Is Solar Panel Maintenance Difficult? Everything You Need to Know

You probably hear more about solar panels all the time—and for good reason. 

As energy prices continue to climb, the cost of installing solar panels on your home becomes increasingly affordable. If you are new to investigating solar panels, you might wonder how easy they are to maintain.

The good news is that solar panels are relatively low maintenance. This walkthrough will give you a good idea of what it takes to maintain solar panels, and how to go about it.

What Does Solar Panel Maintenance Involve?

The thought of solar panel maintenance might conjure up tricky, high-tech adjustments. However, the actual process is much simpler. In fact, all you really need to do to regularly maintain your solar panels is to clean them.

Solar panels collect energy from direct sunlight. They function best when they have an unobstructed angle to the sun. That’s why solar panels on homes in the Northern Hemisphere are ideally angled toward the south.

The need for direct sunlight is also the reason your solar panels need to be cleaned periodically. Buildup of dirt, leaves, and other debris block some of the sunlight from your solar panel system, which reduces the amount of energy they can collect. 

In short, regular solar panel maintenance helps increase your system’s efficiency.

How Often Do Solar Panels Need to Be Cleaned?

Fortunately, solar panels do not require a lot of maintenance. To keep your system functioning as it should, you only need to clean the panels two to four times per year. How often you clean your solar panels depends on where you live and the weather in your area.

Some weather events might increase that frequency. For example, a windy storm might leave more debris on your panels. Also, extended cold after a snowstorm can cover your panels for an unnecessarily long period of time. You might need to add a cleaning or two in cases like these.

If you ever notice a drop in the efficiency of your panels, step outside and take a good look. It might be time for a cleaning.

How to Clean Solar Panels

Good news: Cleaning solar panels is simple! 

Generally, all you need is a leaf blower or a garden hose to get it done. A leaf blower comes in handy for buildup of loose debris. Most of the time, a quick rinse with a garden hose is all you need to remove accumulated dirt from your panels.

Winter can be a bit trickier. If you use water to clean snow off your panels, make sure it is lukewarm, as hot water can damage the surface of the panels. 

If you clear snow off with a broom, be sure to use light pressure, and be very careful on a slippery roof. It’s better to let the sun melt the snow than to risk falling. Snow will melt sooner with panels properly angled toward the sun.

Contact Smart Wave to Learn More About Solar

Solar panel maintenance is simple and easy. It’s yet another reason why getting solar for your home makes sense. To learn more about solar and your home’s energy needs, contact Smart Wave Solar today.