Over the past few decades, homeowners in the United States have taken steps to reduce their carbon footprints. Many people view America’s dependence on fossil fuels as something that is bad for the environment. Eco-conscious homeowners tend to seek out solar energy solutions to power their residences. High-quality solar panels allow a homeowner to generate power from the sun.
Consumers in the United States spend millions of dollars every year on new solar panels. If you want to keep your solar panels in good working order, routine maintenance is crucial. Below are some signs you might notice when it is time to invest in solar panel maintenance.
Your Solar Panels Are Covered In Debris
It is important to routinely inspect your roof-mounted solar panels. These inspections will help you pinpoint problems early on and address them before damage is done. As you perform your inspection, you need to pay attention to the amount of debris on your solar panels. Over time, solar panels will get coated in everything from tree sap to bird droppings.
If there is a thin layer of dirt or debris on your solar panels, they will be far less efficient. Many studies maintain that dirty solar panels are up to 25% less efficient. If you notice that your panels are covered in dirt and debris, then calling in the team at SG Window Cleaning is a good idea. With our help, you can restore the efficiency your dirty solar panels have lost.
The Presence of Glass
The average residential solar panels are covered in a layer of glass. While this glass is designed to be extremely durable and strong, it can get damaged over time. If heavy debris like tree branches falls on a solar panel, it can crack the glass it is coated in. Extreme temperature fluctuations can also damage the glass on your solar panels.
Once you notice cracks in this glass, you need to take immediate action. Allowing these cracks to remain in replace can lead to significant water damage being done. In most cases, you will need to replace the broken glass to ensure this problem doesn’t resurface. Instead of trying to diagnose and fix glass-related problems alone, you need to reach out to experienced professionals.
Low Power Production
Another problem you might notice when solar panel maintenance is needed is lower power production levels. Cloudy and rainy days can affect the amount of power produced by your solar panels. However, if you have a string of very sunny days and your power levels aren’t increasing, there are problems that need to be addressed.
Things like wiring problems or dirt can affect how well your solar panels operate. An experienced professional will have no problem identifying the root cause of these power production problems and fixing them in a timely fashion.
Have you encountered one or more of the problems mentioned in this article? If so, it is time to get your solar panels maintained by professionals. With routine maintenance, you can make your solar panels last longer.