condition. Interested? Read our blog Solar O&M Services: Keeping Your System Running Smoothly!  for all the details!

The Don’ts of Solar Panel Maintenance

Good solar panel care is as much about knowing what to do as it is about knowing what not to do. A couple of common mistakes can compromise your system’s efficiency and result in costly repairs — or even a complete failure — so you have to get it right.

Here are some of the errors to look out for:

• Don’t Use Abrasive Cleaners or Hard Brushes: They can scratch the solar panel glass and interfere with sunlight absorption, making your system less efficient. In a study from the University of California, panels that went unwashed and un-rained upon for nearly five months in the midst of a hot California summer drought lost 7.4 percent of their efficiency. (CalMatters)
• Don’t Walk on Solar Panels: Walking on solar panels can cause them to become damaged, which leads to cracks and reduced performance.
• Don’t Ignore Small Performance Drops: If you’ve noticed your solar panel efficiency drop, it’s not too small to ignore. It may be a wiring problem or dirt accumulation. It has been shown that failure to fix small problems immediately can be detrimental to efficiency in solar systems by 15-20%.
• Don’t DIY Major Electrical Work: Electrical work of any sort should never be done by amateurs. Screwing up the wiring could also void warranties and cause additional damage.
• Don’t Delay After Severe Weather: Following severe storms, high winds, or other severe weather, check on your system for signs of damage.

So, Just try to steer clear of these don’ts and you system will be up and running like a well-oiled machine.

Why Professional Solar Maintenance with Solar Medix is the Smart Choice

There’s more to keeping a solar system running than simply cleaning the panels. Excluding professional maintenance and performance of solar systems could negatively affect its performance in the long run. For example, in areas with a high level of aridity, dust buildup can result in a reduction in power of up to 30%, necessitating frequent maintenance.

Maintenance is not always easy, and if done incorrectly, it can become expensive to fix and even void your warranty. When you opt for professional help, you’re not just investing in the health of your system but in its ROI.

At Solar Medix, we distinguish ourselves by delivering much more than just a basic cleaning; we perform full system diagnostics and take preventative care measures. Here’s why going with Solar Medix for all of your solar maintenance is a great decision:

• Certified techs prevent warranty voids: our certified technicians guarantee that no maintenance issues will interfere with your warranty.
• Full-system diagnostics (panels, inverters, roof): We do a deep dive investigation of your entire solar system – from the panels, to the inverter, to the roof.
• Emergency repair support & IR inspections: When you schedule emergency repairs and schedule infrared inspections you can catch the problems hiding in your system before a failure.
• Residential and commercial coverage in 4 states: Solar Medix is a professional provider of maintenance services in four states for residential and commercial systems.
• Long-term ROI protection: With scheduled professional maintenance, your solar power system will generate maximum energy for years to come.

Partnering with Solar Medix is your way of safeguarding and optimizing the performance of your solar system to ensure that it gives you the greatest energy generation and value over the decades you own it.

Don’t you want the peace of mind that comes from knowing your system is being taken care of by professionals? Let Solar Medix take care of the rest, so YOU can experience the power of clean, green energy!

Keep Your Solar System Up & Running with Solar Medix!

In order to get the most out of your solar panels, you need to maintain them well. As mentioned, maintaining your solar energy system will not only help avoid expensive repairs, but it’s also going to increase energy production. Fact is a solar panel system loses on average only 0.5% efficiency per year whereas a solar system that is not maintained will lose between 4-8% of the efficiency. This variance can add up to thousands of dollars in wasted energy during the lifespan of the system. (Residential Solar Panels)

Here are the key takeaways:

• Do: Periodically hire a professional to inspect and clean your panels with non-abrasive tools.
• Don’t: Clean with chemicals, walk over the panels, or wait too long after damaging weather.
• Do observe the performance of your system, and rectify any problems as soon as possible.

Here at Solar Medix, we value the role of professional solar maintenance. At Solar Medix, we know the value of having your solar maintained professionally. From last minute repairs to a complete diagnosis – we’re available to help you protect the investment in your system and keep everything running as efficiently as possible. Prevent a small problem from becoming a big, expensive one.

Call Solar Medix now to keep your solar system running strong for years to come!

FAQs